Britain on Tuesday announced a four-month extension to government support for workers temporarily made redundant by the coronavirus outbreak.
Finance minister Rishi Sunak said 7.5 million jobs had already been supported by the furlough scheme, which allows employees to receive 80 percent of their pay up to £2,500 ($3,100, 2,800 euros) a month.
Some 935,000 companies have used government help to retain jobs, claiming more than £10 billion, the Treasury said. "The job retention scheme will be extended for four months until the end of October," Sunak told parliament in a statement.
He told MPs there would be "no change" until the end of July but "more flexibility" from August, including the possibility of bringing back part-time workers. Businesses would also be asked to share the cost of salary support to maintain current levels of assistance.
Sunak's statement came after speculation that the scheme - part of an unprecedented package of government intervention to support businesses - would be gradually reduced. But with predictions of a 14 percent slump in GDP this year, and no immediate return for most businesses from lockdown measures, there have been calls for it to be maintained.
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