Fresh blow to high street as 300k shop workers face axe in next three years

A JOBS bloodbath will hit 300,000 workers in the next three years, retailers warn.

And that’s before the Budget’s tax raid damage is taken into account.

Seven of the UK’s biggest retailers — Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Primark, Morrisons, Sainsbury’s, Asda and Kingfisher — have formed the new Retail Jobs Alliance.

They warn at least one in ten supermarket or high street jobs is already at risk.

The real picture will be worse as this forecast was before the blow to business from the Budget’s national insurance raid.

Rami Baitieh, chief executive of Morrisons, said: “Supermarkets are grappling with rising costs and steep taxes.

“Now we face the prospect of even higher business rates.

“We’d urge the Government to rethink its plans and protect all shops from a damaging new rates hike which would hit jobs and the high street.”

Andrew Griffith MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Business and Trade said: “Retail businesses are facing an onslaught from the Government.

“Business rates hikes, 1970s-inspired employment laws and tax rises simply for employing staff will see the shutters closed forever on thousands of shops.

“The choices Labour have made will directly lead to job losses, with the worst impacts felt in the most disadvantaged communities.

“Is this the ‘Change’ people voted for?”