More responsibility will be handed to employers from August as the Government's flagship wage scheme is wound down for workers.
Firms will be asked to increase their furlough contributions at the end of summer, as the scheme, which has so far cost the Treasury £150billion, slowly closes to new applicants.
It comes as the Government revealed 8.4million are now on furlough, an initiative that was introduced in early April to help cover the wages of those who faced redundancy on the back of coronavirus pandemic.
Currently, it pays 80% of wages, with employers asked to contribute the remaining 20%. It's paid up to a maximum of £2,500 a month, equivalent to the UK's average salary of £30,000.