UK furlough scheme must stay for Covid-hit industries, warn unions and firms

As job subsidy programme nears its end calls are growing to target help at badly affected sectors such as aviation

• Analysis: should UK furlough be extended?

The furlough scheme should be extended to protect workers in industries that continue to be damaged by the pandemic, business groups and unions have said as the job subsidy programme that has supported more than 11 million employees entered its final month.

Aviation industry workers and staff at Britain's airports should be allowed to remain on furlough until next year when travel restrictions are likely to be lifted and the airline industry returns to normal, they said.