Shellharbour, Kiama and Shoalhaven are among more than 100 councils across the state to sign up to a new "Splinter Award" negotiated by unions, which will apply to any staff whose jobs is affected by the pandemic.

In place for the next 12 months, the deal was approved by the NSW Industrial Relations Commission late on Tuesday, and, according to the United Services Union, will protect thousands of jobs during the health crisis.

It means councils which have signed up will be required to look for other suitable work for workers whose usual jobs have been impacted by closures, and where this isn't possible they will be paid a weekly allowance of about $850 for 13 weeks.

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It also entitles employees to up to four weeks of special leave at their normal pay rate to cover any period where no work can be provided.

"This Splinter Award delivers immediate assistance to our members, particularly those who work in services that have been shut or disrupted by COVID-19 such as libraries and aquatic centres," USU General Secretary Graeme Kelly said.

"Many of these workers have already been stood down without pay, or forced to take accrued leave, putting them in real financial hardship."

Shellharbour general manager Carey McIntyre said the council signed up to the Splinter Award to "ensure staff are given as much protection as possible".

"Council has been working with the small number of staff who are unable to perform their usual role remotely to ensure they have access to meaningful work and appropriate leave," he said.

As part of this, the council has brought forward $1.5 million in capital projects to both stimulate the local economy and provide further employment opportunities for council staff and local contractors during the crisis.

"As a large regional employer, Shellharbour City Council is doing all it can to keep ensure staff have meaningful and productive work to perform," Mr McIntyre said.

"Our increased remote capability has meant that almost all staff have been able to continue in their usual roles."

Staff usually located in the Shellharbour Civic Centre, but now working from home, includes staff in customer service roles, planning, HR, communications, governance and more.

Wollongong, which has its own industrial agreement, is one of the few councils not to sign up to the Splinter Award. However, according to a spokesperson, all permanent employees continue to be paid as usual.

"Wollongong City Council, under its current enterprise agreement, has the flexibility to negotiate directly with the combined unions," the council said.

The council said most workers were still in their usual jobs despite the closure of libraries, gyms, community facilities and pools.

"All permanent employees of Council continue to be paid and undertake works that benefits the community," the spokesperson said.

"The majority of our staff continue to be employed in their substantive positions, carrying out their roles."

In some cases - like at the city's libraries - face-to-face work has shifted online, with librarians now delivering services through the library website and offering storytime activities, and other information like setting up an online membership tutorial, through their Facebook page.

"Council continues to review and respond to updated advice, and the measures we have in place are flexible and can be adapted further, if necessary," the spokesperson said.

"We know that we're a major employer in Wollongong and the steps we take to support our staff and their families, the majority of whom live locally, will also help our community through this challenging and unsettling time."

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