The state once again to the rescue.
While the hotel-café-restaurant (HCR) and tourism sectors are suffering from health restrictions decided against the Omicron variant, Prime Minister Jean Castex has announced an extension of aid.
“
They were very strongly impacted by the sanitary measures
”, explained Jean Castex.
"
It continues to be our responsibility to take protective measures for our fellow citizens (...)
", affirms the Prime Minister, with in particular the obligation of teleworking and the ban on consuming standing in bars and restaurants.
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In detail, establishments that lost more than 30% of their turnover in December and January compared to 2019 will be able to benefit from assistance in the payment of contributions up to 20% of the payroll. Those who have lost more than 65% of their turnover will be able to claim aid for the payment of wage costs up to 20%, but also an exemption from employer contributions. In addition to the UNHCR sector, caterers, events and travel agencies (sectors S1 and S1 bis) are affected by these measures. “
It is sometimes a question of survival for companies
”, affirms Jean Castex, adding that only companies with less than 250 employees are concerned.
This new batch of aid is in addition to those already announced by Bruno Le Maire at the beginning of January.
Until now, companies that lost 65% of their turnover or that were subject to restrictions could indeed claim state support for partial unemployment, at 100%.
Fixed costs are also covered from a threshold of 50% of business losses.
No costing of the measures has been announced by the government at this stage.
Another debate on attractiveness
Representatives of the UNHCR sector have repeatedly called in recent weeks for an extension of aid in order to also reach the "
soft underbelly
" of the profession, that is to say those establishments which are losing between 30 and 50% of their turnover. business due to the health crisis.
Bercy had initially opposed an end of inadmissibility, judging that the majority of companies already ticked the boxes to benefit from aid (that is to say lost more than 50% of their turnover).
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The representatives of the sector contacted by
Le Figaro
are pleased to have since worked “
intensely
” with Bercy to broaden the base of aid.
A review clause is planned for the end of January to adjust the system according to the evolution of the epidemic situation.
The employers' organizations have also proposed a schedule of meetings with the Ministry of the Economy from February to May 2022. Objective: to discuss working conditions and the attractiveness of the branch, while an agreement has just been signed aimed at revise the salary scale.
The Umih hopes to see it come into effect on April 1.
