THE FURLOUGH scheme must remain and be adapted to avoid an avalanche of lob losses in the autumn, unions demanded today.

As official statistics revealed Britain’s economy remains 4.4 per cent weaker than at pre-pandemic levels despite 4.8 per cent growth last quarter, the TUC warned that a premature end to the scheme in September would cost jobs and undermine the recovery.

The union body also called for a “daughter of furlough,” to create a permanent safety net, similar to schemes already operating in 23 major capitalist countries, as the economy goes through future crises or transitions, such as to net-zero carbon.