Primark and John Lewis to reject £30m and 14m grant respectively for bringing back furloughed workers

John Lewis which has furloughed about 14, 000 staff, rejected  £ 14m grant and High Street fashion giant Primark which furloughed 30, 000 employees rejected £30m grant, part of Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s new Job Retention Bonus rewards firms with a £1, 000 grant to bring back every worker it placed on furlough even if the company has already re-opened.

John Lewis announced it would not permanently close eight of its stores financially challenged including two full-size department stores in Birmingham and Watford, as well as four  At Home shops in Croydon, Newbury, Swindon and Tamworth, and two travel hub outlets at Heathrow and St Pancras putting 1, 300 jobs at risk.

William Hill is also planning to reject the payment of £7m.