Support available for employers

The Australian Government has announced measures to support businesses impacted by the coronavirus (COVID-19). If you're an employer you may be eligible for:

Temporary cash flow support

Employers will receive a payment equal to 100 per cent of their salary and wages withheld (up from 50 per cent), with the maximum payment being increased from $25,000 to $50,000 and the minimum payment increased from $2,000 to $10,000.

An additional payment is also being introduced equal to the total of all of the Boosting Cash Flow for Employers payments received. This means that eligible businesses will receive at least $20,000 up to a total of $100,000 under both payments.

Not-for-profit entities will also be eligible.

Learn more about Boosting cash flow for employers.

Assistance to help pay the wages of apprentices or trainees

Eligible employers can apply for a wage subsidy of 50 per cent of the apprentice’s or trainee’s wage paid during the 9 months from 1 January 2020 to 30 September 2020. Where a small business is not able to retain an apprentice, the subsidy will be available to a new employer.

Employers will be reimbursed up to a maximum of $21,000 per eligible apprentice or trainee ($7,000 per quarter).

Read more about the assistance to help pay for the wages of your apprentices or trainees.

Casual employees

If you employ a casual employee and they can’t work because they become sick or need to self-isolate, or their income has been otherwise impacted by the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus, they may be eligible for income support payments.

The Government is making these payments quicker to access by waiving the usual waiting period in certain circumstances. Information on income support is available on the Services Australia website.

Information sourced from: https://business.gov.au/risk-management/emergency-management/coronavirus-information-and-support-for-business/employers