Extension of short-time allowance decided

Lisa Vogel studied departmental journalism with a focus on medicine and biosciences at Ansbach University and deepened her journalistic knowledge in the master's degree in multimedia information and communication. This was followed by a traineeship in the editorial team. Since September 2020 she has been writing as a freelance journalist for

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The coalition agreed to extend important measures for employees and companies in the Corona crisis.

The leaders of the black-red coalition want to secure more jobs in the unprecedented Corona crisis by extending the short-time allowance. State aid for small and medium-sized companies should also be available longer than previously planned.

"Corona goes into the next round - the government too"

The SPD chairman Saskia Esken said on Tuesday evening in the Chancellery in Berlin with a view to the Corona crisis that everything should be done to maintain companies and secure jobs and livelihoods. CSU boss Markus Söder said in view of the recent increase in new infections, Corona is going into the next round - the government too.

The coalition had already decided in packages of billions to cushion the collapse of the economy. The resolutions in detail:

Short-time work

Companies in Germany can further secure jobs in the Corona crisis through simplified short-time work. This should be extended from the regular 12 to up to 24 months. The extended period is to apply to companies that have introduced short-time work by December 31, 2020. At the longest, the short-time allowance should be extended until December 31, 2021. So that the Federal Employment Agency (BA) can shoulder the billions in costs for short-time work, the coalition wants to loosen up tax money - as a grant and not as a loan.

The social security contributions are to be fully reimbursed by June 30, 2021. From July 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021 at the latest, half of the social security contributions are to be reimbursed for all companies that have introduced short-time working by June 30, 2021. This half reimbursement can be increased to 100 percent - but only if qualification takes place during short-time work.

The short-time work allowance is further increased to 70 or 77 percent from the fourth month and to 80 or 87 percent from the seventh month. These rules are to be extended to December 31, 2021 for everyone who is entitled to short-time work benefits by March 31, 2021. The regular short-time allowance amounts to 60 percent of the lost net wage, for working people with children 67 percent.

childcare

This year, legally insured persons will have more sick days to care for their children due to the Corona crisis. Child sickness benefit is to be granted for an additional five days for parents and for single parents for an additional ten days. Parents are generally entitled to ten free working days per year to care for a sick child. For single parents it is up to 20 days. This applies to all children under the age of twelve.

Free lunch

If schools and daycare centers are closed due to Corona, children of poorer parents should continue to receive free lunch. The children are to be provided with lunch as part of the education package until December 31, 2020.

The decision paper does not reveal how many children last made use of the special regulation. In the spring, critics complained that home deliveries by a locally recognized provider were difficult to implement.

care

Those who care for relatives or have to reorganize care due to corona should be able to take up to 20 working days off this year.The care support allowance can also be claimed for up to 20 working days.

Bridging aids

State aid for particularly stressed companies should now run until the end of the year. So far, the program is limited to the end of August. According to the current status, fixed operating costs of up to 150,000 euros in total will be reimbursed for the months of June to August.

The federal government had budgeted 25 billion euros for the subsidies. The disbursement of the funds via the countries is slow, also because the procedure is complex - politicians want to prevent cases of fraud such as with Corona emergency aid. The bridging aid was an important component of the coalition's economic stimulus package agreed in June.

Bankruptcy law

Relaxations in bankruptcy law are to be extended in order to prevent a wave of bankruptcies in the corona crisis. Accordingly, the regulation on the suspension of the obligation to file for insolvency for the reason for filing for over-indebtedness will continue to be suspended until the end of the year. The obligation to file for insolvency had been suspended from March to the end of September for cases in which the insolvency or overindebtedness of companies is due to the consequences of the corona pandemic.

Education offensive

A digital education offensive is to be financed from EU Corona aid funds, which on the one hand consists of 500 million euros for equipping teachers with digital devices. On the other hand, the establishment of a nationwide education platform is to be promoted, which should enable a protected and quality-assured space for high-quality digital teaching content.

Basic security

Artists, small self-employed people and small business owners should have easier access to basic security. To this end, the coalition wants to make more generous regulations for protective assets. Access to basic social security, which has been made easier due to the Corona crisis, is also to be extended - until December 31, 2021.

Social service providers

Social service providers such as workshops for people with disabilities should continue to be protected from problems that threaten their existence due to restrictions in the corona crisis. To this end, an extension of the rules for maintaining the facilities was agreed.

Retrofitting of air conditioning systems

The coalition wants to promote the conversion of air conditioning systems - and thus help to reduce the spread of the virus. A funding program of 500 million euros, limited to 2020 and 2021, is to be financed for the "Corona-compatible retrofitting" of air conditioning systems in public buildings and places of assembly. So far, air conditioning systems have contributed significantly to the infection process due to insufficiently filtered recirculating air return in closed rooms. (lv / dpa)

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