Vulnerable not exempt from furlough winding down, employers told

[Northerner]

Government wage subsidies for disabled and vulnerable workers could be drastically scaled back from August under Treasury plans to wind down its Covid-19 furlough scheme, employers’ groups have warned.

Charities and social enterprise employers have been told by the government that its plan to bring the coronavirus job retention scheme to an eventual close this autumn does not currently include an exemption for vulnerable workers.

Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, announced last week that the furlough scheme – under which the government pays 80% of staff wages up to £2,500 a month – would be extended until October. However, state support will be scaled back from August, with employers expected to contribute to maintain a wage packet of at least 80% for furloughed workers.

Although a final decision has yet to be taken, the chancellor is believed to favour a universal approach to scaling back the scheme for all employers, without tailoring it to reflect a gradual return to work for firms and workers.

Vulnerable not exempt from furlough winding down, employers told

Charities and social enterprises warned by No 10 not to expect tweaks to Covid-19 job retention scheme

www.theguardian.com

 

[mikeyB]

This just shows that the government is driven by money, not by any concept of what is best for the UK. The are three nations in the UK who have not significantly changed their lockdown adivice. The government thinks one size fits all, and that the country runs on financial services.

Manufacturers cannot pay for furloughed workers, because they cannot make money unless the workers are working. And customers buying what they produce.

You might think that the government can’t afford to carry on paying this. Well, what they won’t tell you is that they have already spent more than twice as much as it costs us to be in the EU. They have spent around 8% of the cost of bailing out the banks in 2008 after they nearly crashed the economy and the whole banking system.

In 2015 the final compensation was paid to former slave owners, who had lost income when slavery was abolished. They were promised £20million 185 years ago. (For comparison, the Forth Rail Bridge more than half a century later cost £3.5m)

There’s always been money around when the rich are at financial risk. Sod the workers, they are expendable. Always have been, always will be. And the disabled and vulnerable will just have to take it on the chin.

Again, I have to apologise for a rant, but I have no confidence in a government which is solely driven by money men, with no consideration for the health and welfare of the nation. Driven by “the Science“? Aye, right.

 

[trophywench]

Does not the 'Government's income' emanate from Taxes in the main - whether Income Tax paid by eg me and you, plus Corporation Tax paid by our employers/private pension providers? Local Government's income is funded by the National Gov and housing/business Rates in their patch?

If not that - whence does it?

 

[silentsquirrel]

The Magic Money Tree?

 

[mikeyB]

Same magic money tree that pays for HS2, Crossrail, and Trident Missiles.