The government is facing calls to announce an extension to its furlough scheme this week in order to avoid wholesale redundancies, according to reports.
Sky News reports that business groups including the CBI have warned ministers that companies will have to decide by April 18 whether they will be able to keep workers on their payroll beyond the end of May.
The emergency job retention scheme is initially available to businesses for the months of March, April and May, and has seen massive take-up across the travel industry.
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The Sky News report said April 18 was a key date, as any company wishing to make more than 100 staff redundant must initiate a 45-day consultation period.
Under the scheme, the government will cover 80% of wages, up to a maximum of £2,500, on the proviso that employees do not work during their furlough period.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak last week said he would view a large take-up of the scheme as a success.
