COVID-19 update - 15 April 2020

15 April 2020

Your latest regular update. We'll continue to bring you the information you need, as it's available. Today we have common safety questions answered, info about the cash flow boost, Q&As relating to the JobKeeper payment and industrial laws, plus register for our next Business Endurance webinar ...

^{This COVID-19 member update is unlocked and free to all in the interests of the building and construction industry. Did you know members have exclusive access to information and our team of experts who are on hand to assist in a range of ways? Need more specific COVID-19 advice relating to contracts, WHS, employment conditions or the relief measures? Members can contact us or learn how to join so you can speak with our experts and get free advice.}

*Due to the changing nature of COVID-19, this information may no longer be correct. Please check state and federal government information for up-to-date guidance.

Your safety questions answered

Here our WHS team provide answers to the most common queries they have been fielding...

Q: Is there a maximum number of workers I can have on site?

A: No, at this stage, there is no maximum or prescribed number of workers, as every site is so different. It all comes down to how you comply with the social distancing rules and additional hygiene measures.

Q: During the COVID-19 pandemic, do people providing first aid at the workplace need any additional protective equipment or processes?

A: No. The normal first aid practices outlined in the First Aid Code of Practice apply for administering first aid to people in the workplace. These include:

Good hygiene practices – such as washing hands before, during and after treatment
Wearing personal protective equipment relevant for the treatment – gloves for wounds, and if carrying out mouth-to-mouth resuscitation – using a personal resuscitation mask
Appropriate handling and disposal of clinical waste (sharps, human tissue or fluids, used dressings).

Although in some circumstances it may be difficult, it is also important to maintain social distance as much as possible during treatment.

You can find other common safety, social distancing and hygiene FAQs on our website. The Department of Housing & Public Works have also produced a guide for the building and construction industry.

JobKeeper payment and the Fair Work Act

Extraordinary measures to support flexible working arrangements, secure jobs and aid business recovery were approved last week by federal parliament. The new workplace laws will operate hand-in-hand with the JobKeeper payment.

Under the special laws, ‘JobKeeper enabled’ employers can direct an employee in receipt of JobKeeper payments to work reduced days or hours per day, undertake alternate duties and work at an alternate location.

Additionally, aJobKeeper enabled employer may reach agreement with an employee to work a 38 hour week on different days of the week, to work alternate spreads of ordinary hours, and take accrued annual leave.

During a JobKeeper enabledworking direction or agreement, the employer must pay the employee each fortnight at least the greater of the $1500 JobKeeper payment or the amount of ordinary wages the employees would earn for the fortnight. Employees will continue to accrue and take service-related entitlements as if the direction had not been issued.

The new laws start immediately, and will cease on 28 September 2020, unless removed prior to that time.

New border crossing requirements

The border crossing requirements recently changed. If you need to cross the border for essential travel (this includes construction work, which is exempt from the border restrictions), you'll need to apply for a Queensland Entry Pass.

All existing green Queensland Entry Passes and Queensland Resident Vehicle Passes became void at 12:01am on Saturday, 11 April 2020. If you applied for your Border Pass prior to this, you'll need to re-apply.

New safety resources

Digital banner

Use this digital banner in your advertising and newsletters to demonstrate to customers and stakeholders that you are complying with COVID-19 regulations.

This and a variety of other resources are available for download in the Safety, social distancing & hygiene area of our dedicated COVID-19 website. A selection are also available in a dedicated new folder in eDocs.

Cash flow boost for employers

The cash flow boost for employers is a measure that can provide temporary cash flow support of between $20,000 and $100,000 through tax office credits to small and medium businesses that employ staff.

There's some eligibility criteria that you need to meet. This includes holding an ABN on 12 March 2020 and continuing to be active; having an annual aggregated turnover under $50 million and making eligible payments you are required to withhold from (eligible payments include salary and wages, director fees, eligible retirement or termination payments and compensation payments).

How to apply

You don't need to apply for the cash flow boost. Just lodge your activity statements as planned on their due date, starting with your March or Quarter 3 activity statement.

Lobbying update

We're continuing our efforts to lobby to keep the building and construction industry considered an essential service and open for business. However, with the impact already being felt throughout the industry, we are also thinking about the future and what will be required to create demand and stimulus once the current restrictions are eased.

We recently joined forces with the HIA, penning a letter to Minister Mick de Brenni that highlights the plight of our industry in the immediate, medium and long term - in particular, the uncertainty being faced across all sectors, and the harsh reality as contract numbers decline and cashflow issues become more common.

We'll continue to push for the government to consider stimulus measures, particularly as the options for business relief come to an end.

Business Endurance webinars MEMBERS REGISTER FOR FREE

We've developed a brand new webinar series covering industry specific topics that relate to keeping your business going during COVID-19.

This free, live 45-minute webinar series will provide you with expert advice to help you through COVID-19 business challenges - particularly on topics like finance, HR, IT, contracts, health and safety and self-endurance.

THURSDAY 16 APRIL: CONTRACTS
8.30 - 9.15AM

Our Master Builders legal specialist, Tracey Wood will break-down the complexities of contracts around topics that include:

Delays due to availability of labour or materials, or social distancing laws
Variations for alternative products
Clients cancelling or suspending contracts
Special conditions to consider for new contracts.

Resources

We're trying to make it easier with loads of resources available:

Health Disclosure Form (clients) - use this when visiting clients and private premises
Health Disclosure Form (visitors) - use this form for visitors coming to your site or business
Notice to supply to clients - use this to confirm for clients you are authorised to attend
COVID-19 site sign - use this to educate your workers on the guidelines
COVID-19 site sign (public) - use this to reinforce to the public and workers on the measures you are taking
Keep your distance checklist - use this to ensure you are following all the recommendations
COVID-19 entry authorisation sign – use this for sites without constant supervision of visitors entering at the gate. Visitors can use this as a health self-assessment
Digital banner (PDF or JPEG) – use this banner in your advertising and newsletters to demonstrate to customers and stakeholders that you are following the COVID-19 rules.

We're here for you

We've got the information you need on:

Help and advice

As usual, our staff are here to help. Whether you've got a question about protecting your business contractually, an employment or a health and safety question, our specialists are here and available to talk you through the options - get in touch.

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