A financial safety net for people left out of work due to Covid-19 was today backed by a charity for families.

Martha Dismont, the executive director of Family Centre, said the unemployment scheme announced by Lovitta Foggo, the Minister of Labour, was “encouraging”.

She added: “We can appreciate the words — and the actions — of the Minister of Labour to ensure that no greater damage is done to our already frail economy.

“Even though the benefits offered will be a maximum of 12 weeks only, it is heartening that this Government has take this position to ensure that individuals are supported, and hopefully, it will be enough.

“These actions give us hope.”

Ms Dismont said people should check the Government website to see if they qualified for the payments and continue to monitor Covid-19 updates from the Government.

She added: “We know that this type of financial support by Government is not necessarily sustainable over time, but it is a good beginning to consider how to assist workers during an interim period with no finances, which is a slightly different remit than what we have at Financial Assistance. “We congratulate the minister and Government for their willingness to demonstrate their care for those vulnerable persons being negatively impacted at this time.”

Ms Foggo said on Monday that up to $500 a week would be made available to people thrown out of work by the virus.

She added that the emergency benefits would be given to work-permit holders as well as Bermudians.