According to Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS), today’s government approved compensation for entrepreneurs. It will give up to CZK 5 billion from the budget. Four support programs will be available.
The ministers approved the programs: COVID Advent markets and COVID uncovered costs-sectoral support, COVID 2022-sectoral support, and COVID bus. Each program will have different conditions of disbursement and different maximum aid amounts.
Stallholders at Advent markets will be eligible for aid according to the number of stalls and days of restrictions. The aid will be CZK 5,000 per day for one stall, CZK 8,000 for two, and CZK 11,000 for three. One applicant will be able to receive a maximum of 330,000 crowns.
As part of the COVID Advent Markets program, the government has also prepared compensation for Christmas market organizers whose markets have been canceled by government decree. The compensation will be calculated from the costs incurred in vain and will reach up to 80 percent. The Ministry of Industry and Trade could start paying the first money within three weeks.
The COVID Uncovered Costs and COVID 2022 programs will cover tourism, catering, accommodation, laundry, and events. Businesses that have seen a drop in turnover of at least 50 percent from November 1 to December 31 compared to the same period in 2019 will be eligible for assistance. The state will contribute 50 percent of the costs, up to a maximum of CZK 1.5 million.
For organizers of cultural, sporting and other events, the decisive period will be from November 1 to February 28 this year. They will receive support for up to 70 percent of the cost.
The same entry conditions as the COVID Uncovered Costs will apply for the COVID 2022 title, from which entrepreneurs will be able to draw CZK 500 per employee per day. Support per applicant from the COVID Uncovered Costs and COVID 2022 programs would not be allowed to exceed CZK 3 million.
The COVID bus will serve tour operators with a drop in turnover for the decisive period by half compared to 2019. Up to 400 million crowns are prepared for them. A maximum of CZK 2.5 million per applicant will be allocated. The aid will be calculated on the number of seats and the emission standards met by individual buses.
Fiala and Síkela today criticized the previous government, which they said had promised compensation without having money earmarked for it in the budget. By adjusting the conditions, the new cabinet saved around CZK 7 billion.