British Chancellor Rishi Sunak extends job retention scheme
There had been speculation that he would extend the scheme but reduce the amount the British government would pay would be reduced to 60 per cent.
But speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Sunak said the British government scheme to pay wages of workers on leave because of coronavirus has been extended to October.
The furlough scheme allows employers to temporarily lay off staff while the government pays 80% of their wages during the crisis.
Its aim is to prevent mass unemployment while in the midst of the pandemic.
Chancellor Sunak says some 7.5 million workers are now covered by the scheme, up from 6.3 million last week.
In a tweet about his plans, Mr Sunak wrote: “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.”
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