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: Workers
Eurofound has identified 114 measures for this target group. Most of these measures fall into the category Ensuring business continuity and support for essential services (33%).
Ensuring business continuity and support for essential services |
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03 December 2020 |
The remuneration of retail chain employees due to worsened working conditions during the pandemic
Czechia, Company practices |
28 November 2020 |
Giovanni Rana: Extraordinary plan of wage increases in pasta manufacturing company
Italy, Company practices |
27 November 2020 |
Temporary availability of health care workers during the epidemic
Slovenia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
27 November 2020 |
Salary bonus for HM Hospitals workers
Spain, Company practices |
16 November 2020 Updated |
Idle tourism workers to join COVID-19 track and trace team
Malta, Company practices |
30 October 2020 |
Elite Hotels offer subsidised stays for people in risk groups and health care staff
Sweden, Company practices |
26 October 2020 |
Care jobs for temporary unemployed
Belgium, Other initiatives or policies |
23 October 2020 |
Temporarily laid-off employees of passenger airline Finland given an opportunity to work for private healthcare providers
Finland, Company practices |
05 October 2020 Updated |
New public health-care service contracts with pay rise for doctors
Hungary, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
02 October 2020 |
Tourism services for medical staff compensated by the State
Lithuania, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
01 October 2020 Updated |
Healthcare workers’ reward for COVID-19 work
Hungary, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
24 September 2020 Updated |
New health and safety regulation for the schools
Italy, Other initiatives or policies |
17 September 2020 |
Ensuring business continuity and protection of workers in private security service during COVID-19 pandemic
European Union, Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
11 September 2020 |
Bonuses from supermarket chains to reward their employees.
Greece, Company practices |
10 September 2020 Updated |
COVID-19: Assistance for frontline workers in health care services
Bulgaria, Tripartite agreements |
08 September 2022 |
Wage increases for health sector workers
Poland, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
05 September 2022 |
Faster skills recognition for health sector workers
Poland, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 August 2022 |
Relaxation of rules for hiring Ukrainian refugee teachers
Poland, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
24 May 2022 |
Right of Ukrainians to engage in medical professions
Latvia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
20 May 2022 |
Changes to employment arrangements will benefit 1,800 non-EEA doctors
Ireland, Other initiatives or policies |
19 May 2022 |
EU: Faster and simpler recognition of refugees' professional qualifications
European Union, Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
06 May 2020 |
Measures to deploy a larger workforce in public healthcare and allow for the reassignment of public sector staff and teachers to other duties
Ireland, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
06 May 2020 |
Increase of maximum weekly working hours
Austria, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
05 May 2020 Updated |
Mobilisation of healthcare professionals
Finland, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
17 April 2020 Updated |
Temporary exemption from pension reduction for health professionals
Norway, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
16 April 2020 |
Bonus for hospital staff
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
16 April 2020 Updated |
Income support for employees engaged in R+D activities
Hungary, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
16 April 2020 |
Extraordinary financial support to personnel of public health and civil protection institutions
Greece, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
16 April 2020 |
Easing the temporary and flexible hiring of workers in agriculture
Spain, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
15 April 2020 |
Mobilisation of retired health service and other emergency service workers
United Kingdom, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
10 April 2020 Updated |
Limitation of certain rights of healthcare workers
Slovenia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
08 April 2020 |
Bonuses for employees working in social service institutions
Lithuania, Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
08 April 2020 |
Wage increases for medical staff
Lithuania, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
07 February 2021 |
Manufacturing companies pay bonus to employees working onsite
Ireland, Company practices |
02 February 2021 |
Road freight: call for keeping borders and supply chains open
European Union, Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
01 February 2021 Updated |
Seafarers proclaimed key workers and obtain exemption payment of personal income tax
Croatia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
09 January 2022 Updated |
Promotion of wage bracket for doctors and dentists
Slovenia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
05 January 2021 |
Temporary extension of working hours in the health sector
Luxembourg, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
Supporting businesses to stay afloat |
07 October 2020 Updated |
Social Care Provider Act
Germany, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
12 August 2020 Updated |
Support for music industry
Hungary, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
20 May 2022 |
European universities show solidarity with Ukrainian partners
European Union, Other initiatives or policies |
16 May 2022 Updated |
Public aids for the transport sector granted after strike action by employers
Spain, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
29 January 2021 |
Funding supports for the sport sector
Ireland, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
29 January 2021 |
Range of supports introduced for the arts, culture and performance sectors
Ireland, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
08 January 2021 |
Measures for culture, media and NGO sector
Slovenia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
Employment protection and retention |
19 December 2020 |
Employment support at preschools during crisis situation - Measure 6 - First Aid Plus
Slovakia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
10 August 2020 |
Agreement between Air Malta and Engineers Union
Malta, Bipartite collective agreements |
07 August 2020 |
Collective agreement: Air Malta cabin crew
Malta, Bipartite collective agreements |
17 July 2020 |
Temporary Wage Subsidy Childcare Scheme (TWSCS)
Ireland, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
23 May 2022 Updated |
Pilot basic income for the arts scheme aims to address earnings instability
Ireland, Other initiatives or policies |
17 April 2020 Updated |
Working time banking period raised in the pandemic situation
Hungary, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
17 April 2020 Updated |
Collective agreement on short-time working in system catering
Germany, Bipartite collective agreements |
15 April 2020 |
Audiovisual sector: First collective agreement on short-time working
Germany, Bipartite collective agreements |
26 March 2021 |
Employment support at primary art schools - Measure 6 First Aid Plus Plus
Slovakia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
Reorientation of business activities |
25 November 2020 |
Agreement for maintenance of employment in Inditex
Spain, Bipartite collective agreements |
16 November 2020 |
Bortex Tailoring shift production to make facemasks and scrubs
Malta, Company practices |
16 November 2020 |
English language schools try to adapt during COVID-19
Malta, Company practices |
30 October 2020 |
Essity changes core business to manufacture protective masks
Sweden, Company practices |
05 April 2020 Updated |
Production of personal sanitary protective masks
Slovakia, Company practices |
20 February 2023 |
Polish government, unions sign social contract on power plants overhaul
Poland, Bipartite collective agreements |
03 February 2023 |
IV Agreement for the transition to climate neutrality in the cement sector
Spain, Bipartite collective agreements |
Protection of workers, adaptation of workplace |
17 December 2020 |
New technologies in Alpha-Mega Hypermarkets for health and safety
Cyprus, Company practices |
09 December 2020 |
Working in tandem with robots - Joint social partner position
European Union, Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
01 December 2020 |
Go4All - collaborative platform for remote working
Portugal, Company practices |
30 November 2020 |
Four year emergency agreement concluded at Ryanair
Ireland, Bipartite collective agreements |
16 November 2020 |
Taxi company adapts to COVID-19
Malta, Company practices |
30 October 2021 Updated |
Re-introduction of online tutoring for primary and secondary school students
Croatia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
07 October 2021 |
New policy on 'blended working' in the civil service published
Ireland, Other initiatives or policies |
30 September 2021 |
Recruitment of fixed-term employees/Outsourcing services
Greece, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
14 September 2020 |
Suspension of the collective agreement of the tour guides of Crete and Santorini in case of pandemic
Greece, Bipartite collective agreements |
14 September 2020 |
Teaching unions' coronavirus online information hubs
United Kingdom, Other initiatives or policies |
14 September 2020 |
Amendment of the sectoral collective agreement for the Lithuanian national public health system
Lithuania, Bipartite collective agreements |
10 September 2020 |
A new employment model in Höfe
Slovenia, Company practices |
10 September 2020 |
European social partners call for safeguard of personal and household services workers
European Union, Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
23 June 2022 Updated |
SME Digital 3.1
Austria, Other initiatives or policies |
14 April 2020 Updated |
Instructions from the social partners for dealing with construction sites due to COVID-19
Austria, Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
13 April 2020 |
Occupational health and safety promotion - Health professionals
Portugal, Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
11 March 2021 |
Digital Learning and Development at NHS Blood and Transplant service
United Kingdom, Company practices |
12 January 2022 |
Limiting the risk of COVID-19 in Sofia University
Bulgaria, Company practices |
12 January 2021 |
Collective agreement signed in the police sector
Lithuania, Bipartite collective agreements |
09 January 2022 Updated |
Obligatory COVID-19 vaccination for selected occupational groups
Poland, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
08 January 2021 Updated |
Bonus for hazardous work
Slovenia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
Income protection beyond short-time work |
21 December 2020 |
New COVID-19 related provisions for the bilateral fund for domestic workers Cassacolf
Italy, Bipartite collective agreements |
13 November 2020 |
Unemployment benefit and extension of protection to the cultural sector
Spain, Other initiatives or policies |
27 October 2020 |
Creative workers employment program
Latvia, Other initiatives or policies |
07 October 2021 |
Special support scheme for the unemployed in the hotel sector
Cyprus, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
29 September 2020 Updated |
Special scheme for certain categories of self-employed
Cyprus, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
21 September 2020 |
Benefits for people engaged in individual agricultural activities
Lithuania, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
13 July 2020 |
Support to collective leaders participating in the song and dance festival movement
Estonia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
10 July 2020 |
Social support for artists, authors, technicians and other arts professionals
Portugal, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
01 July 2020 |
Emergency support allowance for artists
Cyprus, Other initiatives or policies |
16 April 2020 Updated |
Support scheme for artists with different types of income
Denmark, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
15 April 2020 Updated |
COVID-19 - Arts and culture - Overview of support measures for artists
Austria, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
12 April 2020 Updated |
COVID-19: Assisting artists and freelancers
Bulgaria, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
10 April 2020 |
Scheme for the remuneration of contract workers and self-employed in the afternoon programmes of the Ministry of Education
Cyprus, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
09 April 2020 Updated |
COVID-19 indemnity for self-employed, economically dependent workers and employees
Italy, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
07 April 2020 Updated |
Subsistence support for freelancers in creative industries
Estonia, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
06 April 2020 Updated |
Compensation for doctors and other officials infected with COVID-19 during their duty
Lithuania, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
Measures to prevent social hardship |
13 November 2020 |
Aid for fishermen affected by the state of alarm
Spain, Other initiatives or policies |
14 September 2022 Updated |
Preparing teachers to address needs of Ukrainian children
Romania, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
Promoting the economic, labour market and social recovery |
23 October 2021 |
Measures to promote recruitment in the entertainment sector
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
21 October 2020 |
Aids for the energy renovation of buildings
Spain, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
14 October 2021 |
Funding package and supports for Tourism, Arts & Culture announced in Budget
Ireland, Other initiatives or policies |
06 October 2021 Updated |
Restart Schemes 2021 - Arts Council Malta
Malta, Other initiatives or policies |
09 July 2021 |
Summer business package to boost economy and holiday activities
Denmark, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
20 May 2022 Updated |
Aid for hiring people on fixed-term contracts in the entertainment industry
France, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
16 April 2020 Updated |
Training voucher of €600 for specific professionals
Greece, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
13 January 2022 |
Additional funding announced to support live performance sector
Ireland, Other initiatives or policies |
09 January 2021 Updated |
Measures for the second package for the cultural and creative sector
Netherlands, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
Responses to inflation |
12 September 2022 Updated |
Financial benefits for coal industry workers
Poland, Company practices |
23 May 2022 |
Revised public sector pay agreement concluded amid cost of living concerns
Ireland, Bipartite collective agreements |
17 February 2023 |
One-time €150 bonus against inflation
Italy, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
13 February 2023 |
Sectoral aid for fertiliser price increases
Spain, Legislations or other statutory regulations |
13 February 2023 |
Aid to fuel-dependent sectors
Spain, 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.