MORE than 60,000 people in Gwent have been furloughed under the UK government’s Job Retention Scheme during the coronavirus pandemic, according to Treasury data.

The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Self Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) were announced by chancellor Rishi Sunak at the start of the pandemic in March, and allows workers to be paid 80 per cent of their salary up to £2,500 per month while on furlough.

In Newport, 16,600 people are using the scheme, along with 17,900 in Caerphilly, 9,900 in Torfaen, 9,100 in Monmouthshire, and 6,600 in Blaenau Gwent.

Across Wales, 316,500 jobs were furloughed up to May 31.

Figures also show 16,400 people in Gwent are on the SEISS.

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The scheme is a grant paid out in a single instalment covering three months and amounting to 80 per cent of average profit.

In Newport, 3,900 people are on the SEISS, while the figures stands at 4,800 for Caerphilly, 3,400 for Monmouthshire, 2,500 for Torfaen and 1,800 for Blaenau Gwent.

Welsh secretary Simon Hart said: "The UK Government said it would do whatever it took to support the people and businesses of Wales through the pandemic and we have produced an unprecedented package of measures to deliver on that promise.

"So far, more than 316,000 Welsh jobs have been supported by the job retention scheme while £273m has been provided to support 102,000 self-employed people.

"People and businesses in Wales have also benefited from UK-wide schemes such as VAT deferral, company loans and Universal Credit, while the Welsh Government has been allocated an additional £2.2 billion in direct coronavirus funding."

Chancellor Rishi Sunak added: "The UK Government is doing everything we can to, protect jobs and businesses in Wales and across the UK during the crisis.

"Our unprecedented job retention and self-employment support schemes have supported the livelihoods of millions and will help ensure our recovery is as swift and possible."