Federal Group reacts to JobKeeper payments, as the Hobart City Council looks to set up a business recovery group
Employers have begun examining how the Federal Government’s $130 billion JobKeeper package will benefit their businesses and workers.
Business
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ONE of Tasmania’s biggest private employers is working through the details to see how the Federal Government’s JobKeeper payments will flow to their stood down workers, but holds concerns for its ineligible employees on foreign visas.
On Monday, the Federal Government announced details of its $130 billion lifeline, which it expects will have six million Australian workers paid $1500 a fortnight in an attempt to keep them in their jobs and save the economy.
Last week, Federal Group’s corporate affairs executive general manager Daniel Hanna announced all 1500 workers expected to be stood down would have a job to come back to when the COVID-19 crisis is over.
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Mr Hanna on Tuesday said the new stimulus package would be a great support for the company’s workforce.
“We expect the $1500 fortnightly payment will be welcome news for many of our team and we are moving quickly to understand the details of this new policy to ensure this payment is available for eligible employees as soon as possible,” he said.
“However, a key concern is the situation for 156 of our team members who are foreign visa holders and not eligible for the JobKeeper payment or other government support.
“We are doing what we can to support our vulnerable team members, including making accommodation available, and we encourage the Government to look at what support it can provide to foreign visa workers, many who can’t afford to return home, can’t access flights or are concerned about their health if returning to places more severely impacted by COVID-19.”
Meanwhile, the Hobart City Council is organising a business recovery group to serve as the business interface to the State Government on matters relating to the economic survival of Hobart businesses.
Lord Mayor Anna Reynolds said the council had taken on the role due to a lack of a chamber of commerce.
“When the time is right, we will convene a group with broad business experience to help council work out the best strategies for getting the CBD back on its feet and ready for what is likely to be a new era,” she said.
Alderman Damon Thomas said the original plan had been for the council to act on the group in the recovery phase of the pandemic, but said the council decided to bring it forward.
“This way we would get a much more responsive feedback than simply waiting to react to an already developed disaster,” he said.
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