Page 14 - EurOil Week 45

EurOil POLICY EurOil

UK extends furlough scheme

for workers

UK THE UK has announced a five-month winter uncertainty about whether the furlough would
extension to its furlough scheme, a move that apply to all UK workers rather than only English
The government faced will affect thousands of North Sea workers. ones, however.
criticism for delaying The scheme will pay up to 80% of a person’s “Businesses and workers have been plead-
the move and creating wage up to GBP2,500 ($3,300) per month. ing for certainty from this government, but
confusion. Chancellor Rishi Sunak said the extension from the Chancellor keeps ignoring them until the
October 31 until the end of March would “give last possible moments, after jobs have been
businesses security through the winter” while lost and businesses have gone bust,” she said.
protecting millions of jobs. “This is the Chancellor’s fourth version of his
The scheme will apply throughout the UK, winter economy plan in just six weeks; he can
Sunak said, ending confusion over whether it change his mind at the last minute, but busi-
would be offered to Scottish workers as well. nesses can’t.”
Workers in Wales and Northern Ireland will also “We need a Chancellor who is in front of the
benefit beyond the end of England’s lockdown problems we face, not one who is always a step
on December 2. behind.”
In addition, grants of up to GBP7,500 will be The furlough’s extension was welcomed by
provided for the self-employed. industry association Oil and Gas UK (OGUK),
“I’ve always said I would do whatever it takes which described it as a “vital lifeline” for its
to protect jobs and livelihoods across the UK members that would allow them to keep “hun-
– and that has meant adapting our support as dreds of workers.”
the path of the virus has changed,” Sunak said. “Along with so many people facing contin-
“It’s clear the economic effects are much longer uing uncertainty due to COVID-19, our sector
lasting for businesses than the duration of any faces extra pressures generated by volatile oil and
restrictions, which is why we have decided to go gas prices,” the OGUK said. “These challenges
further with our support.” inevitably mean recovery will take longer, but we
Shadow Chancellor Anneliese Dodds are doing all we can to support our supply chain
slammed the government for creating and mitigate against further job losses.” ™

P14 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 45 12•November•2020