COVID-19: Coronavirus - Government Support for Companies

COVID-19 is now a top priority for any business in The Netherlands. Please make sure to stay up to date with daily updates published here: COVID-19 Coronavirus Netherlands – Employers Guide.

The Dutch Government announced to support companies during the COVID-19 crisis. Please read below a list of measures the government is offering for employers and self-employed persons [ZZP-er].

UPDATE: October 31, 2020

• NOW: A temporary measure Employment Bridging Emergency Fund NOW (Noodfonds Overbrugging Werkgelegenheid) is set in place to provide financial support for employers to help pay their employees’ wages. From March until September 2020, NOW1 en NOW2 were applicable. Per October 1, 2020, NOW3 is set in place. Read the article on  COVID-19: Coronavirus – Emergency Fund NOW

 

• Tax: All companies including Self-employed persons [ZZP-er] can request now to the Tax authorities special deferral of payment in regard to income tax, corporate tax, sales tax and loan/wage tax. Please find the link to the Tax Authority website – information only available in Dutch.

 

• BL: Agricultural entrepreneurs can apply for a Credit Guarantee scheme for Agriculture (BL).

 

• BMKB: From 16 March 2020 to 1 April 2021, the SME credit guarantee (BMKB) scheme will be extended to help SMEs that are affected by the coronavirus secure bank guarantees and bridge financing. Entrepreneurs in the hotel, cafe or travel industry, for example, who experience problems because customers stay at home or if the business has to close temporarily, could be borrow money.

 

• COL: Startups, scale-ups and innovative SMEs are able to request a loan. Application can only be send in before October 1, 2020, after that date it is not possible to request support. More information on COL [Corona-Overbruggingslening] in Dutch: www.rom-nederland.nl/corona-overbruggingslening.

 

• GO: The Business loan guarantee scheme (GO) is extended.

 

• KKC: [Klein Krediet Corona] loans possible for companies with a relatively small financing requirement (from 10,000 to 50,000 euros). Expectation to finalise this arrangement by the banks and government. Contact your local bank for more information.

 

• SET: Healthcare organisations that want to offer their clients eHealth solutions (such as video calls) and need to invest in apps, software or hardware, can apply for a subsidy under the extended Incentive scheme eHealth at Home (SET).

 

• ToZo: Self-employed persons [ZZP-ers], border workers and state pensioners [AOW-ers] can also claim the Temporary bridging scheme for independent entrepreneurs (Tozo). In addition, Self-employed persons who run into problems due to the coronavirus outbreak can appeal to the Bbz (Decree on assistance for self-employed persons 2004/Besluit bijstandverlening zelfstandigen) if they meet the conditions for this scheme. Regulation will continue until June 30 2021. Read more in this article on the Dutch Government website.

 

• TOA: support entrepreneurs to use the opportunities that the Private Agreement Homologation Act (WHOA) will soon offer them. This makes it easier to reach agreements with creditors. Entrepreneurs can already meet with their creditors to formalise this immediately after 1 January 2021. Links and information will follow soon.

 

• TVL:  The Fixed Allowance (TVL) helps SMEs and self-employed professionals to pay part of their fixed costs. The compensation of a minimum of 1,000 euros and a maximum of 50,000 euros is for companies that have lost more than 30% of their turnover due to the corona crisis. Regulation will continue until June 30, 2021, visit RVO website

 

• Qcredits: Entrepreneurs who have a loan from microcredit provider Qredits do not have to repay their loan for a period of 6 months. During this period, the interest will be reduced to 2%. The Dutch Government supports Qredits with 6 million euros.

 

 

Stay up to date – Manage the impact on the workforce

Ensure that the team leading the taskforce/communication is up to date with the Coronavirus situation. It’s hard for employers and employees to know what to do or what they are expected to do as the situation changes daily. There are also many other questions to be considered, such as what are an employer’s compliance obligations, and how leave, benefit and sick policies apply. Read COVID-19 Coronavirus Netherlands – Employers Guide.  Comply with current legal obligations and government guidance in The Netherlands.

 

For more questions, speak to our HR Specialists.