The fashion retailer has said no to a £30M job retention bonus offered by the government.
This rejection of a £30M handout from the government by Primark could potentially put pressure on other major firms not to take taxpayer money. It was announced last week by Chancellor Rishi Sunak that all businesses will be paid £1,000 for each employee they bring back from furlough. Primark placed around 30,000 workers on the government’s coronavirus job retention scheme.
But it said it has now brought them all back and would not ask for the payment. “The company removed its employees from government employment support schemes in the UK and Europe in-line with the re-opening of the majority of its stores,” said a spokesperson for Primark’s owner Associated British Foods.
“The company believes it should not be necessary therefore to apply for payment under the bonus scheme on current circumstances.”
