MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Pandemic: Falklands government financial support for employers and employees

Self isolated employees will be fully paid and employers can seek reimbursement for up to £2,500 per employee per month

The Falkland Islands government, FIG, announced this week an initial range of measures aimed at supporting employers and ensuring employees and self-employed continue to receive pay if they have to self-isolate due to Coronavirus.

Under the measures, all employees with symptoms who are advised by KEMH to self-isolate for 14 days will continue to be paid by their employer, regardless of whether they are entitled to leave or sick pay.

To support this, employers will be able to seek reimbursement from the Government for up to £1,250 for the 14 days. Equally, vulnerable people who have been instructed to self isolate for three months and who are unable to work from home will continue to be paid for the period, regardless of whether they are entitled to leave or sick pay.

Employers will be able to seek reimbursement for up to £2,500 per employee per month.

Similar measures have been introduced to support self-employed individuals who may be likely to lose income as a result of self-isolation.

Self-employed people who have been instructed to self-isolate for 14 days will be able to claim for up to £1,250 for the 14 days.

If they have been instructed to self-isolate for three months, and are not able to work from home, self-employed workers will be able to claim up to £2,500 per month for the period of self isolation.

In addition, if an employee who is a sole carer has been advised that one or more of their children must stay home and self-isolate, subject to employer approval, the employer may also seek reimbursement for up to £2,500 per month per employee for the period of self isolation

FIG Chief Executive Barry Rowland said, ”these measures are designed to ensure that everyone can make the right choice to take necessary public health measures, for the benefit of all, whilst ensuring that the impact on the economy is minimized. The package will be the first in a series of measures aimed at supporting the Falklands' economy. (PN)