The battle was tough but they were finally heard. Most freelancers will be able to benefit from Bern’s economic support in the fight against the coronavirus. The decision was announced on Thursday by the Federal Council. Until then, only freelancers directly affected by the measures of the Federal Council for the fight against the pandemic were able to claim compensation. The situation was tense. The revolt rumbled among graphic designers, florists, taxi drivers or osteopaths. As the latter were not prohibited from practicing their profession, they received no federal assistance.
To be compensated, the self-employed must be able to justify a minimum income of 10,000 francs, but which must not exceed 90,000 francs. The maximum amount of the allowance will be 196 francs per day, which represents 5880 francs per month. These amounts are similar to those already received by the self-employed directly affected by the health measures of the Confederation. Many felt that the conditions for obtaining help were seen as too restrictive: having children under the age of 12 who could not be cared for by a third party; be in quarantine; having had to stop its activity following the orders of the Federal Council; be a freelance artist affected by the cancellation of demonstrations.
The measures announced on Thursday are retroactive. Those concerned will be able to get this boost from March 17, if necessary. And the support is valid for two months.
Satisfaction
“We are delighted that the measures have been extended to all the self-employed affected directly or indirectly by the coronavirus,” reacts Ivan Slatkine, president of the Federation of French-speaking companies (FER). We can simply regret the threshold effect which means that those with less than 10,000 or more than 90,000 francs of income are excluded. ” The vast majority of independents, however, fall within this range. “I can understand that these limits were set because we are in the context of emergency aid,” said Christophe Reymond, director general of the Center patronal vaudois.
The unions also welcome this decision. “We welcome the extension of the safety net to those who are indirectly very affected by the effects of the crisis,” reacts the Swiss Trade Union Union (USS). This widening of the circle of recipients of loss of earnings allowances provides rapid assistance to the persons concerned and protects them from the effects of a sudden fall in their income. “
The fact that this aid is retroactive is “good news” for taxis, says Mohammed Gharbi, vice-president of the taxi cooperative (SCCIT) in Geneva. “We finally got what we wanted from the start, to be treated equally with other independents.”
To reach the mark
This support should enable most to successfully pass the course, to avoid bankruptcy. It is that we must continue to pay rents, charges and insurance while the income has melted. “If this extension of the allowances to all self-employed workers is confirmed, that would be entirely satisfactory,” says designer Pierre Wazem. A committee of independent professions was created around the author of the comics to make their voices heard.
The latter had recently threatened to demonstrate “in close ranks” if the Federal Council did not take their grievances into account. An action that was delicate to execute in terms of public health, at a time when Switzerland is semi-confined, meetings of more than five people prohibited and the respect of a distance of at least two meters required between people. An exit door has been found, the question no longer arises.
Created: 04.16.2020, 9:15 p.m.
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