17.03.2021

THE GOVERNMENT EXTENDED THE MEASURES BECAUSE OF COVID-19

The government has extended measures for people and businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At its meeting, the Council of Ministers adopted amendments to Decree № 151 determining the terms and conditions for the payment of funds to employers for maintaining employment in sectors affected by the distribution of COVID-19.

The changes provide for extension of the deadline for payment of funds under measure 60/40 until 31 May 2021.

Funds will continue to be paid for workers who during the period from March 13 to December 31, 2020 have worked part-time, have used leave under Art. 173a of the Labor Code or their work has been suspended due to introduced temporary restrictions on activity. Employees should have been in an employment relationship with the employer before 1 October 2020.

During the additional period of implementation of the measure, the amount of support from the state will amount to 60 percent of the insurance income and the insurance contributions due by the employer for October 2020.

Employers who have proven a decrease in sales revenues in the month preceding the month of application by not less than 20 percent compared to the average revenues for 2019 will also be able to apply for payment of funds.

Until April 15, 2021 employers will be able to submit applications for payment of funds for the period from January 1 to March 31, 2021. The applications will be considered and financed according to the current procedure.

The measure for compensation of workers in closed businesses is also extended. They will receive 75% of their insurance income by the end of June 2021. Compensation will be paid for no more than 60 days within 2020 and for no more than 90 days within 2021, in which employees have used unpaid leave due to imposed restrictions for carrying out the activity for which they are employed, by an act of a state body.

The term for payment of compensations for the purpose of maintaining the employment in the amount of BGN 290 per month to the employees and the self-insured persons from the sectors “Transport”, “Hotel and restaurant” and “Tourism” is extended until May 31, 2021.

Compensation will be paid upon receipt of a positive decision from the European Commission on the compatibility of the aid with the internal market.