Response to the Chancellor’s announcement

The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, today announced a plan for our economy for the coming months. This new ‘Winter Economic Plan’ comes following the imposition of new tighter restrictions which will impact workplaces across the country. It sets out to retain jobs and businesses where possible and aid our economic recovery.

Roy Rickhuss, General Secretary of Community, said:

“We have been calling for urgent action from Government to save jobs and industries. Workers have been faced with unnecessary uncertainty during this period. We are pleased that our calls have now been heeded, and additional support is being put in place. This is a complex scheme, and we will be working through the details in the coming days to analyse the impact it will have on our membership and the organisations they work for.”

“The Government must use the coming months to prepare for the future. That means; preparing workers through reskilling and retraining opportunities and supporting viable businesses so that they can have a prosperous future as we emerge from the crisis.”

“Employers have a responsibility to their workforce, and they must work with us to protect jobs and livelihoods while this crisis continues, and as we look to the economic recovery.

“It remains the case that the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme has serious gaps that leaves many self-employed people without support. For this group – the forgotten self-employed – the situation over the preceding months and the months ahead will have been dire. The government must review this scheme in its extension to ensure that all self-employed people are getting the support they need.”

Read our letter to the Prime Minister calling for support for jobs and businesses here.

Community protects and represents workers in every sector of the economy. To join Community, visit here.