The chauffeur and car Licensing agency (DVLA) is faced with a “catastrophic” backlog of paper applications due to social-distancing rules, and industrial action linked to Covid-19.
Strikes by the public and commercial services Union (PCS) have been staged in reaction to what it calls “unsafe” working conditions, contributing to the mass of unprocessed applications. much more than 643 of the DVLA’s 6,000-strong workforce are reported to have had Covid, although the organisation says it has followed government guidance at every stage.
How to renew your driving licence or change the address
Mark Serwotka, head of the PCS, told the BBC that the backlog of 1.4 million cases could have been avoided if staff were allowed to work from home, calling it a “stain” on the credibility of the civil service: “In 21 years, I have never encountered the level of incompetence and mismanagement that is on display at the DVLA in Swansea.”
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“We believe that if the department of work and pensions can deal with three million universal credit report claims, if HMRC can deliver furlough scheme, if we have workers in the home office ministry of justice, devolved nations, working from home dealing with in some cases much much more protected data so could the DVLA.”
The head of the PCS also said that the actions of the DVLA have put its workers at a significant health risk, with much more than 643 confirmed Covid cases and one fatality. However, chief executive of the DVLA Julie Leonard has denied this, claiming that staff safety has been prioritized during the pandemic:
