The Government has brought back the Wage Subsidy August 2021 which kicks in today (20th August 2021), this supports you as business owners to pay your people and yourself as well as protecting the jobs within your nurseries.
The Wage Subsidy August 2021 will cover a two-week period at the rate of:
- $600 a week for each full-time employee retained (20 hours a week or more)
- $359 a week for each part-time employee retained (less than 20 hours a week).
Apply for the wage subsidy using the online application form here
If you are receiving the COVID-19 Wage Subsidy August 2021, you must use your best endeavours to pay the employee named in your application at least 80% of their usual wages.
If that isn't possible, you need to pay at least the subsidy rate (ie, full-time or part-time).
You will not make any changes to your obligations under any employment agreement, including to rates of pay, hours of work and leave entitlements, without the written agreement of the relevant employee.
If your employee's usual wages are less than the subsidy, you must pay them their usual wages. Any difference should be used for the wages of other affected staff - the wage subsidy is designed to keep your employees connected to you.
You can get the subsidy for your casual employees for their usual hours, and you must continue to employ them for the subsidy period.
The COVID-19 Wage Subsidy August 2021 is to support you to pay two-weeks of wages for your employees from 20 August 2021.
Other COVID-19 support is also becoming available to those eligible, including:
Remember if you are eligible you can apply for both the Wage Subsidy and Resurgence Support Payment, but these cannot be done in conjunction with the Leave Support Scheme and Short-Term Absence Payment.
If you need further clarity on any of these please contact the Business Helpline on 0800 500 362, and for specific queries please call AdviceLine on 0800 300 362.