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Thurgau
The pressure has worked: even companies with less than 300 percent of the workforce are helped by hardship
After detailed discussion and advice from the Grand Council Crown Commission, the governing council decided to adjust the canton’s hardship program. Companies now only have to have at least 100 percent of the workforce.
The Thurgau Labor and Economy Office has hired nine new employees who are currently in training. They form the department of difficulties, which as of February 1 will process applications that arrive through the Office’s website. These can only be submitted electronically.
For companies that are particularly affected by the measures to combat the crown, the federal government and the cantons have provided support totaling CHF 2.5 billion. Thurgau has about 50 million francs; Of this, 18 million francs come from own resources, 31.8 million francs come from the federal government.
Minimum requirement for economic relevance
The federal government does not participate in the emergency measures for companies that achieved an average turnover of less than 50,000 francs in 2018 and 2019. As the Governing Council explained in its message of December 15, the federal government deliberately wants to exclude companies small businesses “that could earn a living at most from the profits of the company before the outbreak of the crown crisis.”
To “concrete” this requirement, the governing council wanted to set an additional lower limit of at least three employees or 300 percent of the workforce. “It was about the economic relevance,” says Government Councilor Walter Schönholzer.
The governing council has now reduced this condition to 100 percent, as can be seen in a joint press release from the governing council and the Grand Council’s Crown Special Commission on Wednesday.
The reason for the change is that the federal government approved more conditions on January 13. Businesses that have to close for at least 40 days between November 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021 due to crown measures are automatically considered hardship cases and no longer have to prove their loss of sales.
You can use sales for the last twelve months instead of annual sales for 2020 as the basis for your evaluation. Finally, the Federal Council decided to use another 750 million francs for cantonal poverty programs.
Schönholzer: “The open letter was constructive”
The open letter of the presidents of the parliamentary groups of the Great Council to the Governing Council on December 22, in which they demanded the reduction to 100 percent of the workforce, also took effect. The union and the union federation also joined the demand. Schönholzer describes the open letter as “constructive”.
Small businesses are no longer excluded. Thurgau is a typical SME canton. More than 80 percent of the 19,000 companies have one to nine employees.
“With the reduction of jobs to 100 percent, we are accepting a large number of applications,” says Schönholzer. “Of course we don’t know exactly yet.” Thurgau is also one of the few cantons that does not exclude any industry from access to the poverty program. The governing council is willing to exhaust all federal and cantonal funds if necessary. He is convinced that the compassionate use program will help him.
The economic situation in Thurgau at the moment “is not stimulating, like the rest of Switzerland”, says the director of economics.
“The number of applications for part-time work is increasing, the number of unemployed is higher than ever, shops and restaurants are closed.”
After the first admission review of the applications, applicants are asked to submit any additional documents required. The application is then externally verified by auditors from Ernst & Young. A tripartite committee made up of experts from the Office of Economy and Labor, the Tax and Financial Administration will decide on the matter.
First payments in February
After signing the loan agreement, the money will be transferred. Schönholzer ensures that the first payments will be made in February. As of July 1, requests for conversion into A-fonds-perdu contributions can be submitted.
The Crown Commission of the Grand Council unanimously approved the cantonal program for situations of poverty on Wednesday. The parliamentary plenary will discuss the proposal on January 27. Commission President Gallus Müller (CVP, Guntershausen) speaks of “a good program that can be handled quickly”. If the Grand Council can approve it before it takes effect on February 1, it will receive a higher priority.
Possibility of school elections at the polls
Due to restrictions caused by the corona pandemic, the governing council allows school communities to hold extraordinary votes for general renewal elections in lieu of school community assemblies, even if the relevant community regulations do not provide for it. This emergency measure will also be presented to the Grand Council for approval.