Make the "80% paid wages" scheme useable straight away

Rejected 21 signatures

What the petition asks

Currently the scheme is not available to use straight away as HMRC is still working it out. Millions need the money now to pay for bills. Also make the scheme available so employer doesn't have to advance the money waiting to be reimbursed as it is the reason why they're laying off their staff.

Employers and businesses decide to lay off their staff instead of retaining them because the scheme is not well explained and the fact the employer has to advance the money is a big brick wall ! Most small businesses cannot afford paying upfront and waiting for the government to pay them back at an undisclosed date. It defeats the point of the chancellers plea to employers not to lay off millions of employees.

Why it was rejected

The UK Government or Parliament was already taking the action it asked for.

Since you started your petition the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has opened. Details of how to claim are available here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-for-wages-through-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme

You can find out more about coronavirus and how you can protect yourself and others here:

www.gov.uk/coronavirus
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

The Government has also created an online service to help you out what you can do if you’re struggling because of coronavirus: https://www.gov.uk/find-coronavirus-support

You can read NHS tips to help if you are worried about coronavirus here: https://www.nhs.uk/oneyou/every-mind-matters/coronavirus-covid-19-anxiety-tips

You can read impartial analysis of the Government response to coronavirus and policy developments here: https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/coronavirus/

You may also be interested to know that because of the large number of petitions that have been started in relation to coronavirus, the Petitions Committee has been questioning the Government about its response to the coronavirus outbreak.

Find out more and watch the Committee put questions suggested by petitioners to Government Ministers and the Deputy Chief Medical Officer: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/news/145767/committee-question-deputy-chief-medical-officer-and-ministers-on-coronavirus-response/

Read letters asking further questions of Government Ministers: https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/326/petitions-committee/publications/3/correspondence/

Timeline

25 Mar 2020	Petition opened for signatures
1 May 2020	Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 21

Status Rejected

Rejected 1 May 2020

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