On 2 April 2020 the Government established the Essential Workers
Leave Support package, which is available from 6 April 2020.
Here's how it works:
The scheme allows essential businesses to pay their employees
who cannot work and need to take leave due to COVID-19 Ministry of
Health guidelines.
The scheme is focussed on supporting three groups of essential
employees:
- Employees who are self-isolating in accordance with Ministry of
Health guidelines because they have contracted the virus or have
come into contact with someone who has contracted the virus (or
have a dependent they need to care for who is sick or
self-isolating);
- Those deemed at higher risk if they contract COVID-19 (such as
people over 70 and immunocompromised people), who have been advised
to self-isolate for the duration of the lockdown in accordance with
Ministry of Health guidelines; and
