The Council of Trade Unions and BusinessNZ are calling on all Kiwi businesses to do the right thing and do everything
possible they can to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus and simultaneously maintain jobs as best we can through this
very disruptive period
"Good Employers are working hard to support their staff through these very challenging times and ensuring they do all
they can to protect jobs and stay connected during the lock-down. That means taking up the Government’s support packages
to enable staff to take sick leave, isolate, work from home if they can, and stopping business operations if they are
not an essential service," said Kirk Hope, Chief Executive of BusinessNZ.
"The Government doing its bit with wage subsidies, loan assistance and sick leave support. Working people are doing
their bit through providing essential services and staying home. We are all relying on the dedication and expertise of
those workers in essential services and we NZ owes them a debt of gratitude. Good employers are doing their bit by
keeping operations going, supporting staff, and working on strategies so staff can stay employed. And we are all trying
to stay connected," CTU President Richard Wagstaff said.
"We will get though these difficult times, but it will require everyone to pull together including government, business,
working people and their unions," Wagstaff said.