The Council of Trade Unions (CTU) is calling on the Government to extend and strengthen its support for workers and employers in Christchurch.
The Government has previously announced it intends extending the support, but with tighter criteria.
Within days of the February 22 earthquake, it announced that businesses which couldn't continue operating would be given $500 a week for each employee so they could continue to pay wages.
People who lost their jobs as a result of the earthquake qualified for $400 a week financial support.
The package runs out on April 5, and the CTU said today it was clear that a number of businesses, particularly those in the CBD, would not have access to premises or vital business equipment before that date.
"Many employers will not be in a position to assess and make decisions about their long-term viability and many others will still be severely affected or in the beginnings of recovery mode," the CTU said.
It wants the support continued for another six weeks, and said the Government should also develop a range of other forms of support based on developing skills, supporting relocation costs for workers, and other medium-term measures.
The CTU said the $6.85 million support package announced yesterday would provide valuable practical assistance to employers during the recovery process but it was also essential the current wage and support subsidies continue beyond April 5.
Social Development Minister Paula Bennett told reporters an extension to the subsidies was still being considered.
"As the prime minister has said, we are likely to extend the scheme, but it's quite likely to look quite different," she said.
"So we're still working our way through what the criteria might be."
