May 19, June 9 and 30.
The time for recovery is approaching.
His share of questions also: level of aid, payment of rents, dates of sales, labor ... In accordance with Emmanuel Macron's desire to maintain the economic fabric, the Minister for SMEs ensures that he continues to listen to them, discuss and think about new financial supports.
What are your priority files at the moment?
ALAIN GRISET.
We are at a particular stage where we will reduce the constraints for companies and gradually reopen what has been closed, on the basis of a timetable, protocols and financial support.
The goal is that on July 1, everything is open.
Finally, almost all because for the discotheques, I fixed them yesterday
(Editor's note: Tuesday May 4)
a new meeting, in mid-June, hoping to be able to give them at that time a reopening date.
We will support them more strongly.
To read also "We put the stele above our heads": the discotheques, big forgotten of the deconfinement
What do you say to other sectors?
The recovery, even gradual, will be slower in events in particular. We know that it will take between three and six months from the moment we say that things start again to organize trade fairs and conferences. Gyms also tell us that July and August are not the most important times. For hotel-restaurants, we are all convinced that things will pick up very well everywhere in France, but in Paris, many restaurants work with business tourists. It is possible that there is still a loss of number. With Bruno
(Editor's note: The Mayor, Minister of the Economy),
we consulted them, we will continue to support them. Whatever the cost, as long as it takes, until the sanitary conditions are gone.
Does this also mean possible recourse to partial unemployment?
Yes.
Knowing that there is also the device of long-term partial activity, negotiated by branch or by company.
For two years, it allows the sector of activity to be very strongly supported by the State.
The question of rents still concerns many traders ...
There have often been fairly tough positions on the part of donors, especially the larger structures.
We did not have the expected results on the occasion of the establishment of a tax credit during the second confinement.
We solved the question by changing the solidarity fund and by allowing, for all companies, a turnover compensation of 10,000 euros or 20% of the latter up to 200,000 euros.
It also pays the rent.
Can we consider a reduction in VAT?
The answer is always the same: no!
The customer pays VAT, so the business only pays what it receives.
France is one of the countries that supports its economy the most, although it is very degraded.
Read alsoReopening on May 19: how businesses are preparing
Do you plan to change dates for the sales?
If there is one subject on which no one can ever agree, this is it.
Trade has a diversity of players who represent divergent interests according to their economic model: independents, large chains… Arbitration will also be done by looking at the territories.
Because by delaying the sales when the Ile-de-France residents have gone on vacation, it affects Parisian traders and it suits all those on the coast.
With Bruno Le Maire, we will announce a date in two weeks.
What about stocks?
We do not pay for stocks but we compensate for depreciation.
The assistance provided for clothing, footwear, sports and leather goods and travel stores with overstocking will be paid from May 25.
Its amount amounts to 80% of the sum received last November by these businesses under the solidarity fund.
For those who do not fit into the device, we will include stocks in the fixed costs.
The calculation will be more individualized.
Alongside the problem of depreciation, we are working on how to support those who have not been able to liquidate their stock and lack the cash to buy more for the new season.
You announced the goal of one million digitized SMEs by the end of 2021. What about?
This terrible crisis also had its benefits. On the transformation and modernization of businesses, we have gained five years. I do not have precise figures but the observation is that entrepreneurs have understood, even those of small size, that digitization is an asset. We continue to educate them, in particular with the TV show “Connecte ta box”. Then, we set up the digital check, 500 euros, to put the foot in the stirrup. We encouraged the communities, with aid of 20,000 euros to create local marketplaces and 40,000 euros to recruit city center managers to support local projects. Finally, I am working with the professional branches, to see if we can set up digital tools specific to each branch.
To read also "I made my site in 2 weeks": the Covid-19 pushes the traders to launch out on Internet
Merchants wonder if click and collect income should be included in the overall turnover for the solidarity fund?
The click and collect is deducted.
This is not taken into account, with the exception of restaurateurs who must justify a loss of 20% of their turnover.
On administrative simplification for SMEs, can companies hope for changes?
All the measures taken have been taken with the aim of simplification and speed, it is a backbone for me. This year, the self-employed have only one declaration to make and no longer two different ones, for their income tax and their personal social contributions. I will soon present a plan for the independents, in which I defend three principles: fairness, simplicity, protection. Simpler, that does not mean without control! Another example: we are going to create a single portal for entrepreneurs, with all the information on their formalities. Objective of this simplification: end of 2021. We cannot tell entrepreneurs
you have to digitize yourself
and not use these tools to simplify their lives.
The caterers linked to the event were not all accompanied.
You mentioned difficulties in discussing with several federations ...
We worked with two groups, the caterers from France, then the very large Parisian caterers.
We looked at the specific case of a hundred of them.
For delicatessen caterers, for example, we must see if the event catering part is, historically, the most important.
Those, we will accompany them.
Restaurateurs and hoteliers are lacking in resources.
How can we help them hire?
We anticipate with a system, in partnership with Pôle emploi, to encourage those looking for work to train in sectors that are recruiting.
