United Kingdom: state to pay up to 80% of wages of workers unable to work during coronavirus pandemic

Amid the ongoing worldwide pandemic and following its decision to close the majority of non-essential shops, the UK government unveiled an unprecedented plan on 20 March to support jobs in the country, by covering a large portion of companies’ salary costs. This plan, of never-before-seen proportions, has been hailed by employers and trade unions.
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The new Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will allow companies that are forced to shut down temporarily as a result of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak to contact HMRC, the UK government department that handles tax collection, to request that it covers a large chunk of the wages of workers who are unable to work during the pandemic. All companies will be eligible to access the scheme and the government has committed to pay up to 80% of wages, up to a limit of £2,500 (€2,700) per worker per...

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