Many Wollongong businesses are supporting Keira MP Ryan Park's weekend call for the return of JobKeeper.
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Among them is Roza Rojano, of Total Bliss Hair and Body Spa.
Ms Rojano said her business had been closed for more than a month and may be for long time yet with no end in sight to the present lockdown.
She said it was proving far more difficult to survive COVID-19 lockdown in 2021 compared to last year.
"Definitely we need JobKeeper back," she said.
"It would be so good for my business. Luckily for me I had money put away but that is going to be gone in three weeks. It only stretches so far."
Ms Rojano said with no end in sight to the present lockdown only JobKeeper was going to help keep businesses like hers afloat.
"This lockdown is far worse than last year when JobKeeper assistance meant I could keep my girls on and I could pay all my bills," she said.
"This lockdown has really taken its toll on my business. At the end of the day your bills don't stop because your wages stop. You still have to pay your rent, you still have to pay your electricity and you still have to pay your mortgage. JobKeeper was so good that it actually kept my head above water."
Ms Rojano said this time only 40 per cent of her staff's wages were being subsidised.
"The other 60 per cent I have to find somewhere," she said.
"And the $10,000 grant we get, that all goes on bills.
"They have to come up with more support just to help us get through this lockdown which I think is going to go on for at least another four weeks."
Mr Park and NSW Labor leader Chris Minns said a harder and longer lockdown must be matched by greater financial support.
Many businesses in his electorate were telling Mr Park JobKeeper was a program that worked the first time around.
"It is very important as we start to emerge from this that people are still in jobs and are able to help reopen businesses," he said.
Mr Park said with no end presently in sight it is vital the federal and state governments relook at the assistance being provided.
"We believe that JobKeeper is an important part of that assistance, particularly in the Illawarra where we have seen so many businesses and workers impacted by the tough restrictions," he said.
Mr Park said many businesses had told him they liked JobKeeper because they knew what it was about, it kept them connected to their employees, supported them when they were closed and enabled them to reopen when they came out of lockdown.
"They are telling me they don't understand why the government wouldn't be focused on that going forward now that it looks like lockdown is going to be extended for a long time," he said.
Unions NSW is calling on the NSW government to adopt a more aggressive stance at National Cabinet, to push for the return of JobKeeper.
It has described it as tried and tested assistance that works.
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