CORONAVIRUS UPDATE
REPUBLIC
OF NAURU
Government
Information Office
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE
by
His
Excellency President Lionel Aingimea
Friday, 8
May 2020
As we head into the weekend President
Lionel Aingimea is pleased to inform the Nauruan public yet again
that Nauru is coronavirus free, and thanks the Nauruan public for
their continued support in abiding by the measures and rules that
are put in place to ensure we remain safe from
coronavirus.
Past incidents of security breaches at
the Budapest have not reoccurred with the current group in
quarantine at the Meneñ Hotel, who have another week in managed
quarantine.
Globally, the aviation sector is
collapsing and is also having a major impact on Nauru Airlines with
measures taking on coronavirus. Border restrictions and closures,
and halting of international travel are affecting the
airline.
While a Nauru Airlines freighter is
still operating to ensure Nauru is amply supplied, four passenger
planes have been parked due to the reduced flight
activity.
As Minister for Nauru Airlines,
President Lionel Aingimea says "this affects our airline
dramatically, in a financial sense," adding that in 2021 the
airline is looking at 80% less operations which means revenue for
the airline will be down by millions.
The President noted other major
international airlines are also feeling the effects of the downturn
caused by COVID-19 to the point of going into receivership or
filing for bankruptcy.
"By the grace of God, Nauru Airlines
hasn't gone there [bankruptcy or receivership]. But saying that, it
has impacted our airline."
As the aviation sector struggles, its
staff are also affected. The Nauru Government is providing Nauru
Airlines $2.5 million in funding to directly support its staff as
they face drastic changes and financial challenges during
coronavirus.
One of the primary public health
measures to stop the spread of the virus is to stop people moving
and making contact with other people. This means stopping travel
which Nauru Airlines has also had to do.
Staff restructuring across the board
will affect 40 per cent (approx. 50) staff at its Brisbane office,
making them redundant, and staff advised the need for the company
to commence stand down arrangements.
As Nauru Airlines is a foreign company
in Australia, its staff are not eligible to participate in the
Australian government's JobKeeper scheme.
After much deliberation, the Nauru
Government decided to subsidise stand down by paying its Brisbane
staff a redundancy package to June. The Nauru-based staff will not
be affected in terms of salary. They still get full pay.
Plans are to utilise and re-deploy
airline staff to other departments or state-owned enterprises (SOE)
but continue to be employees of and paid by the airline.
President Lionel Aingimea said "we
need to take measures and assist our staff," noting the $2.5M will
help staff cushion the effects of redundancy.
The President adds that the continued
support from donors especially in the time of coronavirus is well
noted and appreciated by the Nauru Government and the people of
Nauru.
As previously reported about donor
support, today was the formal handing over of PPE and medical
equipment from close friends Taiwan as well as their direct budget
support. Australia today formally signed the financial assistance
it pledged in April, and Israel handed over the medical equipment
and PPE it also pledged in April. The President also thanks IHMS
for the indirect help and countless assistance they've offered
Nauru during this time of coronavirus.
President Aingimea wishes everyone a
safe weekend. "Let's keep working together, let's keep praying
together for our country… and for this fight we have against
coronavirus."
ENDS///
Issued by:
Nauru
Government Information Office, Republic of NAURU
Ph: +(674)
557 3009 E: gio.nauru@gmail.com /
naurugovinfo@gmail.com /
www.naurugov.nr