Workers in Newham face a worsening jobs crisis as the government’s furlough scheme encouraging firms to keep people in work comes to an end on October 31.

West Ham alone has 29,300 furloughed jobs according to the government, the highest in London. In all, around 53,200 Newham workers benefit from the job retention scheme which gives employers cash support of up to 80 per cent of wage costs up to a maximum of £2,500 per worker.

The impact of ending the scheme is uncertain, but union leader Sam Gurney, Regional Secretary of the Trades Union Congress covering East London says local workers are already under pressure. “Newham is at the sharpest end of insecure working in the country”, he said.

A survey last year by the Employment Rights Service revealed widespread denial of worker rights. As many as 36,000 Newham residents were paid under the minimum wage in the year 2018-2019; more than 8,000 were denied holiday pay; and more than 22,000 didn’t receive a payslip.

Newham Voices will follow these development closely.

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