Coronavirus: Cabinet tightens measures for entrepreneurs due to health advice

Note: the date of this news item is March 24, 2020. Read the current information about the Dutch approach and measures against the coronavirus.

On Monday evening, March 23, the cabinet decided to tighten measures to control the coronavirus. These were taken on advice from the RIVM. Some of these measures also affect entrepreneurs and their staff.

There is a necessity for measures to maintain distance in shops, which can also be enforced. Municipalities are given the authority to do so. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy (EZK) works together with industry organizations to provide guidelines that shops can display at their doors to inform visitors and staff.

Another measure is a ban on contact professions (until April 6, 2020) where maintaining one and a half meters distance is not possible. As a result, hairdressers, beauticians, makeup artists, pedicurists, nail salons, driving instructors, and tattoo artists must close their businesses. An exception is made for (para)medical professions if there is an individual medical indication and the practitioner can comply with all hygiene requirements. Finally, the cabinet has decided to close casinos and gaming halls until April 6, 2020.

Dutch entrepreneurs can apply for exceptional financial support from the cabinet due to the economic consequences of corona via the temporary wage cost compensation scheme (NOW) or extra support for self-employed persons (zzp’ers). Companies can also make use of various tax measures and expanded options for bridging loans.

Within this economic and employment emergency package is the announced so-called Emergency Desk (a scheme from the Ministry of EZK for affected sectors) with a one-time compensation of 4,000 euros. This scheme is intended for entrepreneurs in specific sectors affected by cabinet measures such as the (mandatory) closure of food and drink establishments and the ban on contact professions in, for example, personal care.

Shops and markets must be closed and public transport ended if there is no or insufficient compliance with the applicable hygiene measures and the 1.5 m distance.

Locations such as holiday parks, campsites, parks, nature reserves, and beaches will be closed if there is no or insufficient compliance with the applicable hygiene measures and the 1.5 m distance or if this threatens to happen.

Group formation (whether coincidental or not) in public spaces is prohibited. The cabinet defines a group as three or more persons who do not maintain a distance of 1.5 m. There is no group formation if it concerns persons forming a single household. There is also no group formation if children up to and including 12 years play together under the supervision of one or more parents or guardians, provided the parents and/or guardians maintain 1.5 m distance among themselves.

Entrepreneurs can register for the expanded credit schemes (BMKB and GO) with their credit provider such as a bank. The schemes of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment (SZW) (wage cost compensation and support for self-employed persons) and the Emergency Desk of the Ministry of EZK will be opened as soon as possible. Guidelines for shops can be found at industry organizations. For tax measures, entrepreneurs can go to the Tax Administration Business via belastingdienst.nl/coronavirus.

For other corona-related questions, companies can visit government.nl/coronavirus or the RIVM website. Or go to the Chamber of Commerce website: kvk.nl/corona. If the answer to your question is not there, call the advice team at 0800 - 2117.