| Qantas has provided an update on payment eligibility for the current period of stand downs. Staff will qualify for one of the Covid-19 Disaster Payment (CDP), Domestic Retention Payment (DRP), or the International Readiness Payment (IRP) depending on your work group & location. The USU/ASU met with Qantas on Tuesday 17 August to clarify how the payments will work.
Covid-19 Disaster Payment (CDP)
Domestic employees (who otherwise fall under the DRP criteria) who have been stood down and that live or work in a Commonwealth Declared Hotspot. Employees will need to apply directly through Services Australia.
If you are eligible to apply for the COVID-19 Disaster Payment, you will not be considered eligible for the DRP and will be excluded from the DRP in any Eligible Weeks where you are eligible to apply for the Government COVID-19 Disaster Payment.
Payment: $750 (20 hours or more of list work for the week) $450 (at least 8 but less than 20 hours or a full day of lost work for the week) per week. Super not paid.
It’s up to you to apply for the CDP
Staff in hotspot areas will need to apply directly themselves for CDP payments through Services Australia, and continue to meet the eligibility criteria for the payment each week. We encourage all eligible members to apply as soon as you become eligible as claims for each week of lockdown open and close at their own individual times. For eligibility criteria and to apply, visit the Services Australian website here.
You will need to keep up to date with the latest announcements on eligibility. Qantas could not guarantee that they would update each employee if their eligibility for the CDP changed (for example if they became eligible for the DRP).
Domestic Retention Payment (DRP)
Available for those who are not eligible to apply for the CDP and who have been stood down (or are on SLWOP) for 2 or more days in an eligible week. Employees will be included automatically if they live or work outside a location eligible for the CDP.
You cannot receive both the Covid-19 Disaster Payment and the DRP at the same time. If your home or work location no longer comes under the Covid-19 Disaster Payment you will automatically become eligible for the DRP.
Payment: $750 (less tax and including super). Paid through Payroll in arrears on or after your normal pay day.
International Readiness Payment (IRP)
Available to employees in a workgroup that supports the International business or work in a workgroup that supports both domestic and international and who have been stood down for 2 or more days in an eligible week.
Payment: $750 (less tax and including super). Paid through Payroll in arrears on or after your normal pay day.
If you’re currently receiving the $500 IRP payment, you will be eligible for the $750 IRP payment.
The USU/ASU is concerned that the above scheme is very confusing for workers to navigate – some people need to go to Centrelink, others will be paid through Qantas. Plus, the scheme leaves thousands of aviation workers without any payments at all.
This is why the USU/ASU has been arguing from the start that all workers should have access to a straightforward JobKeeper payment of the full $750 a week. This would mean no one is left out, and no one will fall through the cracks.
Pass this bulletin to your colleagues who aren’t in the union. They can join at www.usu.org.au/join |
