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Factsheet for measure AT-2020-45/1637 Updated – measures in Austria

Lockdown - turnover (sales) compensation

Lockdown-Umsatzersatz

Country Austria , applies nationwide
Time period Temporary, 03 November 2020 – 30 June 2021
Context COVID-19
Type Legislations or other statutory regulations
Category Supporting businesses to stay afloat
– Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation
Author Bernadette Allinger (Forba) and Eurofound
Measure added 30 December 2020 (updated 19 June 2023)

Background information

In November and December 2020, the federal government implemented further lock-downs, in order to reduce the dynamics of the COVID-19 infection process.

On 3 November, a so-called "lockdown light" was implemented, which essentially regulates closures of restaurants and hotels (with take-away and business overnight stays allowed), as well as fitness centres, leisure facilities and the like. This was in place until 16 November (and again between 7 and 25 December) and was followed by a "strict" lock-down from 17 November to 6 December and 26 December 2020 to 17 January 2021, which regulated additional closures (e.g. retail, personal services such as hairdressing, cosmetic studios, but also museums or libraries). In order to support the Austrian economy and all those business affected by the closures, the federal government provides a lockdown sales compensation as a further aid measure as part of the federal COVID-19 aid fund.

Content of measure

Companies that are directly affected by the imposed restrictions are eligible to the sales compensation. For different sectors (according to the NACE classification) and periods, different replacement ratios apply, so that a so-called "November sales compensation" and "December sales compensation can be differentiated:

  • Companies that were directly affected by official closures in the month of November ('light' lockdown from 3 November, 'hard' lockdown from 17 November to 6 December), that is companies whose industry was affected by the ordinance according to specified NACE classes, including gastronomy and hotels, as well as personal (body related) services such as hairdressers receive a flat rate of up to 80% of the turnover of November 2019 (up to a maximum of €800,000). Any other subsidies received from the hardship fund or the fixed cost subsidy do not reduce the compensation, short-time work is also not affected. Sales which are generated through takeaway foods or overnight stays of business travellers are also taken into account, i.e. they do not reduce the subsidy. Retail companies (excluding food and drug stores or pharmacies) which were affected by the measures from 17 November onwards receive a compensation of 20%, 40% or 60% of their sales from November 2019, depending on the perishability and seasonality of the goods, the sales/earnings ratio and the probability of subsequent purchases.
  • For the month of December, a turnover compensation (up to €800,000) is granted to companies which were concerned by the imposed restrictions between 7 and 31 December 2020 or between 26 and 31 December 2020. The amount of the subsidy depends on the turnover in December 2019. Directly affected companies (sectors like in November) receive 50% of the loss in turnover, retail companies 12.5%, 25% or 37.5%.

Updates

The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.

16 February 2021

(Referring to the update from 27 December 2020:) The so-called lockdown turnover compensation II for indirectly affected companies has started on 16 February 2021 for companies which are indirectly affected by the lock-down (i.e. if they generate at least 50% of their sales or turnover with companies that were directly affected by the official closings in November and 2020). The compensation is granted if the company suffers a revenue shortfall of more than 40% during this time period for up to five different observation periods. The compensation is to be applied for between 16 February and 30 June 2021.

27 December 2020

At the end of December 2020, it was announced that a turnover compensation for indirectly affected companies (e.g. supplier companies) will be provided for the months of November and December 2020 for those companies which had losses of at least 40%. No further details are available as of now.

Use of measure

As of 18 December 2020, 65,499 applicants received turnover compensation in the amount of €1.422 billion. The state paid €2.9 billion overall for applications in 2020 and €495 million in 2021.

Target groups

Workers Businesses Citizens
Does not apply to workers Sector specific set of companies
Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors Funding
National government
National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

Trade unions Employers' organisations
Role Unknown Unknown
Form Not applicable Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

  • Unknown
  • Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

Social partner involvement is unknown.

Views and reactions

Organised business (especially the sectoral associations concerned by business closures) appreciates the measure.

Sectors and occupations

    • Economic area Sector (NACE level 2)
      G - Wholesale And Retail Trade; Repair Of Motor Vehicles And Motorcycles G45 Wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles
      G47 Retail trade, except of motor vehicles and motorcycles
      H - Transportation And Storage H49 Land transport and transport via pipelines
      H50 Water transport
      H52 Warehousing and support activities for transportation
      I - Accommodation And Food Service Activities I55 Accommodation
      I56 Food and beverage service activities
      J - Information And Communication J59 Motion picture, video and television programme production, sound recording and music publishing activities
      N - Administrative And Support Service Activities N77 Rental and leasing activities
      N79 Travel agency, tour operator and other reservation service and related activities
      N82 Office administrative, office support and other business support activities
      P - Education P85 Education
      Q - Human Health And Social Work Activities Q86 Human health activities
      R - Arts, Entertainment And Recreation R90 Creative, arts and entertainment activities
      R91 Libraries, archives, museums and other cultural activities
      R92 Gambling and betting activities
      R93 Sports activities and amusement and recreation activities
      S - Other Service Activities S96 Other personal service activities

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

Citation

Eurofound (2020), Lockdown - turnover (sales) compensation, measure AT-2020-45/1637 (measures in Austria), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/AT-2020-45_1637.html

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Disclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process.