-The Special Plan for Partial Suspension of Business Works concerns businesses (legal entities or natural persons) which have partially suspended their works. That means that they have a turnover reduction of more than 25% per month in March 2020 and they foresee a corresponding decrease in their turnover for April 2020, compared to the corresponding months of the previous year. This decline in the turnover must be solely due to the situation that the business found themselves in because of the coronavirus pandemic.
If the company was not in operation in the previous year then a comparison will be made with the months preceding March 2020.
-The basic requirement for participation in the Plan is that no employee has been dismissed since the 1st of March 2020 and if the application is approved, no employee will be dismissed during the period that the company participates in the Plan and for an additional period equal to the period of participation in the Plan plus one additional month (except when there are reasons justifying a dismissal with no notice). Businesses will not be able to dismiss employees for financial reasons during the above period.
-Businesses that employ up to 50 employees can join the Special Plan for Partial Suspension of Business Works and declare the 75% of the total number of their employees in order for the latter to receive a Special Unemployment Allowance, provided that terms and conditions are met.
-Businesses that employ more than 50 employees may join the Special Plan for Partial Suspension of Business Works and to declare the 60% of their total number of employees in order for the latter to receive a Special Unemployment Allowance, provided that terms and conditions are met.
When calculating the number of employees who fall within the 75% or the 65% of all employees, the result of the mathematical operation is rounded to the nearest integer.
-It is noted that for companies employing up to two persons, the Special Unemployment Allowance may be paid to all employees independently of their post, provided that terms and conditions are met.
-For businesses employing more than 2 employees, it is noted that the Special Unemployment Allowance is not payable to managing shareholders, partners holding more than 20% of shares, general directors and executives, which fall either within the 25% or 40% of the total number of employees, depending on the case (see above points)
In the cases where the above mentioned persons exceed in number the 25% or the 40% of the company's employees, depending on the case, then they might be eligible for the Special Unemployment Allowance, provided the terms and conditions are met.
-For the period during which the Special Unemployment Allowance is granted, the employer is exempted from the obligation to pay salaries to the employees who received this Allowance.
If salaries have been paid to employees, and for the period during which employees receive the Special Unemployment Allowance, the part of the salary that corresponds to that period may be set off by the employer.
-For businesses participating in the Special Plan for Partial Suspension of Works, the employer may employ staff members that receive the Special Unemployment Allowance by paying them the rest of their salaries and the relevant contributions to Social Insurance Fund. Those contributions correspond to the additional amount paid by the employer.
The salary balance may be differentiated with the consent of the employee according his/her working hours.
Provided that he/she consents, an employee who receives the Special Unemployment Allowance may work in the company either by getting paid the difference in his/her salary from the Special Unemployment Allowance or by varying the above difference in accordance to the hours of employment.
-The period of payment of the Special Unemployment Allowance shall be considered as a period of assimilated insurance for purposes of calculating contributions to the Social Insurance Services and will be credited accordingly in the beneficiary 's insurance account.
-The Special Plan for Partial Suspension of Business Works does not apply to
public and wider public sector organizations, public entities and other similar organizations.
-The Special Plan for Partial Suspension of Business Works does not also apply to the following economic activities whose turnover has not, de facto, declined.
Supermarkets
Any businesses providing food
Trading of fruits, vegetables, meat and fish
Satellite and other telecommunications
Power generation
Waste collection and management
Financial and insurance activities, including licensed banking institutions
Veterinary activities
Doctors (excluding Dentists)
Hospital activities
Nursing homes
Production of pharmaceuticals
Wholesale of pharmaceuticals
Pharmacies
Trade of medical and orthopedic equipment
It is clarified that employment of domestic workers cannot be included in this Plan, in any way.
How is the Special Unemployment Allowance calculated, provided that all terms and conditions are met:
- Employed persons which fulfil the social insurance requirements for unemployment benefit, under the Social Insurance Act, will receive the 60% of the value of their insurance points, in accordance with the above mentioned Law.
- Employed Persons not fulfilling the social insurance requirements in accordance to the Social Insurance Act, and which are insured in the Social Insurance Fund in January 2020, will be paid the special unemployment Allowance, the height of which will be determined by a subsequent official Decision.
- The maximum monthly amount of the Special Unemployment Allowance cannot exceed € 1,214.
-The Special Unemployment Allowance is not provided for any period during which the employee receives unemployment benefit, sickness benefit, special sick leave, sick leave or any other similar benefit from the Social Insurance Fund.
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This is an unofficial translation of the document found here: https://e718d27b-8be9-41b8-b3ad-57c7b7f7c4a0.filesusr.com/ugd/67201e_e9c9b58c13b243209d784d171162ea13.pdf