Australians who lose their jobs will be given a wage subsidy to cover a share of their income in a federal plan to protect workers suffering from the sweeping layoffs and shutdowns triggered by the coronavirus crisis.

The federal government is planning to pay workers a proportion of their wages to them through the crisis, with a proposal to get employers to transfer the money to their staff as an alternative to using the welfare system.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison called on employers to wait for the new scheme to be announced "soon" before they embarked on further layoffs or suspensions, adding the government would "enlist" business in the new process.

"We will be ensuring also that those who have already gone into this very devastating situation, where they have had to stand down workers, that any measures we are announcing will be taking them on as well," he said.

The Australian scheme is expected to have a cap on the total amount paid but the percentage of income is yet to be decided and will depend in part on the government's discussions with big employers about the number of workers who will need support.