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Australia's JobKeeper scheme

The economic impacts of the coronavirus pose significant challenges for many businesses – many of which are struggling to retain their employees. Under Australia’s new JobKeeper Payment scheme, businesses significantly impacted by the coronavirus outbreak will be able to access a subsidy from the Government to continue paying their employees. This assistance will help businesses to keep people in their jobs and re-start when the crisis is over. For employees, this means they can keep their job and earn an income – even if their hours have been cut.

The JobKeeper Payment is a temporary scheme open to businesses impacted by the coronavirus. The JobKeeper Payment will also be available to the self-employed. The Government will provide $1,500 (£738) per fortnight per employee for up to six months. The JobKeeper Payment will support employers to maintain their connection to their employees. These connections will enable business to reactivate their operations quickly – without having to rehire staff – when the crisis is over. Employers will be eligible for the subsidy if their business has a turnover of less than $1 billion and their turnover has fallen by more than 30 per cent (of at least a month); or their business has a turnover of $1 billion or more and their turnover has fallen by more than 50 per cent (of at least a month); and the business is not subject to the Major Bank Levy.

Eligible employees are employees who are currently employed by the eligible employer (including those stood down or re-hired); were employed by the employer at March 1st 2020; are full-time, part-time, or long-term casuals (a casual employed on a regular basis for longer than 12 months as at March 1st 2020); are at least 16 years of age; are an Australian citizen, the holder of a permanent visa, a Protected Special Category Visa Holder, a non-protected Special Category Visa Holder who has been residing continually in Australia for 10 years or more, or a Special Category (Subclass 444) Visa Holder; are not in receipt of a JobKeeper Payment from another employer. If employees receive the JobKeeper Payment, this may affect their eligibility for payments from Services Australia as they must report their JobKeeper Payment as income.

Eligible employers will be paid $1,500 per fortnight per eligible employee. Eligible employees will receive, at a minimum, $1,500 per fortnight, before tax, and employers are able to top-up the payment. Where employers participate in the scheme, their employees will receive this payment as follows: If an employee ordinarily receives $1,500 or more in income per fortnight before tax, they will continue to receive their regular income according to their prevailing workplace arrangements. The JobKeeper Payment will assist their employer to continue operating by subsidising all or part of the income of their employee(s). If an employee ordinarily receives less than $1,500 in income per fortnight before tax, their employer must pay their employee, at a minimum, $1,500 per fortnight, before tax. If an employee has been stood down, their employer must pay their employee, at a minimum, $1,500 per fortnight, before tax. If an employee was employed on 1 March 2020, subsequently ceased employment with their employer, and then has been re-engaged by the same eligible employer, the employee will receive, at a minimum, $1,500 per fortnight, before tax.

It will be up to the employer if they want to pay superannuation on any additional wage paid because of the JobKeeper Payment. Payments will be made to the employer monthly in arrears by the ATO. The subsidy will start on March 30th 2020, with the first payments to be received by employers in the first week of May. Businesses will be able to register their interest in participating in the Payment from March 30th 2020 on the ATO website. Find out how to apply here.

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