Applications for new Regional Supplement to Simplified Layoff measure open from today
The applications for the Regional Supplement to Simplified Layoff to guarantee the maintenance of jobs are open from today and should be submitted online at the address https://portaldoemprego.azores.gov.pt/.
This new measure made available by the Regional Government aims to complement and extend the scope of the national measure, thus providing companies with substantially higher support than other companies in the country for the next three months.
In addition to covering all regional entities, regardless of their activity, Azorean companies will now have the conditions to maintain, practically free of charge, all their workers, without having to resort to bank credit to pay the salaries of workers and making redundancies.
With the Regional Supplement to Simplified Layoff, the Region will bear almost entirely the costs of workers' salaries, which, in the rest of the country, will be partially paid by companies. This financial support may be transformed into a non-refundable subsidy, if companies maintain their workers by the end of this year.
Under the Simplified Layoff scheme, workers' salaries will be paid at 70% by the Social Security and the remaining 30% by the company. With the Regional Supplement, the 30% component to be paid by the employer will be almost entirely funded by the Region.
In the first month, companies and entrepreneurs will have no costs with workers, while in the second month the Government will subside these costs at 83% and at 66% in the third month. The amounts to be paid will have as reference the regional minimum wage.
Considering that, over the next three months, Azorean companies are also exempt from paying Social Security contributions, the Single Social Tax (TSU), their financial burden will be clearly reduced through the Regional Complement.
The Regional Government considers the maintenance of employment a fundamental priority. In view of the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Region, it has been undertaking a huge effort to ensure the maximum maintenance of jobs and, consequently, guarantee income, stability and confidence in the future of the Azores.