It was fantastic to have more than 60 Pacific businesses attend and participate in the Wage Subsidy Support – Drop-in Clinic held on Zoom. We’d like to thank our guest speakers from Deloittes: Robyn Walker, Noah Mataia and Lisa Tai from Deloittes and Marie Collins from MSD for their insights and advice.

There was a lot of content covered on the wage subsidy payment which is designed to help support employers so they can continue to pay employees and protect jobs. The payment is $1,200 per fortnight per full time employee and $718 per fortnight per part time employee (working 20 hours or more).

In case you've missed it (or want to watch again)…

You can watch the entire session on YouTube here: ttps://youtu.be/lr9gRspZqd8

Slides for the session can be found here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QBctqlpiDZWWg1FHpg-92BHEwodMZA2Y/view?usp=sharing

** Applications for the initial two-week Wage Subsidy August 2021, which opened on 20 August 2021, closed at 11.59pm on Thursday 2 September 2021. **

** Applications for the second COVID-19 Wage Subsidy August 2021, known as Wage Subsidy August 2021 #2, are open for two weeks between 9am 3 September 2021 and 11.59pm Thursday 16 September 2021. **

** If you’ve applied for the previous COVID-19 Wage Subsidy August 2021, you need to wait until two weeks after you’ve applied before you can apply for Wage Subsidy August 2021 #2. If you apply earlier than this, your application for the new subsidy will be declined. **

** If you applied and were eligible for the initial Wage Subsidy, Work and Income will email you to tell you when you can apply for the new Wage Subsidy #2. **

To go straight to the Wage Subsidy application, visit Work and Income’s website here: https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/covid-19/wage-subsidy/how-to-apply.html

If you have questions regarding your situation, please get in touch with PBT dedicated team who are working in partnership with MSD to provided targeted help.

Call on freephone 0800 287 7526 or email info@pacificbusiness.co.nz and our customer services team will be able guide you on the best way to support you, whether that is answers or support the gathering of information. This support is available to all Pacific business, sole trader or self-employed throughout New Zealand, even if you’re new to PBT, just get in touch, our team is here to help.

Here are some quick links shared in the session:

You can find all the 'official' information about the wage subsidy here: https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/covid-19/wage-subsidy/index.html

Here is the link on the leave support scheme https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/covid-19/leave-support-scheme/who-can-get-it.html#null

Here is the link for more details on conditions of people that may require to take the leave: https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-information-specific-audiences/covid-19-advice-higher-risk-people

Here is the link to apply for the wage subsidy: https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/covid-19/wage-subsidy/how-to-apply.html

Here is the link to apply for the Leave Support Scheme: https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/online-services/covid-19/apply-checklist-leave-support-employers.html

Here is the link to apply for the Short Term Absence Payment: https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/online-services/covid-19/apply-checklist-short-term-absence-payment-employers.html

Here is the link to apply for the Resurgence Support Payment: https://www.ird.govt.nz/covid-19/business-and-organisations/resurgence-support-payment/apply

Here are the dates again…

Don’t forget there other schemes and payments available to Employers…

Available from the Ministry of Social Development:

Leave Support Scheme. Available to employers, including self-employed people, to help pay their employees who need to self-isolate and can’t work from home $1,200 per fortnight per full time employee and $718 per fortnight per part time employee.

Short-Term Absence Payment. Available to pay workers who cannot work from home while they wait for a COVID-19 test result. $359 per employee.

Available from Inland Revenue:

Resurgence Support Payment. A payment to help support viable businesses who are facing a reduction in revenue. $1,500 + $400 per full-time employee ($21,500 maximum).

Small Business Cashflow Loan. Interest-free loan scheme for businesses with 50 or fewer full-time employees.

Other Tax Relief. Remission of interest & penalties. Loss carry back rules. Specific COVID-19 concessions.

Don’t delay, start the ball rolling today!

The PBT Team

0800 287 7526

www.pacificbusiness.co.nz