Government coronavirus schemes support over 30,000 jobs and self-employed across York
June 12, 2020
New figures released yesterday show that the national Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (furlough) and Self-Employment Income Support Scheme are preserving 24,000 jobs and supporting over 6,000 self-employed residents in the city.
10,000 employees have been furloughed in the York Outer constituency, and 14,000 in York Central, with the government covering 80% of wages up to £2500 per month, on the condition workers are kept on in the current tough trading conditions. 3100 self-employed people in both York Outer and York Central are also receiving the same level of financial support.
The Chancellor has recently extended the Job Retention Scheme to October while giving employees flexibility to gradually return part-time while the government still covers their wages, while the self-employed will also be able to apply for a further grant to cover 3 months’ lost earnings in August.
Julian said: “These figures show how essential these government measures have been for sadly so many households in our city, ensuring families can put food on the table and so far keeping unemployment at bay. This has provided some security in the midst of the wider uncertainty created by the virus.
I have been active in pressing Ministers for the right financial and employment support to be put in place for residents, for instance lobbying the Chancellor to create a self-employment income scheme before this was announced, and also pushing the Treasury to ensure that worst-affected York businesses, like the tourism and hospitality sector, can continue to use the furlough scheme for longer to avoid laying off staff.
I appreciate that a number of residents have very unfortunately been ineligible for both schemes under the current criteria, often related to job changes or the date of filing self-employed tax returns, and I am continuing to assist constituents who raise these issues with me, both lobbying the Treasury to amend the schemes wherever possible, and directing them to alternative sources of support, such as Universal Credit benefits or the government’s mortgage holiday.
While it is encouraging that this financial safety-net has been put in place for residents, and now extended into the autumn, the 30,000 figure vividly illustrates the absolute necessity of ensuring people have jobs to go back to by getting York’s economy going again, of course with the necessary safety precautions.
The high living standards and high employment our community enjoys are based on the hard work and entrepreneurship of York residents, and I and other local decision-makers must do all we can to allow this to safely resume, to preserve the prosperity and character of the city we love.”
