Job-saving scheme welcomed

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has backed the decision of the governments of EU member states to support the SURE programme, which will provide loans worth €100 billion (about £90 billion) to member states for job preservation measures.

Intended to help finance short-time working and similar schemes, SURE was finally agreed on 15 July.

Luca Visentini, general secretary of the ETUC, welcomed the decision but expressed regret that it had taken so long.

“Now we appeal to members states … to make SURE operational as soon as possible,” he said, pointing out that there were already 42 million workers on short-time work in Europe.

https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2020/05/19/covid-19-council-reaches-political-agreement-on-temporary-support-to-mitigate-unemployment-risks-in-an-emergency-sure

https://www.etuc.org/en/pressrelease/ambassadors-eu-finally-adopt-job-saving-sure