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8 October, 2020 Open access

TUC calls for local furlough approach for areas facing high COVID-19 infection rates and further business closures

Chancellor needs to adopt a fresh approach to protect jobs and livelihoods in areas facing local lockdowns

The TUC has today called on the government to adopt a local furlough approach for areas facing high COVID-19 infection rates and further business closures.

In response to reports that suggest the government is considering introducing further restrictions for some parts of the country experiencing an uptick in coronavirus infections, the TUC says that the chancellor needs to adopt a fresh approach to protect jobs and livelihoods. 

Calling for financial assistance to be made available in the event of more stringent restrictions, the TUC's proposal for a new approach in local areas includes -

TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said today -

'We all hoped the economy would be starting to reopen and recover this autumn. But with further restrictions imminent in some areas, we need the chancellor to adopt a fresh approach to protect jobs and livelihoods.

In areas facing high infection rates and further business closures, the government must act to preserve jobs and stop family firms going to the wall through a new local furlough scheme – building on the existing national job retention and job support schemes, with help for the self-employed too. That’s the right response to this renewed public health emergency in parts of the UK.'

For more information, see Government must support jobs in local lockdown areas to prevent mass unemployment.