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He calls on the government to take strong measures to help companies and workers overcome a new round of layoffs and lost income.
– Now the government and the FRP should be able to propose the measures during the month that we are, so that it is predictable for families and companies. And then they have to file the kind of tax increase they have announced, says Center Party leader Trygve Slagsvold Vedum.
A sharp increase in the spread of the infection led to drastic new measures on Thursday and Friday, both domestically and in large cities such as Oslo and Bergen.
Oslo introduces a social lockdown, with closed gyms, cinemas and swimming pools, a ban on indoor events, a full bar stop, and a red level at all upper secondary schools.
The measures will hit a number of industries hard when they go into effect over the weekend.
– Must save companies
The Center Party is now launching its plan to bring the country out of the crisis. It is divided into three parts and deals with income security for individuals, activity and adjustment, and security of income and compensation for businesses.
– In the previous compensation scheme for companies, less money was spent than previously thought. But the crisis is still there, and we need a scheme for companies that experience a heavy loss of revenue, Vedum tells NTB.
– The goal should be for as many viable businesses to survive.
He asks the government to stop raising the VAT rate for tourism, transport and culture from 6 to 12 percent by the New Year and instead keep the rate low until 2021. The measure will cost around 1.5 billion euros. crowns.
Vedum is also surprised that the government collects NOK 1.6 billion in air passenger taxes in 2021, knowing that aviation is struggling with strong headwinds.
Secure income
The new austerity measures make it imperative with stronger financial arrangements for those who have been laid off, lost their jobs and are without assignments, Vedum believes.
Therefore, it will continue to strengthen unemployment benefit plans, such as raising rates and lowering income requirements to qualify for unemployment benefits, at least until July 1.
Sp will also continue and strengthen the scheme that compensates freelancers such as journalists, artists, taxi drivers, excavators and hairdressers for lost income.
The government has lowered the compensation rate from 80 percent to 60 percent as of the New Year, but it should be increased to 80 percent and continued into 2021, Sp.
Requires action
Labor Party leader Jonas Gahr Støre is also calling on the government to ensure that more companies are compensated for decreased turnover, that the rate of compensation is higher, and that schemes are reintroduced that guarantee people unemployed and with low wages.
– I hope that the government will quickly draw up schemes that assure companies that are now affected and workers who in a short time get into a very difficult situation, he told NTB on Friday.
SV leader Audun Lysbakken calls on the government to immediately follow up with powerful measures.
– What the government has done so far simply does not hold up. Now the government must understand the seriousness and propose powerful social crown measures for workers and crisis packages for affected industries, he told NTB.
