New figures have today shown that the UK Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) has protected 9,100 jobs in Bridgend.
The Scheme was launched in April by the UK Government to pay 80% of a person’s wages to support businesses and employees through the Covid-19 pandemic.
Across Wales 80% of businesses have taken advantage of the scheme, protecting more than 316,000 jobs.
The UK Government also launched a Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) which would allow those who are self-employed to claim up to 80% of their average monthly profits. In Wales, £273 million has been claimed by more than 102,000 self-employed people.
In Bridgend there have been 2,200 recipients of the SEISS.
On top of the funding for these two essential schemes, the UK Government has made more than £2.2 billion available to the Welsh Government to support our Welsh NHS, charities, local government and businesses through the pandemic.
The CJRS scheme will continue to support jobs until the end of October, with flexible part-time furloughing beginning in July to support businesses as the economy reopens.
The SEISS scheme has also been extended with those eligible able to claim a second and final grant in August of up to £6,570.
Commenting on the news, Jamie Wallis, said:
“As well as supporting our vital health and social care workers, it was essential that this historic support was given to those businesses and the self-employed that had to close their doors or stop working to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
“We will make it through this pandemic and we must ensure that the economy is ready to fire on all cylinders, when we’re are allowed out of lockdown and have defeated this virus.
“I’m delighted that the UK Government’s schemes have been able to help over 11,000 people in Bridgend and this is why it is vital that we remember that Wales is stronger being a part of the United Kingdom.”
