Further trading restrictions for Melbourne businesses

Update on August 4: With new restrictions on business and industry coming into force from Wednesday night, employees working in permitted industries who cannot work from home will be required to carry a new ‘Worker Permit’ when travelling to and from work. From 11:59pm on Wednesday, August 5, employers will be required to issue signed permits to their employees to allow them to attend a workplace – to prevent people trying to get around the tough new restrictions. View full details here.

Find out more about the Worker Permit Scheme and download a permit here.

Some businesses and industries based in metropolitan Melbourne will need to adhere to further trading restrictions, in a bid to stop the spread of coronavirus.

As per state government advice announced on August 3, some business types will be permitted to stay open and continue operating, while others will have to cease operations or dramatically reduce the capacity in which they operate.

A summary of the updated trading restrictions for Melbourne-based businesses are outlined below:

Business that can continue to operate

Businesses that are permitted to stay open and continue operating include:

• Supermarkets
• Grocery stores (e.g. butchers, bakeries)
• Bottle shops
• Pharmacies
• Petrol stations
• Banks
• News agencies
• Post offices
• Support services such as food banks
• Frontline responders.

Businesses to cease operating for next six weeks

Industries where onsite operations must cease for the next six weeks include:

• Retail (open for click-and-collect and delivery only, with strict safety protocols in place).
• Hairdressing
• Professional, administrative, financial and office services
• Call centres
• Wholesale trade and manufacturing, unless supporting open industries.
• Hardware, building and garden stores (open to tradespeople, otherwise it’s click-and-collect and delivery only)
• Real estate (online inspections and auctions permitted).

These businesses need to close by 11.59pm on Wednesday, August 5 unless they have specific circumstances that mean they need longer to shut down safely.

Businesses permitted to operate at reduced capacity

The following industries are permitted to operate but at a reduced capacity and under different circumstances.

All open businesses and services will have until 11.59pm on Friday, August 7 to enact a COVIDSafe plan focused on safety prevention and response in the event that coronavirus is linked to the workplace.

• Food production and meat processing: This industry’s workforce will be scaled back to two-thirds. This applies to abattoirs in Melbourne and across the state.
• Warehousing, distribution centres, and cold storage: These businesses will be limited to no more than two-thirds the normal workforce allowed onsite at any time.
• Construction: This sector will move to pilot light levels. For major construction sites, no more than 25 per cent of the normal workforce onsite. Small-scale construction will be limited to a maximum of five people onsite.

These workplaces that are continuing to operate will also have additional requirements including extra PPE, staggering shifts, staggering breaks, health declarations and more support for sick workers to ensure they stay home.

Support is available for businesses impacted

For businesses that suffer significant losses or need to close as a result of the current restrictions, the government will provide support through their expanded Business Support Fund.

Businesses in regional Victoria can apply for a $5,000 grant while those in Melbourne and Mitchell Shire can apply for up to $10,000 in recognition of spending longer under restrictions.

The Association is here to help you

The Camberwell Centre Traders Association is here to help your business as much as possible.

Through our regular marketing activities, we can help communicate and promote any special offers, amended trading conditions or other information about your business.

We have also set up a Trader Portal which is regularly updated with information relating to government announcements that impact retailers, services and other small businesses operating in the Camberwell precinct.

Our Camberwell Business website also lists a range of online workshops and webinars designed to assist businesses through the coronavirus pandemic. Many of these online events are free, so please take advantage of them.

Lastly, please reach out if you have specific questions or if you want to find out how the Association can assist your business. You can contact precinct manager Kerry Daly via email: [email protected]