Winter Economic Plan will leave millions of workers out in the cold, says Prospect Union

The Chancellor's Winter Economic Plan is not enough to support workers though the next phase of the crisis, Prospect union have warned.

The union represents 150,000 members across the private and public sectors.

They warned that the sectors that have been hit hardest, such as the creative industries, will often not be able to access the new Job Support Scheme, and that over a million self-employed and freelance workers continue to be deliberately overlooked for support by the Treasury.

Prospect general secretary Mike Clancy said:

“The Chancellor promised creative thinking from the Treasury in advance of his statement, but it was not in evidence in this plan.

“The new Job Support Scheme is better than nothing, but it will do little for sectors that will still be effectively closed by government restrictions who will not be able to bring workers back for the minimum number of hours.

“And while millions of self-employed workers were desperate for more support from the Chancellor they have been overlooked and left out once again, with a bleak winter in prospect for thousands of families.

“The Chancellor must revisit this plan and find a way to target support at areas of the economy where there is really acute need- otherwise we risk doing permanent damage to the foundations of our economy and leaving millions of workers out in the cold.”