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The government and companies will increase workers’ wages by covering up to two-thirds of their hours over the next six months, the chancellor said.
Rishi Sunak said that the Employment Support Program will replace the licensing program when it ends on October 31.
He laid out his “winter economic plan” after the government introduced new measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Businesses are feared to make massive job cuts when the licensing plan ends.
Almost 3 million workers, or 12% of the UK workforce, are partially or fully licensed, according to the Office for National Statistics.
The chancellor said that employees will have to work for at least a third of their normal hours to meet the quality of the new scheme, which begins November 1.
Businesses that have borrowed money through the government loan scheme will also have more time to pay the money back.
And the VAT reduction for hospitality and tourism companies will also extend until March. The VAT cut from 20% to 5%, which took effect on July 15, was due to expire on January 12 next year.
