Covid-19: New financial measures to support small companies facing the pandemic-related risks and to help employees in financial difficulty.
As per the 18th of May 2020, companies employing less than 50 employees will have the possibility to benefit from a new allowance to help them finance protective equipment against the virus.
This is what has been announced during a recent press release published on the 14th of May. Based on the information communicated, such companies will have the possibility to benefit from an allowance corresponding to 50% of the protective equipment expenditures made between the 14th of March 2020 and the 31st of July 2020 included, for a minimum amount of €1.000 (excluding tax) and up to €5.000.
Are concerned the expenditures on the purchase or rental of the protective equipment listed below:
Equipment to isolate the workplace from contact with customers or the public
Equipment to guide and uphold distances
Additional and temporary premises to respect distances
Partitioning screens, tables, poster support, preventive posters.
Permanent facilities for hand and body washing and temporary and additional facilities such as toilets / sinks / showers.
Masks, hydro-alcoholic gels and visors are only funded if the company has also invested in, at least, one of the barrier and social distancing measures listed above. Gloves and wipes are not part of the subsidized equipment.
The application form and supporting documents should be submitted by email to the healthcare insurance fund (“Caisse primaire d’assurance maladie” in French), by 31st of December 2020 at the latest).
Please note that as part of the eligibility criteria, companies should have performed and updated a risk assessment document within the year and should be able to provide it upon request to the health insurance fund. Other criteria may also apply for eligibility.
An exceptional emergency allowance for employees including employees qualified as “dirigeants” (executive managers) facing financial difficulties.
The Argic-Arrco (i.e. the mandatory French pension scheme) announced on the 12th of May that a financial support will be provided to employees contributing to the pension scheme and to employees qualified as “dirigeants” (executive managers), who face financial difficulties due to the current health crisis.
It should be a one-time allowance capped at €1500 depending on the situation of the applicant.
The application form and supporting documents should be submitted by the employee or the executive manager. If the request is accepted, the allowance should be received within a month of the application.
The Argic-Arrco plans an overall budget of 200 million euros. The allowance may be available at least until the end of July.