As it enters its final month, the furlough scheme must be extended to protect workers in vulnerable Covid-hit industries such as aviation,say trade unions and business groups.
They have called on the government to extend the job subsidy programme.
This is vital for aviation industry workers at UK airports who should be allowed to remain on furlough until next year when travel restrictions are likely to be fully lifted.
Unions are bracing for a surge of redundancies as the scheme winds down.
Jobs would be ‘needlessly lost’ said Unite Assistant General Secretary Diana Holland.
"Foremost is the aviation sector, whose recovery is still delayed and unlike any other sector is hugely reliant on the lifting of international restrictions. As a minimum the furlough scheme should continue for the aviation sector."
"A failure to do so will dramatically damage the long-term recovery of this critical sector to the UK economy."
Chancellor Rishi Sunak has so far rejected all calls for an extension.
Around 1.7 million workers were still on furlough at the beginning of August, and many of those jobs are expected to be at risk when employers have to start paying 100% of their wages again.
