TUC blueprint to hold back a ‘jobs tsunami’

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has been urged by unions to adopt a new plan to avert a devastating jobs tsunami when the furlough scheme ends next month.

The blueprint aimed at avoiding a jobless toll of three million comes from the TUC, which was behind the jobs support furlough programme.

It calls for an extension of the scheme with tougher rules for businesses including no bonuses or dividend payments and an end to zerohour contracts.

Any employer seeking taxpayer funding would have to pay their fair share of corporation tax, preventing offshore firms dodging taxes while benefitting from taxpayer support.

They should ould also commit to a “fair fair pay” plan to o guarantee workers pay and hours ofwork. of work.

Frances O’Grady, general secretary of the TUC, right, said: “The Government needs to do o more to get people back k to work, support jobs bs and prevent mass unemployment. mployment. But support should ould come with strings. There’s ere’s still time to avoid an avalanche of job losses. The TUC’s jobs protection plan will help firms with a future keep people on”

The think tank National Institute for Economic Research estimates that the jobless figure could soar to 10 per cent by the end of the year. The Bank of England says it will be at least 7.5 per cent, or 2.5 million.

The TUC says the Chancellor should follow other European countries which have extended furlough schemes.

Previous downturns showed that young people and those already disadvantaged tend to lose work first.

The move comes amid a surge in union membership as workers fear for jobs and safety at work.

Against a decades-long trend, overall membership has risen b by 210,000 in the last two years to 6 6.4 million. reopening of sc schools.

Unite has rec recruited “tens of thousands” of new members since the crisis began.

A spokesma spokesman for the union said: “We are really proud that they hav have turned to us for support d during these

worrying times.”