0 hours contract support

This is a reader’s question:

‘I started working with a school in January 2020 and worked throughout January and February, delivering my tutoring services. I was also scheduled to work in March and all the courses and workshops were cancelled due to lack of attendees, which is not surprising given the current situation that people did not want to book a classroom based course. I therefore lost a total of £550 for cancelled work in March and although I appreciate that work is not ‘guaranteed’ under a 0 hours contract, it is entirely likely the courses would have gone ahead were it not for the Coronavirus situation.

My understanding is that employees on zero hours contracts are due 80% of salary under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. Employers can choose to put any staff who were on their payroll on 28 Feb on ‘furlough’ and the Govt will cover 80% of their salary which can be topped up to 100% at the employer’s discretion.

The employer has said, however, that because we’re public sector employees and are receiving public funding, then I we won’t be entitled to government support. This is because the government said they do not expect the scheme will be available to many public sector organisations.

Is this right? Or am I entitled to be furloughed?’