FORMER Chancellor of the Exchequer and Bromsgrove MP Sajid Javid has urged businesses across the district which are struggling due to Coronavirus to apply for the Government’s Job Retention Scheme.
Applications officially opened this week, giving firms the chance to claim 80 per cent of each employee’s wages (up to £2,500-a-month) to ease the financial pressure caused by the pandemic.
The scheme, which sees workers ‘furloughed’, is expected to benefit millions.
It is expected to benefit millions and now includes workers employed until March 19 – which will help an additional 200,000 around the UK.
There were more than 140,000 applications on Monday, when the Job Retention Scheme opened.
HMRC has more than 5,000 staff manning phone lines and webchat services to answer questions.
The scheme is one of the measures available to benefit businesses as the Government vows to support British business and protect their employees.
Mr Javid said: “I’m pleased the Job Retention Scheme has launched ahead of schedule so local businesses and employees can benefit before the end of April.
“The Government is standing behind employers – and with the support provided, they will be in a stronger position to stand behind their employees”.
“The Vovernment has pledged to support the British people through this difficult period. In doing so, people will be able to do the right thing, which is stay at home, protect our NHS and save lives”.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak said: “Our unprecedented job retention scheme will protect millions of jobs across the country and is now up and running.
“It’s vital that our economy gets up and running again as soon as it’s safe – and this scheme will allow that to happen.”
Businesses can click here to make their applications online. Payments are made six days after a claim is made.
Written by Tristan Harris for the Bromsgrove Standard. You can read the full article here: https://www.bromsgrovestandard.co.uk/news/bromsgrove-mp-urges-businesses-to-apply-for-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme-which-opened-this-week/?fbclid=IwAR03aJS7qYjsBniwhnpMhedYuKqY-BdigYvctuEe88kujenjEtKr-TL_ha0
