Gov't passes extension of First Aid to firms and self-employed

Employers and the self-employed will be able to draw aid from the state for a longer period - until the end of September of this year. This stems from the Labour Ministry's proposal to prolong the First Aid project approved by the Cabinet on Wednesday. The measures are supposed to contribute towards maintaining employment in Slovakia. Despite positive developments regarding the epidemiological situation in Slovakia, the novel coronavirus has had a negative impact on the labour market. According to the Financial Policy Institute's estimates, Slovakia's GDP will fall by 9.8 percent this year due to the coronavirus outbreak. The aim of the greenlighted proposal is to extend the period of the aid project until the time when the Government approves a bill introducing a permanent mechanism for supporting shortened working week schemes.