Meat industry calls for flexible furlough

The Association of Independent Meat Suppliers (AIMS) is calling on the Government to introduce a flexible furlough scheme for the meat industry.
This follows similar calls from other organisations such as Scottish Land & Estates.
“We welcome the measures taken by Government during this national emergency and in particular the ‘Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme’ which allows for staff to be furloughed,” said Norman Bagley, Head of Policy at AIMS. “But as it stands this is very much a one size fits all scheme and simply doesn’t taken into account the differences that exist from industry to industry”.
AIMS, whose constituency MP is the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, have spoken with many of their members across all different points within the supply chain.
“What we are hearing is that many have seen a downturn in their businesses but do not have the need to fully close. We would like to see the option for flexible furlough whereby staff would receive their full earnings from their employers on the days they work and the 80% furlough payment on the days they don’t”.
“Many of our members supply much of what they produce to the hospitality industry who through Government instruction are not currently operating. They have some additional retail business, and many have moved into home delivery. However, those sales in no way will replace the business lost.”