THE incomes of nearly 10,000 workers in Inverclyde are now being paid by the UK Government — an increase of more than a thousand in the space of a month.

Currently the wages of 8,300 people now furloughed by their employers are being met by the Coronavirus Job Retention scheme.

The scheme was devised by the Chancellor to help keep people in work after lockdown was announced as the pandemic took hold.

There are also a further 1,500 people claiming from the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS).

That represents a total of 9,800 local people this month, compared with the figure for June of 8,700.

The furlough scheme will stop at the end of October and SEISS claimants can apply for a second and final grant of up to £6,750 next month.

Employers have been promised a 'bonus' of £1,000 for each worker they bring back from furlough and employ into next year.