Disability Employment Services
Wage Subsidy Scheme
Supporting Document V1.0
Policy Intent 3
Document Change History 3
Operational Process – Add a DES Wage Subsidy Scheme Agreement 4
Overview: 4
Navigation: 4
Steps: 4
Create an Agreement 4
Operational Process – Transferring a Wage Subsidy Scheme Agreement 5
Overview: 5
Navigation: 5
Steps: 5
Select the Agreement 5
Confirm and finalise the Agreement 5
Wage Subsidy Scheme Printable Agreement 7
Wage Subsidy Scheme Agreement 7
Policy Intent
This Supporting Document contains the following articles to assist Disability Employment Services (DES) providers access Wage Subsidy Scheme assistance for employers to take on DES participants.
· Creating a Wage Subsidy Scheme Agreement Operational Process;
· Wage Subsidy Scheme Transfer operational process; and
· A printable DES Wage Subsidy Scheme Agreement.
Document Change History
Version / Start Date / Effective Date / End Date / Change & Location /1.0 / 23 Mar 16 / 23 Mar 16 / Original version of Document
Operational Process – Add a DES Wage Subsidy Scheme Agreement
The following process is used to create a Wage Subsidy Scheme Agreement in the Department’s IT system.
Overview:
Once a referral result of Expected to Start or Placement Confirmed has been recorded in the system for the job seeker and the job seeker is eligible for a wage subsidy, you will have the option to create a wage subsidy agreement for the job seeker. It is best practice to complete an Agreement Search before adding the agreement to verify the job seeker’s eligibility for a specific agreement or wage subsidy identified in the system.
Navigation:
· Employer and Vacancies>Agreements>Agreement Search
Steps:
· Start on the Agreement Search screen.
· In the Search Type field choose Wage Connect Subsidy/Wage Subsidy Scheme.
· You can search for agreements for a job seeker, vacancy or for your organisation.
· Click [Search] to list agreements.
Create an Agreement
· After doing an Agreement Search for your job seeker click on the [Create] button and select Wage Subsidy Scheme Agreement.
· You will only be able to select an Agreement that the job seeker is eligible for; OR
· You can start from the Job Placement screen by clicking [Add Agreement].
The Wage Subsidy screen is displayed. Eligible job referral (with result of placement confirmed or expected to start) are displayed.
· Click the [Link] button next to the job referral for the wage subsidy.
[This will populate some information in the employment details and employer sections of the screen.]
· Now click [Submit] to create the basic agreement.
[You’ll see that a number of fields are now available for you to update.]
· Record provider contact details, employer contact details, hours per week, weekly wage, and maximum total subsidy.
· Click [Submit] to save updates.
· When the agreement has been signed record details in the [Employer Signed Date] and [Declaration By Employment Service provider] fields.
· Click [Submit].
Operational Process – Transferring a Wage Subsidy Scheme Agreement
The following process is used to Search, View, update and finalised a Wage Subsidy Scheme Agreement in the Department’s IT system, if the wage subsidy participant has been transferred to a new provider.
Overview:
As outlined in the Disability Employment Services Deed (The Deed) clause 93.4A, if the Department directs the DES provider to provide services to a Transferred Wage Subsidy participant, the provider must do so in accordance with clause 93.4B. The provider must, immediately contact the transferred Wage Subsidy participant’s employer, and use the provider’s best endeavours to enter into an agreement with the Employer.
This process is required whenever a wage subsidy participant is transferred between DES providers, including participant reallocations or transitions as directed by the Department. When a site gains a transferred participant who has an active Wage Subsidy Scheme Agreement, the new provider will receive a diary notification that an active agreement has transferred with the participant.
It is necessary to complete a new agreement between the Employer and the new provider to ensure that the employee continues to be supported through their wage subsidy placement, and to ensure that both parties understand the terms and conditions of the Wage Subsidy Scheme Agreement.
Navigation:
· Employer and Vacancies>Agreements>Agreement Search
Steps:
· Start on the Agreement Search screen.
· Select the Wage Connect Subsidy/Wage Subsidy Scheme search type.
· Select the job seeker ID search criterion and enter the corresponding job seeker ID.
· Click [Search] to list agreements.
Select the Agreement
This search displays all referrals and corresponding Wage Subsidy Agreements for the Job seeker.
The referral with the “Commenced” status is the Wage Subsidy Agreement that has been transferred to the gaining site. The original Wage Connect Subsidy is unable to be reinstated as terminated Wage Subsidy Agreements are unable to be deleted.
Confirm and finalise the Agreement
The Wage Subsidy Agreement screen is displayed. Some information from the previous Agreement will be pre-populated in the new Agreement. The following needs to be entered or checked by the new employer:
· Update and confirm the new Provider details.
· Confirm the Employer details.
· Confirm the subsidy details including hours per week, weekly wage, and maximum total subsidy.
· Print or email the Agreement for the employer and new Provider to sign.
· Click [Submit] to save updates.
· When the agreement has been signed record details in the [Employer Signed Date] and [Declaration By Employment Service provider] fields.
· Click [Submit].
Wage Subsidy Scheme Printable Agreement
Wage Subsidy Scheme Agreement
/Participant Details
Participant Name: / JSID:Employment Service Provider Details
Name:ABN:
Site Address:
Contact Name: / Phone:
Email Address: / Fax:
Employer Details
Employer Name:ABN:
Address:
Contact Name: / Phone:
Email Address: / Fax:
Employment Details:
Job Title/description:Expected commencement date: __/__/ / Minimum hours work/week:
Gross Wage/week:
General Terms and Conditions
· The participant must not be employed in a part of an organisation that is contracted by the Department of Social Services (DSS) to provide employment services.· The employer must not have displaced an existing employee to employ the participant.
· The employer must not have recently retrenched or reduced the number of workers (or be proposing to do so) without providing satisfactory explanation to the provider.
· The participant must be employed and paid in accordance with the relevant award classification for the whole of their period of employment.
· Wage subsidies will only be paid for the hours and weeks actually worked by the participant.
· The employer must provide appropriate evidence of hours worked, and wages paid to the participant, prior to payment of the wage subsidy by the employment services provider.
· The ‘maximum subsidy payable’ and ‘weekly rate of subsidy’ are shown as pre GST.
· The employer must in good faith, provide on-going sustainable employment beyond the subsidy period, barring unforeseen circumstances – such circumstances should be discussed with the employment services provider as soon as identified by the employer.
· The employment services provider and employer must bring to the attention of the other party any difficulties the participant is having in sustaining employment and work towards supporting the participant to continue in the job.
· Upon the request of the employment services provider, the employer must make available all payslips/payroll summaries to the employment services provider for the period set out in the agreement.
· The employment services provider may withhold payment of part, or all, of the agreed wage subsidy if the employer does not fulfil their obligations under this agreement, or otherwise brings the wage subsidy scheme of the Commonwealth into disrepute.
· The employer must not employ the participant in a position, doing work or under terms that contravene Commonwealth, state or territory legislation, or any instrument made under such laws.
Wage Subsidy Specific Terms and Conditions
Wage Subsidy Scheme
Expected Start date: __/__/ / Maximum End date: __/__/Weekly rate of subsidy: / Maximum subsidy payable:
Wage Subsidy Scheme specific terms & conditions
· Best endeavours must be used to ensure the agreement is completed prior to the start date of employment.
· The employment must be expected to last at least 13 weeks (or 6 weeks if in a seasonal industry).
· The participant must work at least 8 hours per week. The subsidy will not be payable for any week in which the participant does not work at least 8 hours.
· The maximum amount of all wage subsidies, entered into under this agreement, and paid to the employer must not be more than 100% of the wages paid to the participant unless agreed by DSS prior to the commencement of the subsidy.
· The employer must not have a pre-existing business relationship with the participant.
· The maximum subsidy amount is payable for 13 weeks of work. The wage subsidy end date may be extended to a maximum of 26 weeks from the actual employment start date to enable use of the full subsidy amount.
· Where the employment ends within six weeks of the Start Date, no wage subsidy is payable. Where the employment ends before 26 weeks of the subsidy having been paid, a pro-rata payment may be made.
Additional Terms and Conditions
· [Insert any additional terms and conditions that either party wishes to include]DES Wage Subsidy Scheme Supporting Document Effective date: 23 March 2016
TRIM ID D16/175083
Declaration by Employment Services Provider
By signing below, I declare that:· I am duly authorised by the employment services provider to sign this declaration.
· I have read and understood the Disability Employment Services Deed /Memorandum of Understanding (as relevant) and the relevant guidelines, and agree to abide by their terms, and
· I will provide the employer with a signed copy of this agreement.
I have discussed with the employer:
· The relevant terms of employment including hours of work and pay, and the details of any support that will be provided to the jobseeker and employer, and the subsidy payment arrangements;
· That any difficulties the job seeker is having in sustaining employment should be immediately brought to the attention of the employer.
Signature: / Date: __/__/
Name:
Declaration by Employer
By signing below, I declare that:I am duly authorised by the employer to sign this declaration.
· The employment services provider has explained the wage subsidy requirements in this agreement to me.
In particular I agree that:
· I will provide evidence of the terms of employment of the participant, including hours worked and pay, when requested by the employment services provider, and notify the employment services provider of any changes to work hours and wages;
· Any difficulties that the job seeker is having in sustaining employment will be brought to the attention of the employment services provider;
· I have not received a wage subsidy, other than those identified in this Agreement, from any other funding source in respect to the employment of this job seeker, and if at a later stage, I receive a wage subsidy from a complementary program, I will notify the employment services provider immediately;
· I have not received another wage subsidy for the same position within the previous 12 month period; and
· If I do not fulfil my obligations in regards to this agreement, or otherwise bring a wage subsidy scheme of the Commonwealth into disrepute, the employment services provider may withhold payment of part, or all of, the agreed wage subsidy.
Signature: / Date: __/__/
Name:
Effective Date: 23 March 2016
TRIM ID D16/175083
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