Dorset businesses have to pay towards furlough FROM TODAY

Dorset Chamber of Commerce are calling for more clarity about what the future holds

Author: George SharpePublished 1st Jul 2021

Dorset's businesses are going to have to start contributing towards furloughed staff as of today.

The government's been paying 80% of furloughed staff's wages for the duration of the scheme.

But from today they're lowering that to 70% and asking businesses to contribute 10%.

That might put some businesses who were hoping to be fully back to normal by now in a tricky position. They're having to wait until 19th July to go back to normal.

The latest figures show that in April there were still 18,300 workers on the scheme here.

Dorset Chamber of Commerce are calling on the government to give more clarity about the future.

Chief Executive, Ian Girling said:

"We do have freedom day coming up. Freedom Day on July 19th is still not confirmed and we still don't know exactly what Freedom Day will look like.

"Whilst many businesses are doing quite well, and the economy is in recovery, there is still a long term need to support businesses and really get us back on our feet, particularly for those sectors that have been most badly effected."

"We don't know if social distancing will end, we don't know what requirements will be placed on businesses so we still need that support."

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