It is welcoming news to hear that the Coronavirus job retention scheme will be extended for a further four months, until the end of October. This means employees will continue to receive 80% of their salary, up to £2,500. Furthermore, to help boost the economy and get people back to work, a new flexibility will be introduced from August.
It is important that we do all we can to support businesses and employees to see them through this difficult time. The new flexibility beginning in August means workers will be able to return to work part-time with employers being asked to pay a percentage of furloughed staffs salaries.
This new flexibility and security until the end of October will help businesses and employees across South Derbyshire. The scheme has already protected 7.5 million workers and almost 1 million businesses across the UK.
I also hope that whilst employees are off that people see it as an opportunity to upskill, to support this I am pleased the government is exploring how it can help. There has already been a new online learning platform set up to help people learn and improve numeracy and digital skills. You can find out more here: https://theskillstoolkit.campaign.gov.uk/
The government has and will continue to do all it can support employees and businesses to see them through this pandemic and be prepared to restart the economy and get everyone back to work.
