Background information

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

Content of measure

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.

Use of measure

No data yet available.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Solo-self-employed SMEs One person or microenterprises	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Company / Companies	No special funding required

Social partners

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:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: Unknown

Involvement

There is no information about the social partner's involvement on this legislation.

Views and reactions

Social partners have welcomed this measure.

Sources

• 25 March 2020: Ordonnance n° 2020-316 du 25 mars 2020 relative au paiement des loyers, des factures d'eau, de gaz et d'électricité afférents aux locaux professionnels des entreprises dont l'activité est affectée par la propagation de l'épidémie de covid-19 (www.legifrance.gouv.fr)
• 01 April 2020: Décret n° 2020-378 du 31 mars 2020 relatif au paiement des loyers, des factures d'eau, de gaz et d'électricité afférents aux locaux professionnels des entreprises dont l'activité est affectée par la propagation de l'épidémie de covid-19 (www.legifrance.gouv.fr)