Dumfries and Galloway Chamber of Commerce chief Lee Medd has allayed the fears of firms and workers over the end of the furlough scheme.
He insists businesses have already drawn up battle plans to cope with the closure of the Government scheme to pay a percentage of employees’ salaries during the Covid crisis.
There have been fears that the end of furlough will lead to an increase in unemployment.
But Mr Medd, the chamber’s members services manager, said: “I don’t think we will see a massive number of jobs going.
“What we have seen and heard is that businesses have been planning for the end of furlough for a while and have been restructuring their places.
“They are making changes to shift patterns and have reviewed staff numbers already from full-time to part time.
“Also instead of long hours, people are working possibly 30 hours and being flexible for others.
“We have found that this time with furlough has allowed bosses to have a proper look at their staffing needs.
“So I don’t think we will see big job losses.”
He added: “A lot of people who were in the hospitality industry have already gone and found work elsewhere which is more reliable and secure.
“There is definitely a shortage of chefs everywhere and other staff have re-phased their work times and made changes to their patterns while others are re-evaluating their work and lifestyle.
“We are here to help and have been busy in the last six or seven weeks dealing with firms who are gearing up for the end of furlough.”
The Government has been paying 60 per cent of workers’ wages and employers the remaining 20 per cent. The scheme will continue this way until it ends on September 30.
After this date, employers will be required to pay employees salaries and the aim is for businesses to resume as normal and take employees back to work.
It will be hosted by human resources specialist, Hema Mistry, and cover a range of areas such as the current update from the Government; what the end of furlough means and how it may impact companies plus the road to recovery and what options are available to employers.
