NEARLY HALF A MILLION JOB LOSSES PLANNED SINCE MARCH
The Tory government has been criticised for “abdicating its responsibilities” to workers and households at this critical time after new findings revealed that nearly half a million job losses have been planned by employers since the coronavirus crisis began.
Figures showed that employers in August alone planned 58,000 redundancies as they prepare for the premature end of the furlough scheme this month.
The findings published by the BBC revealed that –
– 498,000 redundancies have been planned by employers for the first five months of the pandemic in the UK,
– Some “966 separate employers told the government of plans to cut 20 or more jobs, compared with 214 last August, a more than fourfold increase.”
– The 58,000 planned job cuts for August this year was more than 150% up on the previous year.
Responding to the news, SNP Shadow Business Secretary Drew Hendry MP said:
“With new figures revealing that nearly half a million redundancies have been planned by employers across the UK since the pandemic began, it’s clear that Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak are abdicating their responsibilities to workers and households at this critical time with their stubborn refusal to U-turn on scrapping the furlough scheme and fixing the gaps in support.
“With coronavirus cases on the rise and further measures being introduced, we need to see strengthened support to help protect thousands of jobs and businesses from being lost for good.
“Instead, calls for action and to fix the gaps in support have been shunned by both Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak who have made the deliberate decision to let unemployment soar.
“With employers in August alone planning 58,000 job cuts as they prepare for the end of the furlough scheme – it’s clear that if the Tories refuse to act then the blame for these avoidable job losses lies solely at their door.
“Scotland has been left to tackle the economic impact of the pandemic with one hand tied behind its back – with the Tory government cutting off jobs support and blocking the devolution of financial powers. It’s clear that only through independence will be able to properly protect Scotland’s economy and jobs.”
Read more: Covid: Nearly 500,000 redundancies planned since crisis began https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-54392177
Keep up to date with new articles at www.drewhendrymp.scot
Find out more about my work in parliament at www.theyworkforyou.com