On Wednesday, the cabinet announced the details of the second emergency package with an estimated value of more than 13 billion euros. Entrepreneurs and workers will also have to financial receive support due to the corona crisis. The government considers this necessary because more and more SME entrepreneurs and large companies are in danger of getting into trouble. What exactly does this emergency package contain?
- Extension and adjustment of existing NOW scheme
The existing NOW scheme will be extended, whereby an entrepreneur who expects a turnover loss of at least 20 percent can apply to the UWV for compensation for wage costs for the period June-August. This scheme largely uses the same system as the previous compensation. However, the government has tightened the rules for applying for the scheme. For example, no bonuses may be paid to the board, no shares may be bought back and no profit distribution may be paid to shareholders. The government also requires companies that use the NOW scheme to retrain and upskill staff. Furthermore, the fine for companies that dismiss employees after receiving the subsidy will disappear.
- New scheme: Fixed Cost Compensation for SMEs (TOGS)
SME entrepreneurs in various sectors can apply for a tax-free allowance from the Ministry of Economic Affairs via this new emergency package to pay their fixed costs. Depending on, among other things, the size of the company and the extent of the loss of turnover, companies can receive an allowance of up to 20,000 euros for the next three months. One billion euros has been made available for this. Companies that fall under the TOGS scheme can make use of this. Curious whether you fall under this scheme? Then visit the website of RVO.
- Adjustment of TOZO scheme
The emergency scheme for self-employed entrepreneurs, also known as the Temporary bridging scheme for self-employed entrepreneurs (TOZO), will be extended until the end of August. An adjustment has been made to the extended TOZO scheme: in 'TOZO 2' the partner income test applies to benefits. The partner's income is taken into account in whether assistance can be applied for at the municipality. More information can be found at the Central Government.
- Extension of existing credit and guarantee schemes
The Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Guarantee Scheme (BMKB), the Business Financing Guarantee Scheme (GO) and the recently introduced Small Credit Corona Guarantee Scheme (KKC) will all be extended. The Corona Bridging Loan (COL), which is intended to improve the liquidity position of innovative companies (start-ups and scale-ups), will be given a second round in which 150 million euros will be made available due to the large number of applications submitted.
- Tax measures
The government previously announced that entrepreneurs can apply for tax deferral. The deadline for this has been extended to September 1. If there are default fines for not paying on time, these do not have to be paid.
Today, several trade unions and industry organizations have already responded to this new emergency package.
- Trade union CNV is not satisfied with the new support package from the government. They fear a 'big bang of layoffs' now that the dismissal penalty has been scrapped. "We understand that many entrepreneurs are having a hard time. But this is a subsidy for mass layoffs", says Piet Fortuin, CNV chairmanThe FNV also responded critically: “Abolishing this fine goes against the objective of the package to maintain jobs and income,” said FNV chairman Han Busker. know in a comment.
- Employers' organizations MKB Nederland and VNO-NCW state that companies that are active in sectors that are forced to close down due to the corona crisis are not being helped enough with the emergency package. This could cause companies to go under. "But we are very concerned about the amount of the maximum compensation of 20,000 euros over three months. The somewhat larger SME companies in the closed sectors such as the hospitality industry, travel sector, events and recreation sector are not being helped enough with this in particular", says Jacco Vonhof of MKB Nederland to the NOS. However, the two organizations are satisfied that there is compensation for fixed costs and the extra money for retraining and the higher surcharge for pension premiums.
An overview of this Emergency Package for Jobs and the Economy 2.0 can be found in the letter to parliament.
Nederlands