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in the development of better social, employment and
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COVID-19 EU PolicyWatch

Database of national-level responses

Eurofound's COVID-19 EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the crisis, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.

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Overview of measures by type

Other initiatives or policies

Austria

Ensuring business continuity and support for essential services
10 April 2020	Food helpers online platform Smoothing frictions or reallocation of workers
Protection of workers, adaptation of workplace
16 April 2020	Subsidy for home offices - IT infrastructure Teleworking arrangements, remote working
25 April 2020	SME subsidy for teleworking: Region of Styria and Chamber of Labour Teleworking arrangements, remote working
Reorientation of business activities
31 March 2020	OpenHotel platform for essential workers Creation of platforms for businesses aimed at customer
Supporting businesses to get back to normal
14 May 2020	City of Vienna issues gastronomy vouchers for every household Measures to support a gradual relaunch of work

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Croatia

Supporting businesses to stay afloat
07 April 2020	Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts suspends company fees for the second trimester 2020 Direct subsidies (full or partial)

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Cyprus

Income protection beyond short-time work
01 July 2020	Emergency support allowance for artists Extensions of income support to workers not covered by any kind of protection scheme
Supporting businesses to get back to normal
08 September 2020	Special vocational and educational schemes and subsidy of wage costs Enhancing employability and training
17 June 2020	Cyprus to pay holiday costs of infected tourists Measures to support a gradual relaunch of work
01 July 2020	Incentives scheme for airline companies Measures to support a gradual relaunch of work

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Czechia

Reorientation of business activities
12 April 2020	Country for the Future - Innovation to practice (COVID) - Digitalisation and innovations Change of production/innovation

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Estonia

Ensuring business continuity and support for essential services
08 April 2020	Temporary job offers portal Smoothing frictions or reallocation of workers

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Germany

Protection of workers, adaptation of workplace
15 September 2020	COVID-19 info-hotline for East European workers Occupational health and safety
Supporting businesses to stay afloat
14 September 2020	Practical tool for companies to document business changes due to COVID-19 Other
14 September 2020	Employers organisations FAQs on COVID-19 Other

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Greece

Promoting the economic, labour market and social recovery
09 September 2020	Social partners explore possible joint initiatives for COVID-19 crisis “Support for SMEs and workers” Other
Protection of workers, adaptation of workplace
03 September 2020	Information and support group 'ANTI-COVID-19' for workers by trade union GSEE Other
Supporting businesses to stay afloat
04 September 2020	Joint statement of peak level employer’s organizations for the support of businesses and workers Other
04 September 2020	Practical guides of Hellenic Federation of Enterprises on telework and the continuation of business under the crisis of COVID-19. Other

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Ireland

Promoting the economic, labour market and social recovery
04 September 2020	Apprenticeship incentivisation scheme Active labour market policies, incl. subsidised job creation
Supporting businesses to get back to normal
07 July 2020	Grant for restarting small businesses introduced Measures to support a gradual relaunch of work
Supporting businesses to stay afloat
18 September 2020	New assistance fund to support micro-enterprises Direct subsidies (full or partial)
28 August 2020	Pandemic stabilisation and recovery fund Access to finance
28 August 2020	Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) issue new loan scheme Access to finance
24 July 2020	Enterprise Ireland/IDA Sustaining Enterprise Scheme Access to finance

View all cases in Ireland

Italy

Employment protection and retention
15 April 2020	Agreement on the anticipation by banks of wage subsidies measures ex-COVID-19 Income support for people in employment (e.g. short-time work)
Measures to prevent social hardship
13 April 2020	Urgent measures of food solidarity Provision of services in kind (e.g. food vouchers)

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Luxembourg

Income protection beyond short-time work
13 July 2020	Pandemic-related parental leave in order to take care of children under 13 Support for parents and carers (financial or in kind)

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Malta

Promoting the economic, labour market and social recovery
24 August 2020	Employment grant to promote access to employment Active labour market policies, incl. subsidised job creation
07 July 2020	Vouchers for use in businesses affected by COVID-19 Support for spending, stimulus packages
Supporting businesses to get back to normal
03 September 2020	Research conducted by employer associations Measures to support a gradual relaunch of work
07 July 2020	Skills Development Scheme Enhancing employability and training
Supporting businesses to stay afloat
13 July 2020	Rent refund Direct subsidies (full or partial)
07 July 2020	Electricity bill refund Direct subsidies (full or partial)

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Netherlands

Income protection beyond short-time work
17 August 2020	Support to professionals in the creative industries Extensions of income support to workers not covered by any kind of protection scheme
Supporting businesses to get back to normal
13 July 2020	The Netherlands keeps learning Enhancing employability and training
Supporting businesses to stay afloat
17 August 2020	Extra subsidies to multi-annually subsidised production institutions Direct subsidies (full or partial)
17 August 2020	Start loans for the cultural and creative industries Access to finance
17 August 2020	Loan for the opening of monuments and heritage sites Access to finance
13 July 2020	Extra subsidies to institutions in the cultural infrastructure Direct subsidies (full or partial)
13 July 2020	Open monument loan Access to finance
13 July 2020	Start-up loans for the cultural sector Access to finance
13 July 2020	Support to creative industries and the cultural sector Direct subsidies (full or partial)
13 July 2020	Subsidy for fixed costs for SMEs Direct subsidies (full or partial)

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Norway

Promoting the economic, labour market and social recovery
09 September 2020	Tripartite educational programmes for the laid off and the unemployed Active labour market policies, incl. subsidised job creation
Supporting businesses to stay afloat
08 September 2020	Information on crisis packages: Measures for companies Other

View all cases in Norway

Poland

Promoting the economic, labour market and social recovery
18 September 2020	Social partners protest against government's attempt to breach their autonomy Other

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Portugal

Protection of workers, adaptation of workplace
01 September 2020	COVID-19: 40 urgent measures for construction workers Occupational health and safety
13 April 2020	Occupational health and safety in the public transportation service Occupational health and safety
13 April 2020	Psychological counselling line - SNS 24 Well-being of workers
Reorientation of business activities
13 April 2020	Ten companies, mainly from moulds and plastics, from Marinha Grande and Leiria, produce goggles for free distribution Change of production/innovation

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Slovakia

Protection of workers, adaptation of workplace
24 August 2020	COVID-19 and changes in the OSH legislation Occupational health and safety
Supporting businesses to stay afloat
02 September 2020	COVID-19 FAQ - Guidelines for employers in the automotive sector Other

View all cases in Slovakia

Slovenia

Protection of workers, adaptation of workplace
10 April 2020	Health and safety at work in the epidemic Occupational health and safety
11 September 2020	Re-establishment of tripartite negotiation on the third and forth emergency laws Other
10 September 2020	Trade union proposal for a reform of occupational medicine Occupational health and safety
10 September 2020	Trade union initiative for a complete closure of shops on Sunday Changes of working hours or work arrangements

View all cases in Slovenia

Sweden

Promoting the economic, labour market and social recovery
16 September 2020	Trygghetsfonden - Competences for work Active labour market policies, incl. subsidised job creation

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United Kingdom

Measures to prevent social hardship
14 September 2020	Public sector union Unison launches COVID-19 hardship fund for members Other
Promoting the economic, labour market and social recovery
08 July 2020	The Kickstart Initiative and incentivising apprenticeships Active labour market policies, incl. subsidised job creation
Supporting businesses to stay afloat
09 July 2020 Updated	The Future Fund Scheme Access to finance
09 July 2020	The Bounce Back Loan Scheme Access to finance

View all cases in United Kingdom

Disclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process. All information is preliminary and subject to change.