Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the COVID-19 crisis, the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.
Factsheet for measure FR-2020-13/563 – measures in France
Country | France , applies nationwide |
Time period | Open ended, started on 26 March 2020 |
Context | COVID-19 |
Type | Legislations or other statutory regulations |
Category |
Supporting businesses to stay afloat
– Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
Author | Frédéric Turlan (IRshare) and Eurofound |
Measure added | 13 April 2020 (updated 10 May 2020) |
On 16 March, the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, indicated that targeted measures for the smallest companies are planned, following those already announced for the deferral of social and fiscal charges and partial activity covered above the minimum wage. 'Water, gas and electricity bills as well as rents will have to be suspended' for these companies, he added. The ordinance 2020-316, therefore, provides for the postponement of the payment of rents, water, gas and electricity bills for smaller companies in difficulty
For water, gas and electricity bills: businesses that are experiencing difficulties in paying their water, gas and electricity bills can send a request for an amicable deferral to their water, gas or electricity supplier without delay by email or telephone. For the rent of commercial premises: the main landlords' federations have called on their members to suspend rents for the April deadline and for the subsequent periods of cessation of activity imposed by the decree.
In practice: - for very small companies and SMEs belonging to one of the sectors whose activity is discontinued: rents and charges will be called monthly and no longer quarterly; - the collection of rents and charges is suspended from 1 April 2020, and for subsequent periods of cessation of activity imposed by the decree. When business resumes, these rents and charges will be subject to deferred payment or spread without penalty or interest on arrears and adapted to the situation of the companies in question; - for very small companies and SMEs whose activity has been interrupted by decree, these measures will be applied automatically and without considering their particular situation.
As regards enterprises whose activity, without being interrupted, has been seriously damaged by the crisis, their situation will be studied on a case-by-case basis, with benevolence according to their economic realities.
No data yet available.
Workers | Businesses | Citizens |
---|---|---|
Does not apply to workers |
Solo-self-employed
SMEs One person or microenterprises |
Does not apply to citizens |
Actors | Funding |
---|---|
National government
Company / Companies |
No special funding required
|
Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:
Trade unions | Employers' organisations | |
---|---|---|
Role | No involvement | No involvement |
Form | Not applicable | Not applicable |
Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
N/A
Social partners have welcomed this measure.
Citation
Eurofound (2020), Assistance in the payment of rents, water, gas and electricity bills for business premises of companies, measure FR-2020-13/563 (measures in France), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/FR-2020-13_563.html
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