Prime Minister Jean Castex announced, this Tuesday, January 18, reinforced support for two months for companies with fewer than 250 employees, in the hotel, restaurant, caterer, event and travel agency sectors. , affected by pandemic-related restrictions.
“I have decided to adapt the support mechanisms for these sectors to survive,” Prime Minister Jean Castex, during a trip to a Parisian brasserie, alongside the Minister of Labor Élisabeth Borne and the Minister for SMEs and Tourism Jean-Baptiste Lemoyn.
As the head of government recalled, no less than 240 billion in aid has been mobilized since the start of the health crisis. Companies linked to the tourism sector, such as hotels and restaurants, are among the main beneficiaries.
It must be said that this aid was eagerly awaited, since as Jean Castex observed: “there are a lot fewer tourists” in France, without forgetting the health security measures applied, such as teleworking or the impossibility to eat or drink seated.
“it is normal to help them”
Several aspects therefore, which have caused the turnover of companies in the tourism sector to fall. However, the Prime Minister wanted to be reassuring and considered that “it is normal to help them (…) until a normal situation is restored”.
Thus, “in December and January”, companies with fewer than 250 employees, who saw their turnover reduced by 30% due to the health restrictions taken at the end of 2021, with the aim of slowing down the 5th wave of Covid-19, will be entitled to “exceptional assistance in the payment of employee contributions”, an amount equal to 20% of their payroll, promised the Prime Minister.
With regard to companies with less than 250 employees in the same sectors which will lose more than 65% of their turnover, these will receive this same aid for the payment of employee contributions of 20%, and they “will also be exempt from employer charges”, assured Jean Castex.