Use public money to help your business and pay dividends to shareholders at the same time. Bruno Le Maire, Minister of the Economy, refuses this practice.
While the Covid-19 pandemic is prompting many companies to use the short-time working scheme, which already affects at least 2.2 million people, the minister warns those who would benefit from the situation. Companies requesting aid such as the deferral of tax charges after resorting to partial unemployment will have to reimburse with, in addition, penalties.
"I invite all companies that have their employees paid by the state to exercise the greatest moderation"
"Companies requesting state aid with the deferral of their tax and social charges, and who will pay dividends, will have to repay this aid and they will have penalties," he said on BFMTV. Likewise, state guarantees will be refused to companies wishing to borrow after paying dividends. "If you don't have cash to pay your taxes and expenses, you don't have cash to pay dividends either."
In the case of partial unemployment, if no sanction is provided, Bruno Le Maire warns: “I invite […] all the companies that have access to partial unemployment today, that is to say who have their employees paid by the State, to exercise the greatest moderation in the payment of dividends. I will go further: be exemplary. If you use short-time working, don't pay dividends, ”he says.