Job Retention Scheme needs clarification

A local Sinn Féin MLA has called for further clarification about the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

Karen Mullan said that while further information is now available about who can be covered by the scheme, including apprentices and people with caring responsibilities, there needs to be more clarity about overall eligibility.

“The caveat of ‘operations have been severely affected by Coronavirus (COVID-19)’ remains, despite the additional line that ‘all employers are eligible to claim under the scheme and the government recognises different businesses will face different impacts from Coronavirus’.

“Therefore I would call on the British Government to explicitly state that any business that has to close as a result of COVID19 will be covered by the scheme. This should include all non-essential businesses and any business whose operations are impacted in any manner.”