Survey | How much will the coronavirus lockdown affect New Zealand's construction industry?
As everyone continues to assess how this lockdown will affect businesses, the New Zealand Chinese Building Industry Association would like to hear your feedback through this survey. The findings from our analysis of the survey data will be sent to government agencies and the media, while your personal and company information will remain strictly confidential. We hope the findings and information will help the government make sound, timely decisions and help the construction industry through this difficult period. Please scan the QR code at the end of the article to access the survey.
From 26 March 2020, New Zealand entered coronavirus Alert Level Four – Eliminate. This means New Zealand is under a strict lockdown, during which all non-essential businesses must close and the vast majority of New Zealanders must stay at home to prevent further spread of the coronavirus. For more information, please visit: https://covid19.govt.nz/
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Which construction companies provide essential services? (As at 24 March)
According to information from New Zealand's Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment:
- Any business involved in construction work for essential services and critical infrastructure.
- Any business involved in construction work immediately necessary to maintain people's health and safety at home or at work.
- Any business recognised as necessary to carry out or participate in construction work, or provide resources for the purposes above.
If you have further questions or would like to know more, please visit: https://covid19.govt.nz/
Financial support
In response to these unprecedented difficulties, the New Zealand government has introduced a wage subsidy scheme for businesses and employees. The scheme took effect on Friday 27 March 2020 at 4h in the afternoon.
Businesses participating in the scheme must still make their best efforts to pay employees 80% of their pre-COVID earnings. Where this is not possible, particularly where a business has no activity and workers have no working hours because of the shutdown, they must pass on at least the full value of the wage subsidy to each affected worker. Businesses must commit to keeping employees in employment throughout the subsidy period. The original sick leave scheme is being incorporated into this updated wage subsidy scheme. The government is making arrangements for essential workers who need to take sick leave because of the coronavirus.
The wage subsidy is NZ$585.8 per week for full-time employees who worked more than 20 hours before the coronavirus lockdown, and NZ$350 per week for part-time employees who worked fewer than 20 hours before the lockdown. A total of 12 weeks of wage subsidies will be paid as a lump sum, meaning each full-time employee will receive a subsidy of NZ$7029.6.
If you have any questions or would like further details, please visit: https://covid19.govt.nz/government-actions/financial-support/
As everyone continues to assess how this lockdown will affect businesses, the New Zealand Chinese Building Industry Association would like to hear your feedback through this survey. The findings from our analysis of the survey data will be sent to government agencies and the media, while your personal and company information will remain strictly confidential. We hope the findings and information will help the government make sound, timely decisions and help the construction industry through this difficult period.
Everyone is encouraged to take part in the survey!
