Background information

In view of the evolution of the epidemiological situation, Decree of the President of the Republic 51-U/2020, of 6 November, proceeded to the declaration of state of emergency, also renewed through the Decree of the President of the Republic 59-A/2020, of 20 November, with new measures and restrictions adopted with a view to COVID-19 disease pandemic prevention and response.

These measures, being fundamental from the point of view of public health, provoke new impacts on economic activity, requiring the protection of beneficiaries of the ADAPTAR Programme who are prevented to complete, by 31 December 2020, their projects with applications already approved under the incentive lines provided for in Decree-Law 20-G/2020, of14 May.

Content of measure

The Decree-Law 103/2020, of 15 December, makes the first amendment to Decree-Law 20-G/2020, of 14 May, which establishes a system of incentives for micro, small and medium-sized companies, in the context of COVID-19 disease.

To support companies in adapting their establishments, methods of organising work and relationship with customers and suppliers to new conditions of distancing in the context of the COVID-19 disease pandemic, ensuring compliance with the standards established and the recommendations of the competent authorities, the Government created a system of incentives aimed at adapting economic activity to the new context created by the COVID-19, referred to as the ADAPTAR Programme (Decree-Law 20-G/2020).

The funding rate varies between 50% and 80%, according to business size, region and investment amount.

This system aims to reduce the added costs for the quick restoration of operating conditions of the companies, being supported, namely, the acquisition costs of personal protective equipment for workers and users, hygiene, disinfection contracts and the costs of reorganising workplaces and changes in layout of establishments.

This system established as an eligibility criterion for projects to support the maximum duration execution period of six months, starting from the date of notification of the favourable decision, with the limit of 31 December 2020.

The Decree-Law 103/2020 amends Articles 4, 7 and 16 of Decree-Law 20-G/2020, extending the maximum duration of execution of the project supported by ADAPTAR from six to nine months from the date of notification of the favourable decision, with the deadline of 31 March 2021.

Use of measure

Unknown.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	SMEs One person or microenterprises	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government	European Funds

Social partners

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

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

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

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

The social partners were informed at the Standing Committee for Social Concertation.

Views and reactions

Unknown.

Sources

• 15 December 2020: Decreto-Lei 103/2020. Diário da República n.º 242/2020, Série I de 2020-12-15 de 15 de dezembro (data.dre.pt)