Argos set to close as MSP calls for furlough extension
Argos has become the latest major retailer to announce it is closing its Perth branch.
The catalogue company will shut its High Street outlet in October.
The news follows the likes of Beales, Carphone Warehouse, Phase Eight, GAP and the Disney store announcing closures this year.
A spokesperson for the company said: “Last year we announced a review of our estate, which included plans to close 60-70 standalone Argos stores and we have now updated colleagues on our plans to close the Perth store in October.
“Customers can continue to shop with us in nearby Sainsbury’s and Argos stores.
“Colleagues will have the opportunity to redeploy to other available roles in the area.
“We understand this will be an unsettling time for those affected and we are supporting them in any way we can.”
Meanwhile, the raft of closures has led to one MSP calling on the UK Government’s furlough scheme to be extended.
The Jobs Retention Scheme is set to finish in October, but Roseanna Cunningham MSP wants to see it continue into next year.
The Perthshire South and Kinross-shire member said: “In the past few weeks alone, we’ve seen chains such as River Island, Boots, WH Smith, Carphone Warehouse, and other well-known names, all announcing widescale job losses that could potentially affect many of my constituents in Perthshire South and Kinross-shire.
“With all that going on, a premature end to the furlough scheme in the middle of a global pandemic would be catastrophic to the local economy.
“In European countries like Germany, reports of an extension to their version of the furlough scheme will come as a welcome relief to millions of workers and businesses who are worried about their future.
“Yet in stark contrast, the UK Tory Chancellor at Westminster is choosing to prematurely shut down our furlough scheme and throw thousands of Scottish jobs on the scrap heap.
“The jobs and livelihoods of my constituents are being put on the line.”
The PA approached the UK Treasury for comment, but had not received one at the time of going to press.