New measures to support businesses, workers and the unemployed were announced on Thursday by Labor Minister Zeta Aimilianidou, following the imposition of new restrictive measures by the Government to stem the spread of the disease. COVID-19.
As the Minister of Labor stated at a press conference, in the special plans that have been approved, which were the result of social dialogue during the previous period as well as the cooperation with the Minister of Finance, it is foreseen that they will provide support to more than 60.000 employees, but and a significant number of unemployed in the coming months, with a total expenditure of about 130 to 150 million euros.
He stressed that as in previous phases of implementation of special plans, a necessary condition for participation for any employer is not to have made and not to make any redundancies for financial or other similar reasons. The amount of support provided to employees amounts to 60% of their gross earnings, with a maximum of € 1.214 on a monthly basis and a minimum of € 360. Furthermore, for the participation of employers who are not under full suspension of work, it is necessary to prove that there is a real decrease in their turnover compared to the corresponding period last year, which exceeds 40%.
New special plans for three sectors
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The new plans, as the Minister said, concern three areas.
The first area concerns the support of the Tourism Industry and Businesses / Employees Associated with the Tourism Industry. For this purpose, as he said, the Special Plan of Hotel Units and Tourist Accommodations has been prepared as well as the Special Plan of Economic Activities Related to the Tourism Industry or Economic Activities which are directly affected by tourism and travel agencies.
The two Plans will be valid for the period from November 1, 2020 until March 31, 2021 and can provide support to up to 97% of the total staff of companies that will suspend their activities completely.
In addition, as an important incentive to maintain economic activity, it will be possible to provide support to up to 90% of the staff of hotels and tourist accommodation that will continue to operate, as well as to 65% of other companies related to the tourism sector. , a percentage that can reach 100% of the total staff for small businesses that employ up to three employees. Especially for travel agencies, the support extends up to 80% of the total staff or to 100% for small businesses with up to three employees.
The second area concerns the support of companies and employees who are under full suspension or affiliated with companies that are under mandatory suspension, based on the Decrees issued by the Minister of Health as well as companies whose activities and turnover are proven to be significantly related to degree with companies that are under mandatory full suspension. For this purpose, two additional special plans will be implemented for the period from 1 November 2020 depending on the period of validity of the Decrees of the Minister of Health.
The special plans in question will be open to companies affected by the Full Suspension Ordinances, depending on the data and will provide support to 97 to 100% of employees, depending on the size of the company.
In addition to the above special projects will be able to participate companies that have proven to have a turnover of more than 80% compared to the same period last year, due to the measures taken to address the pandemic and are not in full status suspension of their work.
The third area concerns the support of companies / employees of certain economic activities. According to the Minister, taking into account that the pandemic has disproportionately affected businesses and workers in certain economic activities, such as workers in photographers, kindergartens, banquet halls and other affected economic activities, the operation of the special business plan is extended. certain economic activities, under which support may be provided to 50% of employees, provided that turnover has been reduced by more than 40%.
Very Small Business Support
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At the same time, the Minister stated that based on the Government's policy for additional support to the very small enterprises that constitute the vast majority of all enterprises, in all the above special plans, provisions have been included for subsidizing 100% of employees for companies that employ up to 3 employees while especially for plans for companies in full suspension of work or related companies, 100% of the staff is subsidized for companies that employ up to 9 employees.
Unemployment Support - Unemployment Expansion
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The Minister also stated that the payment of the special unemployment benefit to the unemployed who have exhausted their regular unemployment benefit is also extended for another two months. In other words, it concerns persons who received their normal unemployment for the full period of 6 months and since last April the payment of special unemployment has been extended beyond 6 months, until December 2020.
Support for Independent Employees
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It was also decided to continue supporting certain categories of self-employed workers who are significantly affected by the pandemic, such as photographers, taxi drivers, hotel workers and other categories, provided that their turnover is reduced compared to the same period last year. exceeding 40%. The support provided corresponds to 60% of their income declared to the Social Insurance Services, with a minimum amount of € 300 and a maximum of € 900 for a period of four weeks.
Support for Particularly Vulnerable Groups of Employees
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Ms. Aimilianidou stated that for those employees in the private sector who fall into the vulnerable groups based on the relevant Decree of the Minister of Health and their employer is unable to implement the recommendations of the Minister of Health regarding working conditions, an allowance will be provided. illness for as long as required by the Decrees of the Minister of Health.
In parallel with the implementation of the above plans, the Minister stated that the implementation of the remaining plans to enhance employment will continue with a total cost of € 56 million announced by the Ministry.
"The Government, from the first moment and simultaneously with the measures it has taken to protect the health of citizens, has adopted measures to support workers and businesses, so that every worker affected by the effects of the pandemic, can "to have an adequate income for his living", said the Minister.
He also reiterated that the responsibility for adhering to health protection measures and preventing the spread of the pandemic rests with all of us collectively following the recommendations of those responsible and adhering to the rules of personal hygiene and social distancing.
A more detailed presentation of the Plans is presented in the attachment Annex.
According to the Minister, until today and since March, a total amount of 530 million euros has been utilized for the special plans implemented by the Ministry of Labor, Welfare and Social Insurance. The special plans, he said, have supported more than 190.000 workers during the first phase of dealing with the pandemic between March and June 2020, and during July-October, when there was a significant recession of the pandemic, continued to support a large number of workers and companies which continued to be significantly affected by the effects of the pandemic, mainly in the tourism sector but also in many other businesses related to the tourism sector.
Source: KYPE