UK extends cut-off date for state wage payments after protests

Britain's finance ministry extended on Wednesday the cut-off date for its scheme to pay 80% of the wages of workers who are temporarily laid off because of the coronavirus crisis after protests from people who stood to miss out.

The eligibility cut-off date for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme was extended to March 19, the day before the scheme was announced, from a previous date of Feb. 28, the ministry said.

Thousands more employees who began their jobs after Feb. 28 would now qualify for the scheme, it said.