Layla Moran: Urgent clarity needed on Furlough scheme before Friday cliff edge
Monday, 11 May 2020 15:24
Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran has called for urgent clarity on
the Furlough scheme in advance of this Friday 15th May (the
40-day statutory deadline to notify staff of major employment
changes, such as mass redundancies.) Layla has proposed a
series of measures, including: Extending the Furlough scheme
until September to give businesses and employees the ability to
plan longer-term Keeping the scheme in its entirety for the tourism
and hospitality industry, to...Request free trial
Liberal Democrat MP has called for urgent clarity on
the Furlough scheme in advance of this Friday
15th May (the 40-day statutory
deadline to notify staff of major employment changes, such as mass
redundancies.)
Layla has proposed a series of measures,
including:
- Extending the Furlough scheme until September to give
businesses and employees the ability to plan longer-term
- Keeping the scheme in its entirety for the tourism and
hospitality industry, to offer targeted support to pubs,
restaurants and hotels who face an acute crisis.
- Introduce flexibility to enable businesses to pay for
part-time hours worked by their staff, with the Government
topping up the difference to the staff members usual
hours. (So, for example, if someone is needed only 15
hours, the business would pay that and the Government would pay,
via the furlough scheme for the 22.5 hours a week to complete the
staff members allotted 37.5 hours a week.)
Lib Dem MP said:
“We are facing a crunch deadline on Friday, with the prospect
of tens of thousands of redundancy notification letters being sent
to workers up and down the country. To avoid this, I’m suggesting a
series of measures that would give clarity and flexibility to
businesses, and offer continued help to the sectors that need
it.
“The Government must, in the next 24 to 48 hours, come
forward with their plan for the furlough scheme. I am suggesting
they keep it in place until September, particularly for the tourism
and hospitality industries. They should also introduce flexibility,
enabling businesses to pay for part-time hours where suitable, with
the Government topping up the rest.
“The Government’s current ‘fits and starts’ plan puts a great
strain on business owners and employees, both from a financial and
mental health standpoint. We need urgent clarity.”
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