UK urged to defer winding down of salary support program

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Business leaders and unions joined forces Thursday to urge the British government to maintain a salary subsidy program that is being wound down over the coming months — or else see unemployment rise sharply.

The Job Retention Scheme was introduced at the start of the pandemic last March to ensure unemployment สล็อตpg  didn't rise substantially when lockdown restrictions were imposed. Under the program, the government paid 80% of the salaries of those workers unable to work because of lockdown measures.

The program helped support over 11 million people but the number now is down around the 2 million mark as many sectors have reopened, notably hospitality. It kept a lid on unemployment, which remains relatively low at around 5%.

On Thursday, that support started to be phased out with companies with staff still on furlough having to pick up 10% of the bill. Further tapering is due over coming months before the scheme is due to end in September.

“Our Plan for Jobs has supported people's jobs and livelihoods throughout the pandemic and it's fantastic to see so many people coming off furlough and into their workplaces with our restaurants, pubs and shops reopened,” Treasury chief Rishi Sunak said.

However, there are growing calls on the government to keep the scheme in place for as long as needed.

The British government is hoping to lift all remaining restrictions on social contact in England on July 19 but the recent sharp rise in infections has raised concerns about whether it should, when many people have still to receive at least one dose of vaccine. The other parts of the U.K. — Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland — are taking similar steps out of lockdown.