Businesses are able to start bringing staff back part-time who have been furloughed under the Government’s coronavirus jobs protection scheme from Wednesday.
Firms will be able to decide which employees they bring back and what hours they do, while paying the wages for the time they work.
The move comes as the Treasury is preparing to wind down the scheme – which has seen the state pay up to 80% of workers’ wages.
From August, employers will have to start contributing to their staff wages again – prompting fears of mass lay-offs if firms still lack the cash to pay them.
According to the latest figures from the Treasury, more than 9.3 million jobs have been protected under the scheme at a cost of £25.5 billion to the taxpayer.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: “Our number one priority has always been to protect jobs and businesses through this outbreak.
“The furlough scheme, which will have been open for eight months by October, has been a lifeline for millions of people and as our economy reopens we want that support to continue.
“Giving firms the flexibility to bring back furloughed workers on a part-time basis will help them work gradually and help them plan for the months ahead.”
