We have to keep chins up, says Townsend

Christchurch business owners and their staff are now facing fatigue and stress with some workers afraid for their families and reluctant to return to work after yesterday's violent aftershock.

The Government's $15 million package of emergency wage subsidies for workers of small business with 20 employees and less will save some businesses but not all.

An estimated 77,400 employees in small to medium businesses in the Christchurch and Canterbury region will qualify for the subsidies. Larger businesses are expected to have insurance to cover loss of profits-business interruption.

"It will mean the difference between life and death for some businesses," Canterbury Employers' Chamber of Commerce chief executive Peter Townsend said.

But yesterday's violent aftershock of 5.1 on the Richter scale and centred near Lyttelton has freaked out many. "The biggest problem that is facing us now is fatigue and stress," Townsend said. Some people were genuinely terrified of returning to their workplace and did not believe buildings were safe, even with the "green" certificate from building inspectors denoting that.

He imagined several businesses that were re-opening yesterday would have closed following the aftershocks before 8am.

Hopefully businesses would start returning to as normal as possible today, he said. "Eighty per cent of Christchurch is getting on with the job. "We have to keep our chins up.

"Small businesses that rang me last night and this morning – and there have been many of them – are just hanging out for assistance," he said.

From today business will be able to apply for assistance from Work and Income, not the chamber, as Prime Minister John Key had said.

Townsend said there would be simple forms on the Winz website for businesses to fill in to apply for the subsidy. They would require the businesses to give some authentication.

Earthquake subsidiary support includes:

$350 per week gross wage subsidy.Advance lump sum paid to employer.Employer can `top-up' subsidy.Backdated to date of earthquake.Firms holding insurance cover for loss of earnings will be expected to use this before accessing the wage subsidy.The subsidy will be paid for up to four weeks. Firms can re-apply after four weeks if they are still unable to resume operating. Part-time workers would receive the corresponding part payment.If only a part of the business is operating then employers can apply for the subsidy for a part.Staff already receiving another government subsidy would have their circumstances considered on its merits.

- © Fairfax NZ News