The third support package for companies and employees, which will run from October 1 to June next year, is almost certainly being broken open now that the cabinet has announced additional corona measures. Prime Minister Mark Rutte made no firm commitments, but more money for the catering industry, sports clubs and culture seems inevitable.
“It will cost money, but fortunately we have saved for that,” said Rutte on Wednesday during a debate in the Lower House about the new corona measures.
Ministers Wouter Koolmees (Social Affairs), Eric Wiebes (Economic Affairs) and Wopke Hoekstra (Finance) are currently looking at how hard sectors are being hit by the partial lockdown as announced on Tuesday.
“If analysis shows that additional support is needed, then we will look at it very seriously,” said the prime minister.
The three ministers, also known as the troika in The Hague, will present their findings no later than 26 October. “They are looking at whether these extra measures can lead to problems that are not covered in the aid packages.”
‘Government cannot solve everything’
Until now, the cabinet did not want to grumble about the support. The package breathes, it was always said. That is true, given that subsidies increase when turnover falls. But from January, some subsidies will actually go down, such as the compensation for the salary (NOW). The aid for self-employed persons (Tozo) was already reduced in the second aid package.
In its place, the government’s allowance for permanent entrepreneurs (TVL) has been increased from a maximum of 50,000 euros per four months in the second package to a maximum of 90,000 euros for three months now.
Initially, the ministers did not want to change the lifebuoys. “The government cannot solve everything,” said Wiebes three weeks ago during a parliamentary debate. In general, the cabinet believes that entrepreneurs should adapt to the new reality.
But that reality is now quite different compared to three weeks ago. The catering and sports canteens will have to close their doors completely for the next four weeks. A maximum of thirty people can sit together, not a profitable number for many cultural institutions, and events are completely prohibited.
VVD and PvdA urge the cabinet to hurry
According to PvdA leader Lodewijk Asscher, the question is therefore no longer whether entrepreneurs in these sectors need extra help. “We can answer that question if you see what is happening at those companies.”
Asscher believes the support package is insufficiently aimed at sectors that are in trouble. “Look at the sports clubs. They employ few people, but they do pay the fixed costs of the canteens. Those organizations are now collapsing and we should not all want to do that. Come up with creative extra measures.”
VVD party leader Klaas Dijkhoff also urges Rutte to hurry. “I understand that it will take another twelve days for that analysis to be completed, but restaurants have to close from tonight.”
According to him, it would be wise to publicize the plans for additional help that are already in place. “That can make the difference. Entrepreneurs are already thinking about closing the tent, letting people go and canceling the rent. Then twelve days is a lot,” says Dijkhoff.
Yet Rutte does not give a definitive answer yet. “I still want to know the answers to that analysis, because then you can see exactly where those problems are and how you can solve them.”
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