Figures reveal huge number of Fifers on furlough

Almost 50,000 -people in Fife have been put on furlough during the coronavirus lockdown.

The figure was revealed by HMRC as it assessed the impact of the pandemic across the region.

It underlines the scale of the financial support for people whose jobs effectively stopped at the start of lockdown.

Since the launch of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) and Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS), the UK Government has supported the wages of 105,300 jobs in Dundee, Angus, Fife and Perth and Kinross, it confirmed.

Businesses furloughed 85,000 jobs in Tayside and Fife, up to the end of May with 45,000 in the Kingdom.

The scheme is set to run until until the end of October to continue the support for jobs and businesses as people return to work. It has paid 80 per cent of the wages of people placed on furlough, up to £2500 per month.

SEISS was rolled out ahead of schedule in May and has financially supported 20,300 self-employed individuals in across the two regions. The scheme has paid grants worth a total of £58.7 million up to May 31.

Rishi Sunak, Chancellor of the Exchequer, said: “The UK Government is doing everything we can to protect jobs and businesses in Scotland and across the UK during the crisis.

“Our unprecedented job retention and self-employment support schemes have supported the livelihoods of millions and will help ensure our recovery is as swift as possible.”

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said: “The UK Government is doing whatever it takes to get Scotland, and the whole of the UK, through the coronavirus pandemic and ensure our economy can get back on track. This unprecedented package of UK Government support is protecting Scottish jobs and businesses, and will ensure that Scotland’s economy can recover for the future.”

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