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Assistance to businesses to keep people in jobs

Assistance to businesses to keep people in jobs

03/03/2020

The Government will provide a fortnightly payment of $1,500 per eligible employee to businesses impacted by COVID-19 from 30 March 2020 for a maximum period of 6 months.

Eligibility

Employers

Eligible employers are businesses (including companies, partnerships, trusts and sole traders), not-for-profits and charities:

  • with a turnover of less than $1bn and turnover will be reduced by more than 30% relative to a comparable period a year ago (of at least a month)
  • with a turnover of $1bn or more and turnover will be reduced by more than 50% relative a comparable period a year ago (of at least a month)
  • not subject to the major bank levy.

Employees

Eligible employees:

  • Were employed by an eligible employer at 1 March 2020
  • Can be sole traders, full-time, part-time, or long-term casuals employed on a regular basis for longer than 12 months as at 1 March 2020
  • Are at least 16 years of age
  • Are an Australian citizen, the holder of a permanent visa, a protected special category visa, a non-protected special category visa who has been residing continually in Australia for 10 years or more, or a New Zealander on a special category (subclass 444) visa
  • Are not in receipt of a JobKeeper payment from another employer.

A person receiving the JobKeeper payment cannot also receive the JobSeeker payment.

Application process

Employers and businesses without employees can register their interest in applying for the JobKeeper Payment via the ATO website from 30 March 2020.

  • Eligible employers will be able to apply for the payment online and payments will received from the first week of May. Participating employers will be required to ensure eligible employees will receive, at a minimum, $1,500 per fortnight, before tax.
  • Businesses without employees will need to provide an ABN for their business, nominate an individual to receive the payment, provide the individual’s TFN and provide a declaration as to recent business activity.

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Tags: Covid-19