In September, the federal government still decided that the support measures would expire on 1 January, but that had not been included in the fourth wave. In the meantime, the Consultation Committee has intervened: discotheques are closed, the catering industry closes from 11 p.m. and events indoors with more than 200 people are prohibited. A new support package was inevitable.
The government has now agreed to extend temporary unemployment and the bridging right (a benefit for self-employed people who are out of work) until the beginning of April. The two measures have been a robust shock absorber since the first lockdown so that people are not put out of work and companies can survive. In 2021, the federal government already spent 6.3 billion euros in aid, of which 2 billion euros on temporary unemployment and 2.7 billion euros on bridging rights.
At the same time, there will be premiums aimed at affected sectors. For example, the federal government will pay 66 million euros in end-of-year bonuses in the catering industry itself. “Many employers lack the means to insure the payment of the end-of-year bonuses in the catering industry,” said Minister of Employment Pierre-Yves Dermagne (PS). “With our intervention, we avoid that employees would be hit twice, after a period of temporary unemployment.”
The culture and events sector will also receive an extra social security discount for the current quarter, just like businesses that were obliged to close such as dance halls and discotheques. The total cost of this amounts to more than 25 million euros. If the measures are also maintained next year, that support can be extended.
There will be no VAT discount for the catering industry. The cost price was simply too high for that, at around 350 million per quarter. At the same time, such an intervention would be too inaccurate.
In addition, the government has taken a number of measures to simplify the employee’s life. For example, you can request vaccination leave next year to get your shot and ask for leave when your children are in quarantine and/or can’t go to school.
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