A WA company has announced funding of $4.5 million in wage subsidies for Perth businesses.
Employers can be subsidised a minimum of $1,580 to take on a new employee. However, if the new employee is taken on as a trainee or apprentice, a further $4,000 subsidy is given.
If the new employee is of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, another $4,000 subsidy is added.
An employer taking on a new Aboriginal apprentice, for example, would receive a full subsidy of $9,580.
Subsidy provider Professional Vocational Services director David Cielak said it was the only employment specialist in WA to offer a wholesale wage subsidy.
Mr Cielak said the subsidy was drawn from the company’s own operating funds.
The operating funds are provided by the Federal Government through the Job Network program.
“Essentially this is aimed at getting people off unemployment benefits,” Mr Cielak said.
He said 100 companies had participated in the scheme to date including Mobil Quix, Riccardi Seafoods and the Road Transport Training Council of WA.
“However, most of the participants have been small to medium-sized businesses,” Mr Cielak said.
To qualify for the subsidy, the employer must be paying the new employee at least $275 per week.
