Economics Minister Margarete Schramböck (ÖVP) promises extensive help for companies affected by the consequences of the corona virus. However, a billion-dollar economic stimulus package like the banking and financial crisis twelve years ago would not work in the current situation, the minister said in interviews with “Kurier” and “Die Presse” (Saturday editions).
“The biggest issue is liquidity,” said Schramböck to the “courier”. “We have already given tourism guarantees of 150 million and want to see if we can do more here. But there should also be liquidity support for small and medium-sized companies and the large leading companies. “
Minister promises simplicity
Since Thursday, it has been possible for self-employed people to defer social security contributions without accruing interest on arrears, Schramböck told the “press”. There are loan guarantees and short-time work for larger companies. Anyone who gives employees with childcare responsibilities an exemption will be reimbursed a third of the wage costs. “You won’t find that anywhere else in Europe.”
Schramböck also wants to make short-time work available to smaller companies and significantly shorten the application deadline of currently six weeks. “We make a clear promise: Any company that has to go into short-time work can go into short-time work.”
Aid package for tourism
The minister was confident that short-time working would also help Austria Airlines in the crisis. While the German Minister of Economic Affairs, Peter Altmaier, does not rule out the state’s temporary participation in strategically important companies, Schramböck declines here. “There will be no nationalization of the Austrian. That is not our way ”.
Schramböck does not think much of a multi-billion stimulus package either, she believes that an “economic stimulus package would not work in the current case”. For example, an investment allowance in tourism would be “now the wrong way”. However, there will be a comprehensive aid package for tourism, said the Minister for Economic Affairs.
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