LTB 253/20
13th May 2020
Dear Colleague
CORONAVIRUS
– GOVERNMENT FURLOUGH SCHEME EXTENSION
The purpose of this LTB is to notify branches of the government
announcement yesterday of an extension to the furlough scheme – the
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. While the majority of CWU members have
continued to work throughout the crisis, we have a number of members who
will be affected by this.
Under the scheme employers have been able to claim the costs from the
government of 80% of an employees’ wages, up to a maximum of £2,500 per
month, where they have been furloughed as a result of the Coronavirus
outbreak. In many instances this has meant avoiding redundancies and
provided a level of protection for workers’ incomes. The government has now
said that the scheme will continue to operate in its current form until the
end of July.
Alongside this, the government has announced that there will be a further
extension to October, but with changes to the scheme from August. The
details of these changes will be announced at the end of May and will
include allowing employers to claim a share of wage costs for furloughed
employees returning to work part-time.
An updated note on government assistance measures during the crisis from
the CWU Research Department is attached to this LTB and any queries in
relation to the operation of the scheme in particular employers should be
addressed to the relevant industrial department. Any general queries should
be addressed to gsoffice@cwu.org.
Yours sincerely,
Dave Ward
General
Secretary
LTB 253/20 – CORONAVIRUS – GOVERNMENT FURLOUGH
SCHEME EXTENSION
Government Assistance Measures – Work Welfare
Housing and Childcare 12 05 20