For our social service sector, an epidemic notice means the Ministry of Social Development can grant emergency benefits to people who would otherwise not be entitled to them, including temporary workers who lose a job. This sits as a necessary partner to the Government's multibillion-dollar economic assistance package, that aims to keep people in jobs and with an income, including wage subsidies for all workers working legally in New Zealand and redeployment packages to be utilised post this period. It also allows for extra flexibility in relation to the payment, reinstatement, grant, increase, cancellation, suspension, or variation of benefits.