Sunak to make changes to furlough scheme
The Chancellor is set to tell employers they will need to contribute to their furloughed workers’ salaries from August.
It's as the Government admitted the scheme cannot run “indefinitely”.
Rishi Sunak will use the daily Downing Street press conference to outline changes to the job retention scheme, which has so far covered the wages of 8.4 million staff unable to work during lockdown – costing £15 billion.
Ministers have said they will extend the scheme covering 80% of workers’ salaries up to £2,500 per month until the end of October, with employers expected to make a contribution.
Treasury sources did not deny reports that the Chancellor will ask employers to contribute around 20% of wages, as well as National Insurance and pension contributions from August.
Meanwhile Mr Sunak is facing calls, including from a cross-party group of 113 MPs, to extend the scheme supporting self-employed workers past Sunday or risk leaving many “without work and without support”.
Published: by Radio NewsHub