The amount of money paid out under the government's wage subsidy scheme has topped $13 billion. The latest figures from the Ministry of Social Development show that $1.9b of that has been paid under the extension to the scheme, which came into effect in early June. More than 1.7 million jobs are being supported by the scheme, which comes to an end in September. Nearly 10,500 recipients of the wage subsidy have paid the money back, totalling $323.6m. Close to 17,000 of the people receiving the payment are getting the full time rate.

Source: Otago Daily Times July 25, 2020 00:00 UTC