Changes to the Wage Subsidy
The Modifications Included:
The ‘Sick Leave Payment’ has been folded into the Wage Subsidy to ensure there is no ‘double dipping’, and any Employees or their dependants that are sick due to COVID-19 will be eligible for the Wage Subsidy.
Employers that utilise the Wage Subsidy must make their ‘best endeavours’ to pay Employees 80% of their pre-COVID-19 income. Where that is not possible i.e. in particular where a business has no activity due to the shutdown and Employees are not working any hours – Employers must pass on at least the whole value of the Wage Subsidy to the affected Employee.
Employers must undertake to keep Employees in employment for the period of the Wage Subsidy.
MSD will begin publishing the names of organisations and people that have accessed the subsidy.
The new declaration as at 27 March 2020 is available here to review