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 target group – category: Businesses
Eurofound has identified 55 measures for this target group. Most of these measures fall into the category Ensuring business continuity and support for essential services (40%).
Ensuring business continuity and support for essential services |
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09 December 2020 |
Keeping workers safe at public utility company Böblingen
Germany, Bipartite collective agreements |
08 December 2020 Updated |
Corona premia for employees in German Parliament
Germany, Company practices |
03 December 2020 |
The remuneration of retail chain employees due to worsened working conditions during the pandemic
Czechia, Company practices |
10 November 2020 |
Temporary employee-sharing between LUXAIR and other firms
Luxembourg, Tripartite agreements |
04 November 2020 |
Corona bonus of €3000 rewards Vienna Port employees for exceptional burden
Austria, Bipartite collective agreements |
10 September 2020 Updated |
COVID-19: Assistance for frontline workers in health care services
Bulgaria, Tripartite agreements |
09 September 2020 |
Frame agreement on working time regulations in kindergartens in connection with coronavirus
Norway, Bipartite collective agreements |
09 September 2020 |
Agreement on care for young people in child welfare institutions who are infected with coronavirus, or are ill with suspected coronavirus
Norway, Bipartite collective agreements |
09 September 2020 Updated |
New state sector agreement to facilitate working time planning
Norway, Bipartite collective agreements |
09 September 2020 |
Private nursing homes and paramedics: New collective agreement expands access to overtime
Norway, Bipartite collective agreements |
08 September 2020 |
Municipalities: New collective agreement expands access to overtime
Norway, Bipartite collective agreements |
08 September 2020 |
Hospitals: New collective agreement expands access to overtime
Norway, Bipartite collective agreements |
08 September 2020 Updated |
Agreements between Slovnaft MOL management and local trade unions
Slovakia, Bipartite collective agreements |
19 May 2020 |
Austrian armed forces 'take over' postal logistics services
Austria, Company practices |
06 May 2020 |
Increase of maximum weekly working hours
Austria, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
12 April 2020 Updated |
Exceptional purchasing power bonus for essential services employees
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
11 April 2020 |
Possibility to refuse or cancel leave in essential sectors of activity
Luxembourg, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
08 April 2020 |
Rotation of working teams rota in public passenger transportation companies
Portugal, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
08 April 2020 |
Utilisation of graduate medical and nursing students
Cyprus, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
08 April 2020 |
Requisition of doctors and nurses
Cyprus, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
02 February 2021 |
EU sectoral social partners call for the safety of seafarers
European Union, Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
05 January 2021 |
Temporary extension of working hours in the health sector
Luxembourg, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
Supporting businesses to stay afloat |
21 October 2020 |
Fund to support the solvency of strategic companies
Spain, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
24 September 2020 Updated |
Quasi-funds for investments
Bulgaria, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
11 September 2020 Updated |
COVID-19: Reduction of VAT for certain goods and services
Bulgaria, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
04 February 2021 |
MYTILINEOS: Changes to the operational plan to face the COVID-19 pandemic
Greece, Company practices |
Employment protection and retention |
10 January 2022 |
COVID-19 winter package for hospitals
Denmark, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
Reorientation of business activities |
01 December 2020 |
CEiiA - change of business activity to face COVID-19 pandemic
Portugal, Company practices |
26 November 2020 |
SEAT: Temporary conversion to produce respirators
Spain, Company practices |
10 November 2020 Updated |
Protective masks made in Luxembourg
Luxembourg, Company practices |
10 November 2020 |
Dupont de Nemours Luxembourg S.À R.L: Large increase in demand for protection equipment
Luxembourg, Company practices |
30 October 2020 |
Absolut Vodka's change in business activity to produce disinfection
Sweden, Company practices |
30 October 2020 |
Essity changes core business to manufacture protective masks
Sweden, Company practices |
21 September 2020 |
Cash grant for companies to produce products related to COVID
Malta, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
26 April 2020 Updated |
COVID-19 online retail scheme
Ireland, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
Protection of workers, adaptation of workplace |
18 December 2020 |
Closed front doors and cash-free payment to protect bus drivers
Norway, Bipartite collective agreements |
27 November 2020 |
Argenta: Bank introduces crisis management team
Belgium, Company practices |
26 November 2020 |
Memorandum on the implementation of socially responsible policies in the commerce sector
Latvia, Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
29 October 2020 |
KTH:s remote working rules and return to work
Sweden, Company practices |
05 July 2023 |
Suspension of the obligation to vaccinate healthcare workers against COVID-19
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
07 May 2020 Updated |
Office allowance for teleworkers
Belgium, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
15 April 2020 Updated |
Protection of workers in retail, including change of working hours
Austria, Bipartite collective agreements |
11 March 2021 |
Digital Learning and Development at NHS Blood and Transplant service
United Kingdom, Company practices |
03 February 2021 |
Chytrý Honza: Accelerated investment in IT in financial services company
Czechia, Company practices |
Measures to prevent social hardship |
13 November 2020 |
Urgent measures to support state-level voluntary sector social entities
Spain, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
16 May 2022 Updated |
Assistance for accommodation and food for persons from Ukraine
Bulgaria, Other initiatives or policies |
11 May 2022 |
Reception and settlement of people displaced from Ukraine
Norway, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
Promoting the economic, labour market and social recovery |
24 August 2022 |
Grant for revitalization, construction, digitalization and modernization of the Croatian transmission power grid
Croatia, Other initiatives or policies |
19 April 2021 |
Support measures within the scope of the COVID-19 pandemic
Portugal, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
16 April 2020 Updated |
Suspension of employment contracts
Greece, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
Responses to inflation |
24 August 2022 Updated |
Price control and subsidies for heating for households and vulnerable entities
Poland, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
20 May 2022 Updated |
Energy prices capping: Temporary benefits for consumers
Romania, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
20 May 2022 Updated |
Subsidy for companies that are large consumers of gas and electricity
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
18 February 2023 Updated |
Energy cost package
Italy, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
14 February 2023 |
December 2022 gas and heating assistance
Germany, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
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.