The UK government's job retention scheme will be extended for four months until the end of October, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced today.
Sunak said that there will be 'no changes whatsoever' to the scheme - which was originally due to end at the end of June - until the end of July.
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The Chancellor tweeted: "The job retention scheme will be extended, for four months, until the end of October.
"By that point, we will have provided eight months of support to British people and businesses. Until the end of July, there will be no changes to the scheme whatsoever."
Announcing the extension in the House of Commons today, Sunak promised it will include 'greater flexibility' in the later months, allowing employees to bring furloughed staff back part-time.
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He said workers will 'continue to receive the same level of support', explaining they will still receive 80 percent of their current salary. However, Sunak added that some of this may have to come from businesses, who could be expected to make contributions themselves.
"The government will ask employers to share the responsibility," Sunak said.
The Chancellor said the government believes in the dignity of work, and stressed that is it doing all it can to help protect those unable to work.
He added that so far 7.5 million jobs have been supported, and that almost one million businesses have also been helped.
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Sunak tweeted to say that more detail will be coming by the end of the month.
He said: "From August to October the scheme will continue, for all sectors and regions of the UK, but with greater flexibility to support the transition back to work.
"Employers currently using the scheme will be able to bring furloughed employees back part-time.
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"We will ask employers to start sharing, with the government, the costs of paying people's salaries.
"Further detail will follow by the end of May but I want to assure people one thing won't change: workers will, through the combined efforts of government and employers, continue to receive the same level of support as they do now, at 80 percent of their salary, up to £2,500."
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