Woodside Announces Measures to Combat Covid-19 Risks

Australian Woodside March 20 announced various measures to identify, minimise and manage potential risks and impacts arising from Covid-19.

“To comply with expert health and government guidance we are reducing the number of people at our facilities and working with our contractors, suppliers and communities to minimise the impact of the pandemic,” Woodside CEO Peter Coleman said. “We acknowledge the broader social and economic impacts from the current Covid-19 situation. We are working closely with our contractors and suppliers on measures to mitigate impacts on their businesses and their employees.”

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Woodside will establish a A$3mn (U$1.8mn) Covid-19 community fund to support local organisations in the town of Karratha. The company said it will take steps to expedite payments of all outstanding invoices for small, local and indigenous businesses, defined as a business generating less than A$10mn in annual revenue. It will also reduce payment terms for new invoices received from small Australian businesses, expediting payment from 30 days, targeting 14 days. Woodside also plans to expedite pending invoices for other work completed, it said.

The company will work with its contractors to consider measures to support them to maintain the ongoing employment of as many of their employees as practicable. “We are considering a range of mitigations, which may include alterations to rosters and support for casual contractor personnel who may not otherwise be entitled to sick leave or payment from their contractor employer if affected by Covid-19,” it said.

Woodside also plans to work with peak bodies and other industries to support redeployment initiatives where practicable.

“This includes identifying key contractor skill groups that can take up opportunities in industries experiencing labour shortages as a result of migration disruption,” Woodside said.