The Government has today announced that its Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will remain open until the end of October (info via HM Treasury website).

In what it says is a boost to millions of jobs and businesses, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak said the furlough scheme would be extended by a further four months with workers continuing to receive 80 per cent of their current salary.

The Treasury says that “as we reopen the economy, we need to support people to get back to work. From the start of August, furloughed workers will be able to return to work part-time with employers being asked to pay a percentage towards the salaries of their furloughed staff”.

The statement continued, saying “The employer payments will substitute the contribution the government is currently making, ensuring that staff continue to receive 80% of their salary, up to £2,500 a month”.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: “Our Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has protected millions of jobs and businesses across the UK during the outbreak – and I’ve been clear that I want to avoid a cliff edge and get people back to work in a measured way.

“This extension and the changes we are making to the scheme will give flexibility to businesses while protecting the livelihoods of the British people and our future economic prospects.”

The Government says that statistics published today revealed the job retention scheme has protected 7.5 million workers and almost one million businesses.

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