The Federal Government is expecting more businesses to sign up to its JobKeeper coronavirus wage subsidy program as the first round of payments start flowing to employers today.
More than 728,000 businesses have signed up to the $130 billion program, covering 4.7 million employees.
Government figures show 40 per cent of businesses to sign up for JobKeeper are sole traders, 39 per cent are companies, 15 per cent are trusts and 6 per cent are partnerships.
The majority of employers in the program are in NSW (252,207), followed by Victoria (197,987), Queensland (141,972), Western Australia (67,680), South Australia (43,465), Tasmania (12,332), the ACT (8,976) and the Northern Territory (4,021).
The Government expected 6 million workers would receive the $1,500 a fortnight payment when it launched the program in the early days of the pandemic taking hold in Australia.
The wage subsidy is a flat-rate payment that employers must pass on to their employees in full.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said while he expected more businesses would sign up for JobKeeper, he remained adamant the program wouldn't be broadened to include more casuals.
"We've been pretty clear about the broad parameters of the program and that's where it's staying," he said.
Casual employees will have to have at least one year in their job to receive the payment.
Prior to applications opening, more than 850,000 businesses expressed an interest in signing up for JobKeeper.
Employers with an annual turnover of less than $1 billion that have experienced a 30 per cent fall in revenue since March 1 are eligible for the wage subsidy.
Companies with an annual turnover of more than $1 billion have to have a 50 per cent fall in revenue to be eligible for the scheme. Businesses subject to a major bank levy are ineligible.
Sole traders, part-time workers, not-for-profit employees, self-employed people, partnerships and trusts are also eligible, as are New Zealanders who work in Australia but are typically unable to access welfare programs.
Almost 1 million Australians have lost their jobs since the Government imposed physical-distancing requirements, including forcing cafes and restaurants to only offer takeaway service.
On Friday, National Cabinet is expected to outline the first steps towards easing restrictions, and is likely to outline the rules businesses will need to follow to make workplaces safe for employees to return to.
"We now need to get a million Australians back to work," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.
"That is the curve we need to address."
