For Tamil refugee Thushanthan Kuganeshwaren, testing positive to coronavirus has been a telling reminder of the precarious nature of his casual employment.
The 29-year-old caught coronavirus at the Melbourne recycling plant where he works and without sick leave was forced to self-isolate without pay.
He said the anxiety of his situation has been intensified by not having help to fall back on.
“Having coronavirus symptoms ... is very hard,” he told SBS News. “Living alone in my house … I feel very lonely and mentally stressed.”
Amid growing pressure to give more financial support to Victorian workers such as Mr Kuganeshwaren who do not have sick leave and need to self-isolate for 14 days after contracting COVID-19, .
Unlike JobKeeper and JobSeeker, temporary visa holders are eligible for the 'pandemic leave disaster payment'.
The inclusion of temporary visa holders in the provisions has been welcomed by some migrant advocates, but others want to see more support offered.
“It is a step in the right direction, but it goes nowhere near far enough,” Asylum Seeker Resource Centre CEO Kon Karapanagiotidis said.
“What the prime minister offered is a short-term band-aid that doesn't tackle the ongoing drivers that's causing this to spread.”
It’s understood around 80 per cent of Victoria’s new coronavirus infections since mid-May have been driven by community transmission in workplaces.
Migrant Workers Centre Director Matt Kunkel said temporary visa holders have been forced to decide between going to work sick and not paying their bills.
“This one-off payment is a very useful step,” he said.
“[But] they need ongoing support, not a series of one-off payments … that is the only thing that will arrest the spread of this disease.”
'Significant impact'
The Victorian government is already issuing hardship payments of $300 for people forced to isolate because of COVID-19 testing and $1,500 for those who then test positive.
The pandemic leave disaster payment is funded by both the Victorian and federal governments: Victoria is paying for temporary visa holders, while the Commonwealth is stumping up for Australian citizens and residents.
To be eligible, workers need to have been likely to have worked during the period of their 14-day quarantine and not be receiving JobKeeper or JobSeeker.
Social Services Minister Anne Ruston said the new payment would help bail people out of tough circumstances.
“This is a payment that is being made in recognition of the significant impact the lockdowns that have occurred in the last couple of days in Victoria and are likely to have on Victorian workers,” she told reporters on Tuesday.
“We will continue to work very closely and cooperatively with the Victorian government to make sure that we are agile and able to respond to the needs of Victoria.”
Mr Kuganeshwaren said he has only received the initial $300 hardship payment from Victorian government, and not the full $1,500.
But he says he doesn’t regret his decision to get tested.
“I believe everyone should take the test no matter if they pay the money or not - it is a threat to life."
“Everyone should go and get tested, with or without the government supports.”
The federal government has said the pandemic leave disaster payment will go on for as long as necessary and it would be available to those who need to self-isolate multiple times.
Metropolitan Melbourne residents are subject to Stage 4 restrictions and must comply with a curfew between the hours of 8pm and 5am. During the curfew, people in Melbourne can only leave their house for work, and essential health, care or safety reasons.
Between 5am and 8pm, people in Melbourne can leave the home for exercise, to shop for necessary goods and services, for work, for health care, or to care for a sick or elderly relative. The full list of restrictions .
All Victorians must wear a face covering when they leave home, no matter where they live.
People in Australia must stay at least 1.5 metres away from others. Check your state’s restrictions on gathering limits. If you are experiencing cold or flu symptoms, stay home and arrange a test by calling your doctor or contact the Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
