Hundreds of people across Derbyshire are breathing a sigh of relief as Government extended wage protections to cover workers who had recently moved jobs.

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme that was announced by the Chancellor three weeks ago ensured that workers who were furloughed due to the Coronavirus pandemic would still receive 80% of their wages from the Government. However, hundreds of thousands of people across the UK who had started a new job after the 28^th February were told they would not qualify for the scheme. Following pressure from Labour MPs, the Government have extended the cut-off date for starting with a new employer to the 19^th March, providing wage protections for hundreds of Derbyshire residents, many of whom were left without any income at all.

Toby Perkins, MP for Chesterfield, said “I welcomed the Government’s scheme when it was introduced but I recognised immediately that people who had recently moved jobs, who may have been working and contributing for many years, were going to be left out in the cold. I raised this with the Chancellor and urged him to make the amendments to the scheme, amendments that, thankfully, he has now confirmed.”

Toby has been in touch with a number of constituents affected by this issue and raised their cases with the Government. He has now written to all of them again to share the good news.

Toby added, “I was being contacted by people worried about losing their homes, not been able to keep up with their bills and just feeling desperate. I am sorry for the worry this has caused families in my constituency, but I am so pleased that they will now be protected through this crisis.

However, there are a number of other individuals and businesses who are falling through the cracks in the Government’s schemes and I am working hard to secure further amendments to the legislation to provide everyone with the protections needed to help them through this.”