Both UK and Scottish governments have been urged to pledge further financial support to ease concerns of massive job losses in Moray.
The region is forecast to be among the worst hit in the country as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic with a possible 10,000 job losses due to its reliance on the tourism and construction industries among others.
Meanwhile, Moray Council faces a growing £1.5million funding gap in its response to the crisis after just three months.
Yesterday Moray MP Douglas Ross raised the plight in Westminster – urging both governments to work together in the coming months on solutions.
He said: “Official figures showed the thousands of jobs in Moray that have been supported and the millions of pounds that has come from the UK Government after businesses were closed and people ceased work as we tackled this health crisis.
“While this support has been welcomed across the board, we face an equally challenging period ahead and we need both of our governments to know the challenges that Moray is facing and look at ways we can mitigate these.”
The furlough scheme has already supported 11,700 jobs in Moray as well as a further 2,600 self-employed workers, all receiving a share of £7.8million.
Treasury minister Jesse Norman said: “We have always taken Moray very seriously. We have made a significant investment in the oil and gas sector, from which it is a massive beneficiary.
“We have been very engaged and will continue to look at the sectoral and geographical impacts of the pandemic.”