At the end of May, the Dutch government announced that the coronavirus financial support packages available to businesses and self-employed people would be available until October 1. However, as the economic outlook continues to improve, the government has adjusted its support plan, saying that financial support will no longer be available after October 1, 2021.
As was announced in May, between July 1 and October 1, companies will be able to apply for one of the government’s financial support packages (NOW, Tozo, TVL, or TONK). However, the government has slightly adjusted the conditions of some of the schemes to account for the fact that lockdown has been lifted.
From July, businesses can still receive an allowance to cover the costs of salaries (NOW scheme), but instead of being reimbursed for 100 percent of these costs, they will only receive an allowance to cover 80 percent of wage costs. The conditions for TVL (the reimbursement of fixed costs) will remain unchanged.
Furthermore, as the government notices that economic recovery across the country and various sectors is progressing faster than expected, Minister of Economic Affairs Stef Blok says it is the right time to phase out support packages. However, he did say that if any large-scale restrictions are introduced for the autumn, the support packages may once again be renewed.
"Now that contact restrictions have largely disappeared and companies can open with access tests, a complete loss of turnover as a result of the coronavirus crisis is no longer to be expected," the cabinet said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the Dutch employers’ organisation VNO-NCW says it is too early to take this decision, as the coronavirus situation in the Netherlands is too uncertain, especially when taking the new Delta variant into consideration and the possibility of a fourth wave in the autumn. The Dutch Trade Union Confederation (FNV) and Christian National Trade Union (CNV) agree, saying the decision causes uncertainty and unnecessary issues amongst employers and employees alike.