Relatively low uptake of Covid payments by agriculture and related sectors

Only 1.4% of those getting the Pandemic Unemployment Payment are in the agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining and quarrying sectors

Agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining and quarrying accounted for only 1.05% on Covid Illness Benefit since March. The payment is for people diagnosed with Covid-19, or required to medically self-isolate.

The number of people currently in receipt of Enhanced Covid-19 Illness Benefit has grown fourfold in a week, to over 6,400.

In December, 7,308 were first medically certified, of whom 1,629 have been certified with having the Covid-19 virus. The peak month was March, with 31,006 certified.