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EMA pleased by Alert Level 3, wage susidy decision decision

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Fri, 14 Aug 2020, 7:04PM
Queen Street during the previous lockdown. (Photo / NZ Herald)
Queen Street during the previous lockdown. (Photo / NZ Herald)

EMA pleased by Alert Level 3, wage susidy decision decision

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Fri, 14 Aug 2020, 7:04PM

The Employers and Manufacturers Association is pleased that businesses will still be able to operate under Alert Level 3.

For 12 days, the Auckland region will remain at Alert Level Three, while the rest of the country stays at Alert Level Two.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says it will help provide certainty to businesses and workers.

She says the wage subsidy extension will be nationwide, and will cover the period that the level three restrictions remain in place.

The EMA's Brett O'Reilly told Heather du Plessis-Allan that businesses will need to adapt to level 3. 

"It's been really pleasing to see how quickly businesses have adapted. In the hospitality area, a lot of restaurants and food outlets have moved to click and collect. We know that manufacturing and construction is able to operate, that's great."

However, he is disappointed that they have had to go into level 3 in the first place.

"It was only a reasonable expectation that border and isolation was managed," though noting that it is not clear if the cluster has originated from there.

O'Reilly would also like to see some relief from the Government in terms of property.

"Landlords are stretched, many of them have been very accommodating with rent relief, and we know the tenants themselves are stretched."

The Covid-19 Alert Levels will be reviewed next Friday - the 21st of August.

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