O ministro de Estado, of Economy and Digital Transition, Pedro Siza Vieira, presented at a press conference new measures to support the economy and employment, which also concern tourism, as an economic activity.
With the confinement starting this Friday, the Government's priority is to quickly put support for the economy on the ground.. Por isso, uses already tested formulas such as the simplified lay-off or the Apoiar.pt program.
Siza Vieira highlights the novelties of the Apoiar program, which involves increasing amounts and accelerating expected payments, as well as extraordinary support for non-salary fixed costs. Government plans to pay an amount to companies in February.
Por outro lado, State-guaranteed credit lines will be reopened for the most affected sectors, com 400 milhões de euros.
There is also non-refundable support for companies in the most affected sectors that have suffered a drop in sales of more than 25% no ano de 2020. A markup will be applied for closed sectors since March 2020.
The Government also reactivated support programs for independent workers and managing partners that had already been promoted last year.
It was also determined the suspension of tax and Social Security enforcement proceedings for debts. And in the first quarter there will be no payments of installments already agreed.
– “What they asked us most was the possibility of implementing new and current support as soon as possible, announced a month ago and which were scheduled for the first quarter”, says the Minister of Economy. “That's what we're going to do”.
in the area of employment, the Government regulated measures already announced: all companies that close have access to the lay-off regime that has been recovered and reinforced. For companies, the effort remains, 19% of salary without TSU, workers will receive 100% salary up to a limit of three minimum wages.
Before, companies had to wait to provide proof of lost billing. Now the lay-off is automatic because it does not require this loss of invoicing and companies can now apply to place their workers on lay-off..
About the Apoiar.pt program, companies will receive more non-repayable subsidies. The Government decided to accelerate and reinforce this measure in view of the potential impact of the new confinement on the national economy.. Assim, and as explained, esta quinta-feira, o ministro da Economia, the second tranche of this support will be paid as of next Monday and the limits of subsidies will be increased to 10 thousand euros for micro-enterprises, 55 thousand euros for small businesses and 135 thousand euros for medium-sized companies. Extraordinary support will also be launched, under this program.
