Furlough scheme extended for extra month until end of April

The nation’s furlough scheme will be extended until April 2021, Rishi Sunak has announced. The government will continue paying 80% towards wages of unworked hours in a bid to support businesses and employees in the New Year, the Chancellor confirmed today.

Sunak said: ‘‘Our package of support for businesses and workers continues to be one of the most generous and effective in the world – helping our economy to recover and protecting livelihoods across the country. ‘We know the premium businesses place on certainty, so it is right that we enable businesses to plan ahead regardless of the path the virus takes, which is why we’re providing certainty and clarity by extending this support, as well as implementing our Plan for Jobs.’’