WIREDGOV

Commenting on the latest figures on employment and pay, published today (Tuesday) by the Office for National Statistics, which show a fall in pay, a rise in the claimant count and a sharp fall in vacancies and hours, and PAYE data which shows continued falls in jobs and pay in April and May, Wales TUC General Secretary Shavanah Taj said:

It is only government intervention through the Job Retention Scheme and other measures that has prevented these figures being much, much worse.

And it is only governments – both in Westminster and in Cardiff – that have the tools to protect jobs in the coming months.

The alternative is tens of thousands consigned to the despair of unemployment, thousands of family businesses going to the wall and public services stretched to breaking point.

The support being offered to workers must be sustained for as long as it is needed. And beyond that Wales will need an ambitious economic stimulus package focused on green investment, protecting high quality jobs in our manufacturing sector, expanding employability and skills support, and investing in new business models built on fair work principles.