Wage subsidy support returns
The government has swiftly triggered support for businesses and workers impacted by the alert level four lockdown introduced to combat Covid-19 in the community.
Grant Robertson, Minister of Finance, says it has activated a number of measures to provide certainty and “ensure we get money out the door quickly to protect jobs and keep firms’ operating”.
These include the wage subsidy scheme, which is available nationally when there’s a regional or national move to alert levels three and four for a period of seven days.
Robertson, pictured, notes the scheme is designed to help eligible businesses keep paying staff and protect jobs, with the rates higher than last year’s national lockdown to reflect increased wage costs.
Businesses will be eligible for $600 per week per full-time equivalent employee, and $359 per week per part-time employee.
A resurgence support payment is also available to help businesses or organisations with one-off costs due to the alert level increase. It is worth up to $1,500 plus $400 per full-time equivalent employee, up to a maximum of 50 full-time employees.
Details of the wage subsidy can be found on the Ministry of Social Development’s website, while information on the resurgence support can be accessed through Inland Revenue.
“Other existing support for individuals includes the leave support scheme and short-term absence payment rates will also be increased in line with the wage subsidy scheme,” adds Robertson.
“The government remains well-placed to respond to Covid-19. We have over $1 billion left over from the money set aside for the wage subsidy scheme and resurgence support payment.”
The leave support scheme provides a two-week lump sum payment of either $585.80 per week for full-time workers, or $350 per week for part-time workers, who must self-isolate and cannot work from home.
Meanwhile, the short-term absence payment offers a one-off $350 payment for workers who must miss work due to a Covid-19 test and cannot work from home.
For more details, visit covid19.govt.nz.
