Skills and Training Support for the Hospitality Sector

OWEN WEBB AHA|SA WORKPLACE RELATIONS MANAGER

This is a particularly challenging time for Members as they continue to try and invest in their employees in the future, whilst at the same time navigating through the challenges that COVID-19 continues to produce.

There are a range of skills and training support from both the Federal and State government’s that employers in the hospitality sector can try and access. We have outlined some of those initiatives below.

AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

Boosting Apprenticeship Commencement Wage Subsidy

The Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements Scheme is a wage subsidy scheme to support employers to employ new apprentices and trainees.

Any business who takes on a new apprentice or trainee between 5 October 2020 and 30 September 2021 will be eligible for a 50 per cent wage subsidy regardless of business size, location, industry or occupation.

What wage subsidy is available?

For a new or recommenced apprentice or trainee engaged between 5 October 2020 and 30 September 2021, employers may be eligible for a wage subsidy of 50 per cent of wages for a 12-month period from the date of commencement to a maximum of $7,000 per quarter. Payments are made quarterly in arrears, with final claims to be lodged by 31 December 2022.

What eligibility criteria exists for employers?

For a business to be eligible, the employer must:

• Engage an Australian Apprentice or trainee between 5 October 2020 and 30 September 2021; and

• The Australian Apprentice or trainee must be undertaking a Certificate II or higher qualification, and has a training contract that is formally approved by the state training authority.

An employer will not be eligible for the wage subsidy where the apprentice or trainee is receiving any other form of Australian Government wage subsidy.

HOW DO EMPLOYERS REGISTER AND APPLY FOR THE SUBSIDY?

Members are encouraged to contact an Australian Apprenticeship Support Network Provider to discuss eligibility and

how to apply for the subsidy. For more information in relation to the Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements Scheme click on the link below: https://www.dese. gov.au/boosting-apprenticeshipcommencements �

JOBMAKER HIRING CREDIT

The JobMaker Hiring Credit Scheme is available to employers for each new job they create in which they hire an eligible person aged 16 to 35 years old.

What subsidies are available?

Eligible employers are able to claim $200 a week for each additional eligible employee they hire aged 16 to 29 years old and $100 a week for each additional eligible employee aged 30 to 35 years old.

Eligible employers will be able receive payment for up to 12 months for each new job created from 7 October 2020 to 6 October 2021.

How will employers claim the credit?

The JobMaker Hiring Credit is claimed quarterly in arrears from the ATO. There are reporting obligations on employers to ensure they meet the eligibility criteria.

What are the eligibility criteria for employees?

To be an eligible employee, the employee must:

• Be aged between 16 to 35 years old;

• Have worked at least 20 paid hours per week on average for the full weeks they were employed over the reporting period;

• Commenced their employment between 7 October 2020 and 6 October 2021;

• Have received the JobSeeker Payment, Youth Allowance (Other), or Parenting Payment for at least one month within the past three months before they were hired;

• Be in their first year of employment with this employer; and

• Must be employed for the period that the employer is claiming for them.

Employees may be employed on a casual, part-time or full-time basis.

Employees for whom the employer is receiving a wage subsidy under another Commonwealth program are not eligible employees.

What eligibility criteria exists for employers?

Employers are eligible to receive the JobMaker Hiring Credit if they:

• Have an ABN

• Are up to date with tax lodgement obligations

• Are registered for PAYG withholding

• Are reporting through Single Touch Payroll

• Meet the additionality criteria;

• Are claiming in respect of an eligible employee; and

• Have kept adequate records of the paid hours worked by the employee they are claiming the hiring credit in respect of.

What is the additionality criteria?

To receive the JobMaker Hiring Credit, the employee must be in an additional job created from 7 October 2020.

The additionality criteria require that there is an increase in:

• The business’ total employee headcount (minimum of one additional employee) from the reference date of 30 September 2020; and

• The payroll of the business for the reporting period, as compared to the three months to 30 September 2020.

The amount of the hiring credit claim cannot exceed the amount of the increase in payroll for the reporting period.

Total employee headcount on 30 September 2020 and payroll in the three months to 30 September 2020 represent the baseline values for the employer.

How do employers register?

Employers can register via the ATO online services. Employers do not need to be registered at the time that they hire an employee in order to be eligible. Registration can occur at any time before a claim is made.

For more information in relation to the JobMaker Hiring Credit click on the link below: https://www.ato. gov.au/General/JobMaker-Hiring- Credit/In-detail/JobMaker-Hiring- Credit-guide/

STATE GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

In addition to the support provided by the Australian Government, there is also additional support provided by the South Australian Government, particularly in relation to apprentices and trainees.

Flexible Apprenticeships Employer Bonus Payment – apprentices and trainees

Under Skilling South Australia, eligible employers will receive a bonus payment of $3,000 for the first 1,000 school enrolled students who successfully complete their

South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE) as well as their apprenticeship.

The bonus payment applies to those employers that employ a school student under a contract of training at a minimum of a Certificate III level and upwards.

The payment is paid in two instalments with the first instalment ($1500) paid once the apprentice or trainee has successfully completed their SACE and the first 12 months of their training contract, and the second instalment ($1500) on completion of the first 24 months of the training contract, OR successful completion of the training contract, whichever is sooner.

For further information visit: https://www.skills.sa.gov.au/ business/support-for-business/ flexible-apprenticeships-employerbonus-payment

TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATION ALLOWANCE – APPRENTICES AND TRAINEES

If your business is in rural or regional South Australia, you can access allowances for travel and accommodation associated with hiring an apprentice or trainee.

For further information visit: https://www.skills.sa.gov.au/ business/support-for-business/ travel-and-accommodationallowance �

EQUIPPED FOR WORK – APPRENTICES AND TRAINEES

Employers may be eligible to be reimbursed up to $10o0 for the costs of essential equipment or services when hiring an apprentice, including tools and protective clothing.

For further information visit: https:// www.skills.sa.gov.au/business/ support-for-business/travel-andaccommodation-allowance

For further information on any of these Federal or state government incentives contact Owen at the AHA|SA office on 8232 4525.