JobKeeper Payment will help businesses stay in business and keep their employees

“The support the Federal Government is providing for wage and salary earners is a welcome boost to the employment prospects of many Australians. The JobKeeper Payment will help businesses and other employers stay in business and help them retain their employees,” Innes Willox, Chief Executive of national employer association Ai Group, said today.

“The measure is well targeted and only applies to employees in businesses that have suffered a sharp reduction in turnover. This new measure is broader than the UK wage subsidy measure which is not available to people who remain in work.

“This support will allow many employers to retain some staff through this health and economic crisis who they may otherwise have needed to let go.

“While inevitably there will be some complexities involved, these can be reduced by a short period of focussed consultation with employer and employee representatives on the legislation and associated regulation and administrative arrangements. The implementation can be further smoothed by a willingness to refine the measure over the period ahead,” Mr Willox said.

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