A third of jobs in South Tyneside have been furloughed since March

A third of jobs in South Tyneside have been furloughed since March, with over 1,000 added to the scheme in July.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

HMRC figures show around 20,500 claims to furlough were made in the borough by the end of July – 33% of all eligible jobs.

This was 1,200 more than at the end of June, but fewer than the 3,000 added the previous month.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

During this time the Government paid 80% of employees' wages through Chancellor Rishi Sunak's scheme, up to a maximum of £2,500 per month per employee. Firms unable to operate, or who have no work for their employees because of coronavirus, can furlough.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, is being urged to extend the furlough scheme.Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, is being urged to extend the furlough scheme.
Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, is being urged to extend the furlough scheme.

Between the Job Retention Scheme launch in March and the end of July, 9.6 million jobs across the UK were furloughed, costing £30.9 billion in claims.

Across the North East, the scheme’s take-up rate is 31%, compared to 32% nationally.

From September the Government's contribution will drop to 70% of wages, with employers having to make up the extra 10%. The scheme is scheduled to end in October. But the IPPR said that would be an "historic mistake" and wants an extension.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Around 3,600 people in South Tyneside had been put on the scheme by the end of July – 78% of eligible workers.

Before October 19 employers can apply for a second and final grant, worth 70% of profits and capped at £6,570.

The Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, which allowed the self-employed to claim 80% of their average monthly profits between March and May, up to £7,500, will also end in October.

Think-tanks the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) and Resolution Foundation want the Government to extend furlough beyond October, to avoid an unemployment rise.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Carsten Jung, IPPR’s senior economist, said: “The jobs recovery is real, but it looks slow and fragile.

"Even though lockdown has been partially lifted, the economy is still only carefully picking up speed. Reforming and extending the scheme now could prevent jobs losses and boost the economy in this time of need."

A Treasury spokeswoman said: “We’ve been clear that that we can’t sustain this situation indefinitely, but the end of the furlough scheme is not the end of our support for jobs."

Read More
Read more: New £4.9m affordable housing scheme welcomes new residents

A message from the editor:

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to the Shields Gazette website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content.

Visit here to sign up. You can subscribe to the newspaper with 20% off here. Thank you.