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.
Overview of measures by type
Ensuring business continuity and support for essential services |
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10 April 2020 |
Food helpers online platform
Smoothing frictions or reallocation of workers |
Protection of workers, adaptation of workplace |
25 April 2020 |
SME subsidy for teleworking: Region of Styria and Chamber of Labour
Teleworking arrangements, remote working |
16 April 2020 |
Subsidy for home offices - IT infrastructure
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 |
04 November 2020 |
Employers organisation provides consulting services for SMEs to restart their business
Measures to support a gradual relaunch of work |
Supporting businesses to stay afloat |
05 October 2020 |
'Proud of Vienna' Holding: providing equity capital to affected companies with the help of a temporary investment
Access to finance |
05 October 2020 Updated |
Investment premium
Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
05 October 2020 |
Guarantees for bank loans - Vienna
Access to finance |
Ensuring business continuity and support for essential services |
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26 October 2020 |
Care jobs for temporary unemployed
Mobilisation of a larger workforce |
Measures to prevent social hardship |
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25 January 2021 |
"Hot lunch" program for people in need
Provision of services in kind (e.g. food vouchers) |
25 November 2020 Updated |
United against COVID-19: Campaign to fund projects for vulnerable people
Protection of vulnerable groups (beyond employment support) |
18 November 2020 |
COVID-19: You are not alone (CITUB)
Protection of vulnerable groups (beyond employment support) |
Supporting businesses to stay afloat |
06 January 2021 |
Capital support for SMEs
Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
Supporting businesses to stay afloat |
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07 April 2020 |
Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts suspends company fees for the second trimester 2020
Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
Income protection beyond short-time work |
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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 |
17 June 2020 |
Cyprus to pay holiday costs of infected tourists
Measures to support a gradual relaunch of work |
30 November 2020 |
Special training scheme for employees in sectors affected by the pandemic
Enhancing employability and training |
30 November 2020 |
Special vocational educational scheme for the unemployed in public and broader public sector and NGOs
Enhancing employability and training |
08 September 2020 |
Special vocational and educational schemes and subsidy of wage costs
Enhancing employability and training |
01 July 2020 |
Incentives scheme for airline companies
Measures to support a gradual relaunch of work |
Supporting businesses to stay afloat |
04 January 2021 |
Tax reduction scheme of the Union of Cyprus Municipalities
Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
Reorientation of business activities |
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12 April 2020 |
Country for the Future - Innovation to practice (COVID) - Digitalisation and innovations
Change of production/innovation |
Supporting businesses to stay afloat |
07 November 2020 |
Employers' campaign for 'window day' in support of restaurants
Other |
Promoting the economic, labour market and social recovery |
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02 December 2020 |
Social partners call on the government to pay out frozen holiday pay
Support for spending, stimulus packages |
05 October 2020 |
One-time payment for welfare beneficiaries
Support for spending, stimulus packages |
Protection of workers, adaptation of workplace |
04 December 2020 |
News and recommendations regarding COVID-19 from employer organisations
Other |
30 November 2020 |
Guidance from the unions to the members about COVID-19 related issues
Other |
Reorientation of business activities |
16 December 2020 |
The state and Danish industry establish cooperation on companies' reorganisation to production of protective equipment
Change of production/innovation |
Ensuring business continuity and support for essential services |
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08 April 2020 |
Temporary job offers portal
Smoothing frictions or reallocation of workers |
Ensuring business continuity and support for essential services |
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07 September 2020 |
Work from Finland-service: a matching platform for seasonal work
Mobilisation of a larger workforce |
Protection of workers, adaptation of workplace |
20 October 2020 |
Regional crisis support for employees affected by the COVID-19 crisis
Well-being of workers |
Reorientation of business activities |
21 October 2020 |
Enter 2020 information campaign shares information on best practices at workplaces during the COVID-19 pandemic
Change of production/innovation |
Supporting businesses to stay afloat |
05 January 2021 |
Direct subsidy for enterprises in primary production
Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
Promoting the economic, labour market and social recovery |
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16 October 2020 Updated |
Exceptional aid to support the employment of a disabled person on an apprenticeship contract or a professionalisation contract
Active labour market policies, incl. subsidised job creation |
Protection of workers, adaptation of workplace |
09 November 2020 |
Two practical handbooks for employers and employees on COVID-related OSH
Occupational health and safety |
15 October 2020 |
Exceptional travel support for disabled workers
Occupational health and safety |
15 October 2020 |
Exceptional support for training courses to support people with disabilities
Teleworking arrangements, remote working |
16 October 2020 |
Exceptional support for the implementation of telework
Teleworking arrangements, remote working |
16 October 2020 |
Exceptional aid to cover the extra cost of specific prevention equipment
Occupational health and safety |
Ensuring business continuity and support for essential services |
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15 September 2020 |
Chamber of industry sets up platform for employee sharing and exchange
Smoothing frictions or reallocation of workers |
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 |
Employers organisations FAQs on COVID-19
Other |
14 September 2020 |
Employer information on COVID-19 help measures
Other |
14 September 2020 |
Practical tool for companies to document business changes due to COVID-19
Other |
Measures to prevent social hardship |
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07 February 2021 |
“Alliance against COVID”: Joint action by the social partners GSEE and GSEVEE and the radio station Alpha989
Protection of vulnerable groups (beyond employment support) |
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 |
10 September 2020 |
SMEs memorandum on saving businesses, maintaining jobs and ensuring social cohesion.
Other |
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 |
Promoting the economic, labour market and social recovery |
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12 October 2020 |
Government announces extra funds for carers and people with disabilities
Active labour market policies, incl. subsidised job creation |
11 November 2020 |
July stimulus aims to assist businesses and people get back to work
Support for spending, stimulus packages |
04 September 2020 |
Apprenticeship incentivisation scheme
Active labour market policies, incl. subsidised job creation |
Protection of workers, adaptation of workplace |
01 December 2020 |
Online mental health service launched for frontline workers
Well-being of workers |
Supporting businesses to get back to normal |
07 July 2020 Updated |
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 microenterprises
Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
12 November 2020 |
New scheme for business severely impacted by COVID-19 Level 5 restrictions
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 |
Employment protection and retention |
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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) |
Ensuring business continuity and support for essential services |
24 September 2020 |
New health and safety regulation for the schools
Change of work arrangements (working time, rota schemes) |
Measures to prevent social hardship |
13 April 2020 |
Urgent measures of food solidarity
Provision of services in kind (e.g. food vouchers) |
Protection of workers, adaptation of workplace |
23 September 2020 |
Agreement on health and safety at the workplace for public employees relating to the Covid-19 emergency
Changes in work organisation |
23 September 2020 |
Protocol for the safety of workers in the audiovisual sector
Occupational health and safety |
Income protection beyond short-time work |
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27 October 2020 |
Creative workers employment program
Extensions of income support to workers not covered by any kind of protection scheme |
Measures to prevent social hardship |
27 November 2020 |
Volunteers platform "Easy to help-Stay at home"
Protection of vulnerable groups (beyond employment support) |
Ensuring business continuity and support for essential services |
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23 November 2020 |
Social initiative "Let’s Overcome It Together"
Smoothing frictions or reallocation of workers |
Reorientation of business activities |
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05 January 2021 |
Fit 4 Resilience Strategic Innovation Programm
Change of production/innovation |
Promoting the economic, labour market and social recovery |
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24 August 2020 |
Employment grant to promote access to employment
Active labour market policies, incl. subsidised job creation |
07 July 2020 Updated |
Vouchers for use in businesses affected by COVID-19
Support for spending, stimulus packages |
23 September 2020 |
Measures to support import and export
Support for spending, stimulus packages |
Reorientation of business activities |
23 September 2020 Updated |
Malta Enterprise administers business re-engineering consultancy
Change of production/innovation |
21 September 2020 Updated |
Modernisation of construction equipment
Change of production/innovation |
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 |
07 July 2020 |
Electricity bill refund
Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
13 July 2020 |
Rent refund for companies
Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
Ensuring business continuity and support for essential services |
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02 December 2020 |
Free coaching and advice from the Entrepreneurship Sounding Board Foundation
Other |
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 |
Measures to prevent social hardship |
30 October 2020 |
National Social Package: prevention of poverty and problematic household debt
Preventing over-indebtedness |
02 October 2020 |
COVID-19 protocol to ensure the safety of care transport
Protection of vulnerable groups (beyond employment support) |
Promoting the economic, labour market and social recovery |
30 October 2020 |
National Social Package: re-education, re-skilling and development
Active labour market policies, incl. subsidised job creation |
30 October 2020 |
National Social Package: stimulating youth employment
Active labour market policies, incl. subsidised job creation |
29 October 2020 |
National Social Package: transition to new or different work
Active labour market policies, incl. subsidised job creation |
07 October 2020 |
Measures to promote economic investment
Support for spending, stimulus packages |
07 October 2020 |
Package of measures for culture and recreation
Support for spending, stimulus packages |
Reorientation of business activities |
02 December 2020 |
Labour matching and exchange: Snijder Project Support BV
Matching / networking |
Supporting businesses to get back to normal |
13 July 2020 |
The Netherlands keeps learning
Enhancing employability and training |
Supporting businesses to stay afloat |
13 July 2020 |
Support to creative industries and the cultural sector
Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
13 July 2020 Updated |
Subsidy for fixed costs for SMEs
Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
17 August 2020 |
Extra subsidies to multi-annually subsidised production institutions
Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
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 |
17 August 2020 |
Start loans for the cultural and creative industries
Access to finance |
13 July 2020 |
Start-up loans for the cultural sector
Access to finance |
Promoting the economic, labour market and social recovery |
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09 September 2020 |
Tripartite educational programmes for the laid off and the unemployed
Active labour market policies, incl. subsidised job creation |
Protection of workers, adaptation of workplace |
18 December 2020 |
Unions and employers cry over migrant workers’ quarantine
Well-being of workers |
Supporting businesses to stay afloat |
01 October 2020 |
Easing access to Innovation Norway's total framework
Deferral of payments or liabilities |
08 September 2020 |
Information on crisis packages: Measures for companies
Other |
Employment protection and retention |
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30 December 2020 |
Social partners address economic challenges: central government
Other |
Ensuring business continuity and support for essential services |
02 November 2020 |
National-level social partners address economic challenges: transport
Other |
Promoting the economic, labour market and social recovery |
20 January 2021 |
Business rebellion and controversies surrounding public support for enterprises
Other |
28 December 2020 |
The idea of a national social pact re-emerges in the COVID-19 context
Other |
30 December 2020 |
Social partners address economic challenges: personal and corporate income tax
Other |
18 September 2020 |
Social partners protest against government's attempt to breach their autonomy
Other |
Supporting businesses to stay afloat |
30 December 2020 |
Social partners address economic challenges: Food industry and tourism
Other |
Promoting the economic, labour market and social recovery |
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07 September 2020 |
Incentive ATIVAR.PT - Financial incentives to hire registered unemployed
Active labour market policies, incl. subsidised job creation |
08 September 2020 |
ATIVAR.PT Labour market integration internships
Active labour market policies, incl. subsidised job creation |
Protection of workers, adaptation of workplace |
01 September 2020 |
COVID-19: 40 urgent measures for construction workers
Occupational health and safety |
02 October 2020 |
Telework and workers with disability or impairment - exceptional and temporary measure in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic
Teleworking arrangements, remote working |
13 April 2020 |
Psychological counselling line - SNS 24
Well-being of workers |
13 April 2020 |
Occupational health and safety in the public transportation service
Occupational health and safety |
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 |
Protection of workers, adaptation of workplace |
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27 September 2020 |
Measures for protecting the employees in the banking sector
Changes of working hours or work arrangements |
27 September 2020 |
Improving safety at the workplace
Well-being of workers |
Protection of workers, adaptation of workplace |
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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 |
Protection of workers, adaptation of workplace |
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10 September 2020 Updated |
Trade union initiative for a complete closure of shops on Sunday
Changes of working hours or work arrangements |
11 September 2020 |
Re-establishment of tripartite negotiation on the third and forth emergency laws
Other |
10 April 2020 Updated |
Health and safety at work in the epidemic
Occupational health and safety |
10 September 2020 |
Trade union proposal for a reform of occupational medicine
Occupational health and safety |
Income protection beyond short-time work |
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13 November 2020 |
Unemployment benefit and extension of protection to the cultural sector
Extensions of income support to workers not covered by any kind of protection scheme |
Promoting the economic, labour market and social recovery |
06 October 2020 |
Subsidies for hiring people with disabilities in the open labour market of Castilla-La Mancha 2020/93
Active labour market policies, incl. subsidised job creation |
Promoting the economic, labour market and social recovery |
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16 September 2020 |
Trygghetsfonden - Competences for work
Active labour market policies, incl. subsidised job creation |
Protection of workers, adaptation of workplace |
17 September 2020 |
Social partners-run insurance funds research on how COVID-19 affects the work environment, health and leadership
Well-being of workers |
17 September 2020 |
Practical support for employers and employee representatives to ensure a healthy working life
Well-being of workers |
Employment protection and retention |
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03 October 2020 Updated |
The new Jobs Support Scheme
Income support for people in employment (e.g. short-time work) |
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 Updated |
The Kickstart Initiative and incentivising apprenticeships
Active labour market policies, incl. subsidised job creation |
15 September 2020 |
Trades Union Congress: Policy Recommendations for the post COVID-19 Economic and Social Recovery
Other |
Protection of workers, adaptation of workplace |
14 September 2020 |
Teaching unions' coronavirus online information hubs
Well-being of workers |
15 September 2020 |
COVID-19 coronavirus guidance for unions
Well-being of workers |
Reorientation of business activities |
14 September 2020 |
Confederation of British Industries' online coronavirus hub
Other |
Supporting businesses to get back to normal |
14 September 2020 |
Confederation of British Industry issues business guidance
Other |
Supporting businesses to stay afloat |
11 January 2021 |
Businesses in retail, hospitality and leisure sectors to receive one-off lockdown grants
Direct subsidies (full or partial) |
09 July 2020 |
The Future Fund Scheme
Access to finance |
09 July 2020 Updated |
The Bounce Back Loan Scheme
Access to finance |
Disclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process. All information is preliminary and subject to change.