Derbyshire adjusts to end of the furlough scheme
The East Midland Chamber of Commerce says now is the time for it to end
Businesses in Derbyshire are readjusting to the furlough scheme coming to an end.
Some people have raised concerns about job losses, as a result of inevitable redundancies, and the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has expressed particular concern.
The national trade union centre has said been asking the government to create a permanent furlough scheme, and guarantee 80% of wages to workers in preparation for a new wave of the pandemic, a recession or the transition to a green economy. Head of Policy who works in policy and campaigns at the TUC Gareth Forest said:
"We're facing a cliff edge. The pandemic isn't over. Many industries are still really hard hit. Thousands of workers across Derbyshire are still relying on furlough to keep the money coming in so that they can pay their bills, heating and buy what fuel they're able to get hold of."
Achieving a health and economic recovery
Forest added that the Government are moving too quickly, despite the scheme already being extended for the fifth time. He said:
"There is a desperation to get back to normal, but what does is that damages our recovery. It's not just about a public health recovery and getting rid of the pandemic from circulation in the population. It is about economic recovery. They are not separate, they are one and the same."
But the East Midlands Chamber of Commerce is confident that taking furlough away as the UK enters the colder months will be the right thing to do, and noted that businesses are expecting a busy lead up to Christmas this year. Head of policy and director of external affairs Chris Hobson said:
"There my be some people out there who are worried about job losses. I think the good news is that there are plenty of businesses creating opportunities in the market at the moment and so the hope would be if there are any short term increases in unemployment, they will only be short term because there's lots of opportunities out there."
In order to move forward, the government may also want the government to stand on its own two feet. Hobson added:
"The furlough scheme was an example of government intervention to support employment on a scale that many people will never have seen before, and it's served a really really important job. We think the time for it to end is probably now. The run-up to Christmas is very busy for businesses."