Jag Land Rover furloughs half of its UK workforce

JAGUAR Land Rover has furloughed half of its entire UK workforce due to the coronavirus pandemic.

That means up to 20,000 workers will be put onto the furlough scheme.

The automotive manufacturer said they “furloughed all roles that are not critical during this temporary period of disruption.”

Its board and leadership team will also be deferring salary payments from May for three months, the firm said.

Production ceased at its Solihull plant on March 23, and then at the site in Castle Bromwich the following day.

The firm also ceased production at its Halewood plant in Liverpool on March 20.

JLR also confirmed that “a controlled stop would continue for a few more weeks.”

“At Jaguar Land Rover, the health of our employees is our primary concern,” a spokeswoman said.

“We continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and follow the guidance of all relevant authorities.”

Some employees accused the firm of allegedly “making staff pay back time due to coronavirus in compulsory overtime” despite 80 per cent of monthly wages being covered by the Government.

“JLR are making employees pay back the time off we have had due to coronavirus in compulsory overtime even though they are getting 80 percent of the wages covered by the Government scheme,” said an employee, who asked not to be named.

“We employees don’t think it is fair as somewhere down the line we will have to pay it back in tax anyway, so why should we be made to do compulsory overtime as well?

“On our wage slips it is already showing 130+ hours we owe them back they have booked it as an agreement called corridor hours, which means compulsory overtime.”

But a JLR spokeswoman said: “The use of corridor hours arrangement has allowed us to act quickly to manage and administrate our application of the job retention scheme.

“For those on furlough, we are topping up wages to protect 100% base salary during April.

“We are in discussions with the trade unions and our employees are regularly updated by Jaguar Land Rover and the trade unions about the current situation.”

JLR added: “Our manufacturing sites are on a controlled stop and continue to adhere to government advice.

“Against the backdrop of rapidly changing circumstances, we have decided to extend the controlled stop at our plants for a few more weeks.

“We are working towards an orderly return to production as soon as conditions permit.

“We are operating in line with advice from the NHS & Public Health England to minimise the spread of the coronavirus, whilst implementing plans to safeguard our business continuity.”