THE Chancellor Rishi Sunak has said its time for workers to get back into the office and end remote working, ahead of July 19.

Mr Sunak has stressed the importance of being in the office to work, with the guidance to work from home if you can set to end when all Covid-19 restrictions are dropped on July 19.

He said he is looking forward to seeing people back in offices, but unions have raised concerns at the lack of guidance for employees to return safely.

The Chancellor said: “I think for young people especially, that ability to be in your office, be in your workplace and learn from others more directly, is something that’s really important and I look forward to us slowly getting back to that.”

Mr Sunak insisted that there was a benefit to workers from being with their colleagues.

He said that apprentices at a car mechanic training centre he visited were “super-excited to be back in their workplace”.

“They were over the moon, because they’ve spent six months trying to learn on Zoom and Teams and everything else, and it hasn’t been great,” he said.

“They were saying actually being in, and most importantly, getting the support from their mentors, has been really valuable to them.”

Mr Sunak said it was not for ministers to tell firms what they should or should not do, adding: “Ultimately I trust people and businesses to make decisions for themselves.”

The Trades Union Congress has written to ministers to raise concerns about the lack of consultation on plans which will affect millions of workers.

TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said: “We all want working life to get back to business as usual.

“But as restrictions are lifted and increasing numbers return to their workplaces, it is crucial that we get workplace safety right, and give workers and members of the public confidence.”

She said the TUC has “real fears that clear, detailed guidance for employers will be replaced by vague exhortations to employers to do the right thing, resulting in confusion”.

Ms O’Grady warned that without detailed plans the country could be “hobbled by rising infections and enforced self-isolation” keeping workers out of action.