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SYDNEY: A work-from-home order to combat the coronavirus in Australia’s most populous state ended on Monday (Dec 14), a milestone for a country with very low COVID-19 numbers, but many companies plan to maintain flexible labor arrangements. until 2021.
The state of New South Wales (NSW), home to the country’s largest city Sydney, said it was moving ahead with a plan to lift the public health order that has been in place for most of the year as it failed to report new local coronavirus infections per tenth. straight day.
But the move appeared to be symbolic as state employers, which include many of the nation’s largest businesses, and workers had no plans for an immediate shift from work to home, 10 days after the start of the Christmas vacation period. .
“There is still a big mountain to climb in terms of returning people,” Jane Fitzgerald, executive director of the NSW unit of the Property Council of Australia, said by phone.
The property council said the occupancy of Sydney’s central business district was currently 45 percent, compared to more than 90 percent before the pandemic. Two-thirds of property council members expected a “material increase” in CBD occupancy after three months or more.
The shift places New South Wales, home to a third of Australia’s 25 million population, ahead of other states and territories in resuming pre-COVID deals for the white-collar workforce.
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Only the state of Victoria, the second most populous state, now has restrictions for office workers, with an attendance limit of 25 percent, while most other states and territories have a blanket directive for employers to allow have workers log in from home if they prefer.
NSW said it was still encouraging employers to stagger start and finish times and advise staff to wear a mask on public transportation.
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Commonwealth Bank of Australia, one of the largest companies in the country, which is based in Sydney, said it would begin to return to the workplace, but “we will work with our people in an approach that is successful for our clients, for the teams and for individuals “.
Australia has reported just over 28,000 COVID-19 cases and 908 deaths since the pandemic began, but an estimated 56 active cases remain, mostly travelers who returned from abroad in hotel quarantine.
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