The Council of Ministers approved yesterday a new set of extraordinary measures in response to the epidemiological situation of the new Coronavirus - COVID 19:
1. A decree-law was approved that establishes a exceptional and temporary job protection measurethrough measures such as the temporary reduction of normal working hours or suspension of the employment contract, in the context of the COVID-19 disease pandemic.
The current scenario of the epidemiological crisis and the State of Emergency requires a strengthening of the measures already adopted by the Government, ensuring its procedural flexibility so that they can be quickly operationalised.
In order to support job retention and to avoid redundancies for economic reasons, the diploma foresees that they have access to this scheme:
- Companies or establishments whose total or partial closure has been decreed by decision of the political or health authorities
- Companies that experience a total or partial stoppage of their activity resulting from the disruption of global supply chains, or the suspension or cancellation of orders
- A marked drop in turnover of at least 40%, in relation to the previous month or the same period in the previous year
The approved diploma stipulates that during the reduction or suspension period, as well as in the 60 days following its application, the employer cannot terminate labour contracts, through collective dismissal or by extinction of the job, regarding the workers covered by the support measures.
2. A decree-law was approved establishing exceptional measures to support and protect familiesIn this way, it can ensure the strengthening of their cash flow and liquidity, mitigating the effects of the reduction of economic activity.
Since the financial system has a special duty to participate in this joint effort due to its essential function of financing the economy, a 6-month moratorium is approved, until 30 September 2020, which provides for the prohibition of the revocation of contracted credit lines, the extension or suspension of credits until the end of this period, in order to guarantee the continuity of financing for families and companies and to prevent possible defaults
3. A bill was approved, to be submitted to Parliament, which creates a exceptional and temporary regime for late payment of rents - housing and non-housing - and empowers the Institute of Housing and Urban Rehabilitation (IHRU) to grant loans for rent payment to tenants who have suffered a drop in income.
4. A decree-law was approved that creates a exceptional and temporary system of justified absence for family reasonsIt also reinforces the measures already taken, in order to improve their adaptation to reality, and provides for situations in which there is a need to care for a relative in the direct ascending line who is a dependant of the worker and who frequents social facilities whose activity is suspended.
It is hereby established that the network of educational establishments that provide childcare for children or other dependents of health professionals, social action services, security and rescue forces and services, including voluntary firefighters, and the armed forces, the workers of essential public services, whose mobilisation for service or readiness prevents them from providing assistance, shall operate during the school break period.
5. A decree-law was approved that aims to facilitating and fostering the use of electronic payment instrumentssuch as card-based payments, rather than traditional means of payment such as coins and notes.
For this purpose, the diploma establishes the suspension of commissions on payment operations, and that payees that provide automatic payment terminals cannot refuse or limit the acceptance of cards for payment of any goods or services, regardless of the value of the operation.
6. A draft law was approved, to be submitted to Parliament, establishing an exceptional regime, applicable until 30 June 2020, for compliance with the measures provided for in the Municipal Adjustment Programmes (PAM), for municipalities that are in the Municipal Support Fund, exempting them from the restrictions when it comes to carrying out social support expenses for municipalities affected by COVID-19, the purchase of medical equipment and other expenses associated with combating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
With a view to increasing the provision of support to their populations, by all municipalities, the indebtedness resulting from these expenses will also not be considered when assessing compliance with the limits on municipalities' indebtedness.
7. A decree-law was approved that establishes exceptional and temporary measures in the cultural and artistic sphereThe state of emergency will be suspended from 28 February 2020 until 90 working days after the end of the state of emergency.
Given the COVID 19 pandemic, and in order to prevent the transmission of the virus, the Government has taken measures that have included the closure of premises and establishments where cultural and artistic activities take place. It is therefore important to ensure special protection for cultural agents involved in staging these shows, as well as guaranteeing consumers' rights.
8. The decree-law that amending the general rules on the implementation of the European Structural and Investment Fundsso as to allow payment requests to be brought forward, as far as balances are concerned.
