NZ lockdown: Print NZ highlights COVID Tracer, Wage subsidy and more

With Auckland back at alert level 3 and the rest of the country at alert level 2 until 26 August, Print NZ has provided the following updates for local workers in printing and related companies:

Contact Tracing

From Wednesday 19 August, it is compulsory for all businesses to display the Government COVID Tracer App QR code in a prominent place at every entrance to the business. You can create your poster at https://covid19.govt.nz/business-work-and-money/business/get-your-qr-code-poster/

Companies are obliged to provide contact tracing for everyone that comes to their premises so you must also have a manual system available for those that do not have a smart phone and are unable to scan the code.  

PrintNZ has created a manual Sign-in Register which can be downloaded from https://www.printnz.co.nz/news

Travel in and out of Auckland

If you have staff that live outside the Auckland boundaries that are required to come to work each day, they will need an exemption letter to get through the border checks. This exemption must come from the Director-General of Health and can be given to people, businesses, services and goods. It would be best to apply for the business to use for multiple employees.

Each application is assessed on its merits, including the overall risk to public health from COVID-19 and individual circumstances.

To apply, email: [email protected]

Ensure that you include:

- your contact details

- if the exemption is for a personal or business reason

- who you want the exemption to cover, including the number of people or organisations

- reasons why you think the exemption is necessary

- how the exemption promotes the purpose of the COVID-19 Public Health Response Act 2020 and the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Alert Levels 3 and 2) Order 2020

-  what steps you will take to minimise the risk of transmission of COVID-19

- what the consequences are if an exemption is not granted.

Once you apply, you will be contacted to confirm when your application is received, and ultimately contacted about the outcome of your application.

Wage Subsidy Extension

Businesses are able to apply for a further two weeks of wage subsidy extension to cover the period of extended restrictions. The scheme is available nationwide in recognition of the impact these will have not only on Auckland, but also on other operations outside of the region that form part of the supply chain to/from Auckland businesses.

A business must have had, or must predict to have, a downturn of 40% plus for a period of 14 days in the timeframe from 12 August to 10 September.  Applications are expected to open at the end of this week.

Note:  You will not be able to apply for this payment if you are still receiving the wage subsidy extension during the period prescribed above. 

Leave support scheme

The Government has announced a major amendment to the Leave Support Scheme which supports vulnerable workers that can't come to work, or those required to go into isolation due to having or being exposed to Covid-19.

Both criteria previously mentioned (30% downturn or negative impact on your ability to pay), have been withdrawn. Therefore all businesses that have staff that are unable to come to work for their own or other's health reasons, or those that are required to self-isolate, you can apply for the Leave Support payment for those staff.

You must still discuss the application with your employees before making it and:

- get their consent to the relevant points outlined in the declaration and

-  that they fall into one of the eligible groups.

See:

https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/covid-19/leave-support-scheme/index.html

As always, PrintNZ is on hand to support and assist during this time and can be contacted on (09) 265 2090 or 0800 654 455 or [email protected]