In the face of pressure from trade unions, the UK’s Conservative government extended its scheme to support jobs during the coronavirus pandemic, with the announcement on 26 March that it will also cover self-employed workers. Any such individuals who see their income negatively impacted due to the Covid-19 crisis can claim 80% of the average monthly profits they recorded over the past three years. This unprecedented measure, which is proportionate with the support already announced for employed people and is to last for three months, at least for the time being, has been hailed by employers and trade unions, who are nonetheless asking that payments be sped up.
The grant paid as part of the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme will be limited to £2,500 (€2,750) per month, like the grant provided for by the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, which is reserved for employed persons (see article n°11747). The grant will be calculated according to a self-employed individual’s profits over the past three years, producing a monthly sum. For now, the government is planning to pay 80% of this monthly average over three months – for March, April and May – but has
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