Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure employers follow their guidance that atypical workers on PAYE, including agency workers, individuals on zero-hours contracts, and casual workers, are eligible to be furloughed under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme; and whether they intend to send communications to employers encouraging them to do so.

The Government encourages all?firms?affected by coronavirus to treat their employees fairly and carefully.?The scheme?is already?helping?firms keep millions of people in employment by?covering?most wage costs. While there is no obligation for employers to take up the scheme, the scheme is open to all UK employers provided they have a PAYE scheme registered on HMRC’s real time information system for PAYE on 19 March 2020;?enrolled for PAYE online; and have a UK bank account. HMRC must?also?have received an RTI submission notifying payment in respect of that employee on or before 19 March 2020. Employers can claim for employees on any type of employment contract, including full-time, part-time, agency, flexible or zero-hour contracts.

Those not eligible for the scheme may have access to other support which the Government is providing, including a package of temporary welfare measures and up to three months’ mortgage payment holidays for those who may be in difficulty with their mortgage payments.