While engineers assess how badly businesses and homes are damaged inside the Christchurch CBD, the Government has announced a temporary small business relief package worth around $120m.

The package is designed to help employers who can’t pay wages because of the quake, and is set at a cap of $500 gross per week for every full time employee.

The announcement is being welcomed by small businesses in the area, who say wage assurance is one of the most important aspects of staying viable after a disaster.

Prime Minister John Key made the announcement on Monday afternoon, saying he hopes the package will benefit the roughly 40 thousand Christchurch workers currently in limbo.

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