PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (28 April 2020)

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make it his policy that employees whose wages are supported through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will be paid no less than minimum wage rates for their normal hours of work over the salary reference period for that scheme.

Asked by:
Charlotte Nichols (Labour)

Furloughed workers will be eligible for 80% of their regular wages, up to a cap of £2,500 a month, even if based on their usual working hours this would be less than the minimum wage. However, employers can top up these payments voluntarily if they wish.

If training is undertaken by furloughed employees at the request of their employer, then they are entitled to be paid at least the appropriate national minimum wage for this time, even if this is more than the 80% of their regular wages that will be subsidised. Employers will need to pay the additional wages.

Answered by:
Jesse Norman (Conservative)
4 May 2020