Australia's JobKeeper losers: The people most likely to lose out when wage subsidy is slashed - and it's bad news for women

  • JobKeeper will be reduced to $750 for people working 20 hours or less 
  • Data reveals 22 per cent of women on JobKeeper work less than 20 hours a week
  • This is compared to 10.6 per cent of men on the same welfare payment 

By ZOE ZACZEK FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA and AAP

Published: | Updated:

More women than men will have their JobKeeper payment slashed as the government moves to cut the wage subsidy.

From the end of September to January, JobKeeper will be reduced to from $1,500 to $12,00 for full-time workers and $750 for people working 20 hours or less.

Twenty-two per cent of women on the current JobKeeper work less than 20 hours  a week according to the  Parliamentary Library, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.  

The differences are also felt in capital cities, with 9.6 per cent of men working part-time in Greater Sydney compared to 19.3 per cent of women.

More women than men will have their JobKeeper payment slashed as the government moves to cut the $1500 fortnightly subsidy. Pictured: A woman wears a face mask outside a Centrelink office in Queensland

More women than men will have their JobKeeper payment slashed as the government moves to cut the $1500 fortnightly subsidy. Pictured: A woman wears a face mask outside a Centrelink office in Queensland

In Greater Melbourne, 10.7 per cent of men and 21.7 per cent of women work up to 20 hours a week.

From January to March, the full-time JobKeeper rate will be $1,000 and part-time will reduce to $600. 

Larissa Waters, the Greens spokeswoman for women, said cutting the part-time JobKeeper payment directly impacted women. 

'The gender inequalities in the Australian jobs market have been turbo-charged by the COVID crisis and the government's lack of specific focus on supporting women to remain in employment,' she said.

Ms Waters had previously written on Twitter that the coronavirus pandemic 'hit women workers harder' than men.

'Women have lost more jobs (6 per cent vs 5.4 per cent: ATO), lost more hours (7.3 per cent vs 6.5 per cent: ATO), are more ineligible for JobKeeper (53 per cent short-term casuals), are over-represented in industries hardest hit, do more unpaid care (WGEA), are most at DV risk and are a majority of health workers,' she wrote on Thursday.

From the end of September to January, JobKeeper will be reduced to $1,200 for full-time workers and $750 for people working 20 hours or less. Pictured: Australians line up outside a Centrelink office during the coronavirus pandemic

From the end of September to January, JobKeeper will be reduced to $1,200 for full-time workers and $750 for people working 20 hours or less. Pictured: Australians line up outside a Centrelink office during the coronavirus pandemic

'The impacts of covid are disproportionate on women, and exacerbate existing inequalities.' 

Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced the changes to JobKeeper in Canberra on Tuesday.

'I am leaning heavily in to the notion that we would anticipate on what we know right now that there obviously would need to be some continuation of the COVID supplement post-December,' Mr Morrison said.

The prime minister said Australians understood both JobKeeper and JobSeeker were temporary.

'They know a current scheme that is burning cash, their cash, taxpayers' cash to the tune of some $11 billion a month cannot go on forever,' Mr Morrison said.

Around 3.5 million workers have received wage subsidies designed to keep employees linked to employers during the pandemic.

From January to March, the full-time JobKeeper rate will be $1,000 and part-time will reduce to $600. Pictured: Victorians in face masks are seen at Fitzroy Gardens in East Melbourne

From January to March, the full-time JobKeeper rate will be $1,000 and part-time will reduce to $600. Pictured: Victorians in face masks are seen at Fitzroy Gardens in East Melbourne

How are the support payments changing from September?

JOBKEEPER

* The $1,500 fortnightly wage subsidy will continue until September 27 - covering 3.5million workers

* From the end of September to December 31, JobKeeper will be reduced to $1,200 for full-time workers and $750 for people working 20 hours or less - with 1.4million workers eligible

* From January to March, the full-time rate will be $1,000 and part-time will reduce to $650 - with the scheme covering 1million workers

* Businesses turning over less than $1billion will have to show a 30 per cent drop in revenue in the previous quarter

* Businesses with more than $1billion in turnover have to demonstrate a 50 per cent fall

JOBSEEKER

* The elevated unemployment benefit will remain at $1,100 a fortnight until September 24

* From that date until the end of the year the $550 coronavirus supplement will be cut by $300 to make the overall fortnightly payment $800

* People will be able to earn up to $300 without having their payment reduced

* The mutual obligation rules requiring people to search for four jobs a month will restart on August 4

* Penalties for people refusing a job offer will be reintroduced

* Job search requirements will increase in September when the assets test will also return

 

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