The support package for businesses and workers announced for the duration of the ongoing Greater Sydney lockdown, will provide a greater level of confidence to Illawarra businesses as they face enormous challenges and uncertainty, according to the region’s peak business organisation, Business Illawarra.
The package includes a range of measures that directly support both businesses and the staff that they employ, including:
“Keeping businesses going and with their employees retained is all important amid the ongoing uncertainty about when the lockdowns will end in the Wollongong and Shellharbour local government areas,” said Business Illawarra Executive Director, Adam Zarth.
“What is crucial now is for the support money to start flowing as quickly as possible – the Government has assured business applications will open later this month with the money to be paid days after that,” Mr Zarth said.
“In our part of the world, it is important to highlight that as Wollongong and Shellharbour have been in lockdown, the impact on businesses in Kiama, the Shoalhaven and the Southern Highlands has also been immense, as they’ve missed out on the strong school holiday trade, as well as a lack of forward bookings.”
“This support will give business owners the opportunity to retain their staff and give them the best chance to rebound their operations when the lockdown finishes,” Mr Zarth said.