Monday newspaper round-up: Heathrow boss, entry-level jobs, dividends
The boss of Heathrow has urged the government to develop plans to restart travel between “low-risk countries” as global lockdown measures are eased. John Holland-Kaye, chief executive of the busiest airport in Britain, said the UK should adopt a risk-based approach to flights and warned that the UK economy will suffer if blanket travel restrictions continue. He also backed the idea of “immunity passports” to allow people who have already had Covid-19 to travel more freely. - Guardian
School leavers and graduates hoping to enter the labour market in Britain this year will struggle to find employment as firms slash entry-level jobs by nearly a quarter owing to the coronavirus crisis, a report warns. All types of entry-level roles have been reduced this year by 23%, said the Institute of Student Employers (ISE), with the “volatile” jobs market forecast to shrink further as 15% of employers expect to scale back recruitment further in 2021. – Guardian
Housing groups in England are lobbying for a Scotland-style funding package for hundreds of small housebuilders who are struggling to access government-backed loans from banks. Industry bosses are pushing for a specific deal for builders as part of efforts to support cash-starved businesses in the sector through the pandemic. Discussions with government officials are in the early stages. Other emergency measures for the sector are also being explored. – Telegraph
Dividends worldwide are set to fall by at least 15 per cent this year, a drop of $213 billion, according to the latest barometer of company payouts. Janus Henderson, the fund manager that compiles the global dividend index, said that such a fall, cutting payouts to $1.2 trillion, was a best-case scenario. In the worst case, dividends could fall 35 per cent to $933 billion. – The Times
Emirates Group looks poised to become the latest airline owner to cut jobs, with up to 30,000 positions at risk. The group is reviewing costs, and last night Bloomberg reported that a third of its 105,000 staff could go. – The Times