JobKeeper & JobTrainer Update – Support for your business in response to COVID-19

1. Extension of JobKeeper
The Morrison Government has today announced that the JobKeeper Scheme, originally due to end on 27 September 2020, will continue at a reduced payment rate until 28 March 2021.
The JobKeeper Payment provides eligible businesses and not-for-profit organisations (i.e. those significantly affected by COVID-19) with access to an Australian Government wage subsidy that is passed onto eligible employees.
This $16.5 billion extension package is aimed at supporting eligible businesses and not-for-profits that continue to be significantly affected by COVID-19. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has indicated that ‘we are extending the JobKeeper Payment beyond September to help keep businesses in business and Australians in jobs as our economy reopens’.
A ‘two-tiered payment’ will be introduced from 28 September 2020 and employees employed for fewer than 20 hours per week (on average) in the four weeks before 1 March 2020 will receive a lower payment rate. The JobKeeper Payment rates from 28 September 2020 to 28 March 2021 will be as follows (as extracted from the Prime Minister’s media release):
In respect of the first JobKeeper Payment extension period of 28 September 2020 to 3 January 2021, businesses and not-for-profits will be required to reassess eligibility by reference to their actual (rather than projected) GST turnover in both the June and September quarters.
In respect of the second JobKeeper payment extension period of 4 January 2021 to 28 March 2021, businesses and not-for-profits will be required to reassess eligibility by reference to their actual (rather than projected) GST turnover in each of the June, September and December quarters.
The decline in turnover test is the same as the existing rules. Businesses and not-for-profits will need to demonstrate they have experienced the following:
Date | Full rate per fortnight | Less than 20 hours worked p/fortnight rate |
28 Sep 2020 to 3 Jan 2021 | $1,200 | $750 |
4 Jan 2021 to 28 Mar 2021 | $1,000 | $650 |
- where aggregated turnover is less than $1 billion, there is at least a 30% reduction in turnover (when compared to at least a one-month period a year ago); or
- where aggregated turnover is $1 billion or more there is at least a 50% reduction in turnover (when compared to at least a one-month period a year ago); or
- in the case of charities and not-for-profits, the turnover reduction threshold is lower at 15%.
- The provision of vocational educational training (VET) to assist school leavers and job seekers to access courses to develop new skills, particularly in areas that the National Skills Commissioner has identified as high need.
- The existing support to apprentices and small business will be extended to supporting small to medium businesses by subsidising wages of apprentices to ensure their employment can continue during the pandemic.
- JobKeeper – as referred to above, which provides eligible businesses and not-for-profit organisations with access to an Australian Government wage subsidy that is passed onto employees.
- JobSeeker – an Australian government payment for Australians looking for work, provided individuals meet income tests and residence rules (which the Government has also extended).
- JobMaker – which involves a grant and loans program being rolled out to different parts of the arts sector to support thousands of jobs across the arts industry.