As many return to work, the total UK furlough falls to a new lowest level

London — The number of workers still temporarily dismissed in the UK has fallen to the lowest level since the payroll program was first introduced at the start of the coronavirus pandemic 18 months ago, official figures say Thursday. It was shown to.

HM Revenue and Customs, which compiled the data, said that as of the end of July, 1.6 million people remained in the government’s support plan, a decrease of 340,000 from the previous month.

Coronavirus’s employment retention program, which has held back unemployment during the pandemic despite the worst recession in Britain for over 300 years, is set to end at the end of September, and the union calls on the government to come up with new support. I am. For sectors like aviation that are still struggling in the face of coronavirus restrictions.

Under this program, the government paid 80 percent of the salaries of workers who could not work due to blockade measures. The program has helped about 12 million people, but that number has declined as the blockage restrictions have been lifted in recent months.

July was the first month an employer had to pay 10% of the salary of a temporarily dismissed worker, giving him an incentive to reinstate or terminate his employment. This rose by up to 20 percent in August and September.

“It’s great to see the level of furloughs at its lowest level since the pandemic began, especially young people returning to work and starting their careers as the UK returns to business,” said the Treasury Secretary. Rishi Sunak said.

According to the latest figures, employees over the age of 65 may still be temporarily dismissed as young people get old jobs after some of the most hit sectors in the economy, such as hospitality, have been reopened. It is highly sexual. Also, the level of furlough remained the highest in London.

The furlough plan was the most expensive support measure introduced by the government to mitigate the pandemic blow. The government paid a total of £ 68.5 billion ($ 95 billion) to employees who were temporarily dismissed.