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.
Overview of measures by country
Eurofound has identified 64 measures in Hungary in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the digital transformation, the green transition, and companies undergoing restructuring. Most cases fall into the category Promoting the economic, labour market and social recovery into a green future with 20 cases (31%). The data collection to date started in March 2020, and data are updated at regular intervals.
This overview was prepared by Nóra Krokovay (KOPINT-Tárki) and Eurofound.
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
16 April 2020 Updated |
Income support for employees engaged in R+D activities
Remuneration and rewards for workers in essential services |
01 October 2020 Updated |
Healthcare workers’ reward for COVID-19 work
Remuneration and rewards for workers in essential services |
05 October 2020 Updated |
New public health-care service contracts with pay rise for doctors
Remuneration and rewards for workers in essential services |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Labour Utilisation Survey
Smoothing frictions or reallocation of workers |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Simplified employment
Mobilisation of a larger workforce |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
15 April 2020 Updated |
Suspension on loan payments for companies
Deferral of payments or liabilities |
15 April 2020 Updated |
Relief of tax on labour for certain target sectors affected by COVID-19
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
15 April 2020 Updated |
Relief of ‘KATA’ small entrepreneurs’ tax for certain target sectors hard-hit by the Coronavirus pandemic
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
16 April 2020 Updated |
Rent freeze and contract termination ban for businesses in specific sectors
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
12 August 2020 Updated |
Support for music industry
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
05 October 2020 Updated |
Subsidy to improve competitiveness in coronavirus pandemic
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
07 December 2020 Updated |
Provisions relating to accommodation services
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
08 January 2021 Updated |
Local business tax reduction and cap
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
09 April 2021 |
Restart interest-free fast loan
Access to finance |
12 January 2022 |
Utility bill reduction for SMEs
Access to finance |
23 June 2022 |
Micro enterprise and SME support programme
Access to finance |
26 October 2022 Updated |
Energy cost and investment subsidy programme for energy intensive SMEs
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
20 February 2023 Updated |
Subsidy for small village shops
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
15 April 2020 Updated |
Wage support programme for job retention - Kurzarbeit with training obligation
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
17 April 2020 Updated |
Working time banking period raised in the pandemic situation
Working time flexibility |
03 December 2020 Updated |
Wage support for sectors - catering and recreation
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Wage Guarantee Fund
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
11 July 2022 Updated |
Allocated cumulative working time (working time bank)
Working time flexibility |
08 June 2023 Updated |
Measures assisting the tourism-catering sector
Working time flexibility |
Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
27 October 2020 Updated |
Trade unions’ joint positions on COVID-19 measures
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
23 June 2022 |
Ad hoc cooperation agreement
Transfer or redeployment of workers |
16 September 2022 |
Energy saving in public administration buildings
Change of production/Innovation |
Company practices |
01 December 2020 |
LIRA books and publishing group COVID-19 experience
Creation of platforms for businesses aimed at customer |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
16 April 2020 Updated |
New working arrangements (eg. telework) due to COVID-19
Changes of working hours or work arrangements |
23 June 2022 |
Employee sharing
Changes of working hours or work arrangements |
Bipartite collective agreements |
08 October 2020 Updated |
Collective agreement changes during COVID-19
Changes of working hours or work arrangements |
Company practices |
09 November 2020 |
Large electronics manufacturer – COVID-19 defence measure
Occupational health and safety |
12 November 2020 |
Bonuses, overnight shift at Tesco
Changes of working hours or work arrangements |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
15 July 2021 |
Compensation for self-employed
Extensions of income support to workers not covered by any kind of protection scheme |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
15 April 2020 Updated |
Suspension on loan payments for private individuals
Preventing over-indebtedness |
17 April 2020 Updated |
Interest-free student loans
Preventing over-indebtedness |
22 May 2022 Updated |
Temporary protection status for Ukrainian refugees
Protection of vulnerable groups (beyond employment support) |
03 June 2022 Updated |
Education and childcare for Ukrainian refugee children
Access to childcare and education |
03 June 2022 Updated |
Healthcare services for Ukrainian refugees
Access to healthcare |
03 June 2022 Updated |
Government information page and support for charities for Ukraine
Other humanitarian measures |
03 June 2022 Updated |
Budapest Helps: Website with information for refugees
Provision of services in kind (e.g. food vouchers) |
28 February 2024 |
Electric heating for households in need
Keeping or obtaining a safe home |
Other initiatives or policies |
07 September 2022 Updated |
Solar panel programme for residents
Keeping or obtaining a safe home |
09 September 2022 Updated |
Carpathian Emergency Response Fund for Ukrainians - NGO
Other humanitarian measures |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
16 April 2020 |
Mandatory contribution to COVID-19 defence fund from banking and retail sectors
Support for spending, stimulus packages |
15 February 2024 |
Solar Energy Plus Programme
Retrofitting buildings |
06 November 2023 Updated |
Support for banks with green loans
Financing the green transition |
07 June 2023 Updated |
Mandatory special offers for food products in shops to counter inflation
Support for other basic items (e.g., food, housing, public transport, medicines) |
05 June 2023 Updated |
Discount regional public transport passes
Support for other basic items (e.g., food, housing, public transport, medicines) |
18 February 2023 Updated |
Price cap on basic food items
Support for other basic items (e.g., food, housing, public transport, medicines) |
29 August 2022 |
Budapest utility bill subsidy for low income households
Support for energy bills |
29 August 2022 Updated |
Utility price cap for microcompanies
Support for energy bills |
22 February 2024 |
"H” tariff - Reduced tariff for home renewable heating sources
Retrofitting buildings |
25 August 2022 Updated |
Utility price cap scheme change
Support for energy bills |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Short Term Labour Market Forecast
Other |
24 May 2022 Updated |
Price cap on fuel
Support for fuel expenses |
23 May 2022 Updated |
Employment subsidies for Ukrainian refugees
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
12 January 2022 |
Employee training for business resilience
Flexibilisation and security |
11 October 2021 |
Tax rebate for parents
Support for spending, stimulus packages |
07 October 2020 Updated |
Employee bonus scheme SZÉP card limit rise
Support for spending, stimulus packages |
13 July 2020 Updated |
Wage support for job creation/workforce support programme for companies (2021)
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
23 June 2022 |
Territorial Employment Pacts
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
28 February 2024 |
Environmental grant programme in Budapest District 13
Retrofitting buildings |
Other initiatives or policies |
30 May 2023 Updated |
Energy bill compensation for civil organisations
Support for energy bills |
30 January 2023
Governments across the EU continue to implement policies to support citizens and businesses in the face of rising food and energy prices caused by the COVID-19 crisis and intensified by the war in Ukraine. This article summarises the policy responses as reported in Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch database from January to September 2022.
Article12 September 2022
Although the worldwide pandemic situation had already disrupted supply chains and triggered increases in energy and food prices in 2021, the situation deteriorated in 2022 with the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Article12 September 2022
This article summarises the first policy responses that governments across the EU have started to implement to support companies affected by the rising prices, and those with commercial ties to Ukraine, Russia or Belarus.
Article5 July 2022
This article summarises the first policy responses of EU Member States, including those of the social partners and other civil society actors, enabling refugees to exercise their rights under the Temporary Protection Directive.
ArticleDisclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process.