Federal Government Wage Subsidy for Host Businesses

15 March 2020

My Gateway welcomes the Federal Government’s announcement of a $17.6 billion stimulus package in response to the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

This package includes a wage subsidy that is available to help small businesses with less than 20 full-time employees, retain both apprentices and trainees.

The Government has confirmed that host businesses are eligible for the subsidy in the same way as direct employers.

Key Details:

• Eligible employers can apply for a wage subsidy of 50% of the apprentice’s or trainee’s wage paid during the nine months from 1 January 2020 to 30 September 2020.
• The apprentice or trainee must have been in training with a small business as at 1 March 2020.
• Employers will be reimbursed up to a maximum of $21,000 per eligible apprentice or trainee.
• Employers of any size who re-engage an eligible out-of-trade apprentice or trainee will be eligible for the subsidy.
• Employers will be able to access the subsidy after an eligibility assessment is undertaken by an Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN) provider.
• Employers can register for the subsidy from early-April 2020.

My Gateway will continue to keep you updated as more information becomes available about the wage subsidy application process. Whilst the process is yet to be confirmed, My Gateway intends to manage the process on behalf of host businesses and maximise their subsidies.

If you have any questions, please contact your designated My Gateway Employment Career Partner.

More information is also available through the Australian Apprenticeships website and The Treasury website.