To feel uncomfortable being asked to work throughout the upcoming Welsh lockdown?

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I recently started paid work in a charity shop. The shop isn't yet open, myself and a colleague have been spending a few weeks setting up and are nearly there. I assumed that today's announcement by the Welsh government would mean that for two weeks I wouldn't be required to go into work as it is a non- essential shop and I am not a key worker. However, I have been informed that I am to continue going in as normal to continue setting up throughout the lock down period. I believe that this request actually is against government requirements, as, if our shop was open, it would have to close anyway and there would be no need for us staff to be there, but it is gray as the shop isn't yet open to the public. I still believe it is non-essential and we shouldn't be asked to work. As well as asking us to do something that is essentially against government law, I also think that it is against the principles of the charity to put ourselves and others at risk by being out and about, as the charity supports disabled people who the lock down is primarily designed to protect. I have also been informed that as I wasn't enrolled in the previous furlough scheme, I wouldn't be eligible for it in this instance. Does anyone know whether this is true or whether, as I suspect, the government pays companies to furlough staff based on who is working for them AT THE TIME of furlough? Besides, I am not interested in the money, charity pay is very low anyway, it is more my desire to do the right thing and follow the correct rules set for EVERYBODY living in Wales. I know I am not above the law and feel that the charity is interpreting the rules to suit their own agenda. AIBU, therefore, to refuse to work over lock down as I do not believe it to be a legal or moral request for my employer to expect of me?

If there is still work for you to do despite the shop being closed and you can’t wfh you just need to get on with it. I’m afraid you do sound a bit lazy and looking to get paid for doing nothing.

Just quit. I’m sure someone else will be grateful for paid employment and your employer would prefer someone less lazy than you.

This was widely misunderstood at the time of the first lockdown and it looks like it still is. Whether your job was essential was always neither here nor there. The only 3 questions were:
Has it specifically been made illegal (eg hairdressing)?
Can you do it from home?
Can you do it in a socially distanced way?
As long as the answers are No, No, Yes then you’re good to go.

You could be a mobile topiarist, hired to trim the hedges of Russian oligarchs into the shape of their favourite Pokémon. Doesn’t matter how ridiculous it is, if it’s a job that someone pays you to do, that you can’t do from home, and that you can do in a safe and socially distanced way then you are good to go.

Your employer isn’t acting unlawfully (the only legal restriction is on shops being open to the public). You won’t be breaking the law by travelling to work (since you are required to work).

If you think your employer is breaking the law, you need to identify the specific legal requirement you think is bring breached and show it to them. (Nb: ‘guidance’ is not law. The clue is in the name.)

If you don’t want to do your job, you should resign. There are so many people who need work. This passive aggressive stance of complaining about breaking the law, without actually being able to identify any law that is bring broken, is pretty unattractive. Particularly when directed at a charity.