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The Government is available to extend the so-called “support for progressive recovery”, which came to replace the simplified dismissal, throughout the year 2021, admitting even increasing support.
Under current legislation, this program ended in December.
The availability was expressed this Thursday by the Minister of Economy, Siza Vieira, who indicated that the state budget reserves a few hundred million euros for this purpose.
“We will continue to maintain this support for employment and we still have the availability to go further,” said Siza Vieira, at the end of a social consultation meeting.
Regarding the support for progressive recovery, “we understand that it may be necessary to continue maintaining this regime with the adjustments that may be necessary during the first half of next year and we have the capacity, if necessary, to expand these measures taking into account the instruments “. Europeans, “he said.
Faced with criticism from the employers’ unions, who have said that this budget is not support for companies, the minister wanted to underline that there are several financing possibilities on the table.
“The budget is just one part of the many responses we have” to respond “to the needs of the economy and society. We have REACT EU, SURE and the recovery and resilience plan with very important funds and oriented to support companies. So, looking at the EO and saying that it does not protect the situation of companies is reductive, “he said.
We will also implement measures to capitalize companies in the first half ”, with the aim of“ avoiding a problem of systemic insolvency ”.
Opening to negotiate on the left
While seeking to respond to criticism from employers’ associations, highlighting that the Government is “absolutely prepared to continue providing support to companies,” Siza Vieira also showed its willingness to continue negotiating with the left on issues such as new support or values. social. minimum unemployment benefit.
As he argued, if there is no approved budget, there will be no support for either businesses or families.
“What we do know is that if it is not approved, there is no possibility of working either in this sense or of implementing the measures that are already in the draft bill and that already provide for an increase in unemployment benefits for workers who have full time employment. poverty line ”, said the Minister of Economy.
“So, if we don’t have that approved budget, not even that will happen. Not even the extraordinary provision in the terms that we are proposing. The strengthening of the contracts of the National Health Service will not even be possible. increase in public investment “. reclaimed
It was in response to the demands of the PCP and the Bloc that the Government decided to approve the suspension of the deadlines that lead to the expiration of collective agreements, for two years, an issue that was also discussed in the social consultation.
However, Siza Vieira shows little desire to deepen restrictions on layoffs. “We cannot prohibit layoffs by decree. If we do, companies will close.”
Faced with the accusation of Isabel Camarinha, from CGTP, who said that there are a number of companies that have resorted to various state support and are now firing, Siza Vieira hinted that the global number of collective layoffs has not yet increased. .
“There are already a series of collective layoffs in progress,” said the CGTP general secretary, giving as an example the dismissal of 116 workers from a company that performed cleaning services at the airport.
News updated at 15:05 with more information.
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