The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has confirmed that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) will be extended until the end of October, with no changes until the end of July; thereafter employers currently using the scheme will be able to bring back furloughed employees part time

The Government has said that from August, furloughed workers will continue to receive 80 per cent of their usual salary capped at £2,500 per month. However, employers will have to make a currently unspecified contribution to this cost. Details of these arrangements are due to be published by the end of May.

The CJRS allows employers to retain employees, who are not undertaking any work for them, on the PAYE payroll by placing them on furlough and to claim a grant of 80 per cent of a furloughed employee’s usual pay, plus employer National Insurance Contributions (NICS) and minimum employer auto-enrolment pension contributions.

The Chancellor has confirmed that since the scheme was launched in March, more than one million businesses have furloughed more than 7.5 million workers.

For any help and support please contact us or speak to your personal contact at Wilson Wright.