Coronavirus in Czechia: Antivirus Support Program Extended until the End of October

Shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the Czech Republic, the Czech Ministry of Finance introduced Antivirus – a support program for companies to compensate for their losses caused by the pandemic. Originally, it was due to end in August but the Czech government decided to extend it.

You can still apply

As the coronavirus pandemic continues, it is obvious that many companies still have to deal with losses. Some of them even had to close their business for good. To prevent this from happening, the Czech government recently made the decision to extend the program until the end of October.

At the same time, the Czech Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, Jana Maláčová, announced that she would also like to further discuss a new form of kurzarbeit, which should replace the Antivirus program from November.

What Is the Program For

While it is still possible to apply for the support, applicants have to meet a few conditions. The main condition is that it only applies to employers who do not use money from public budgets or European subsidies to pay wages, have at least 1 employee, and due to government measures against coronavirus cannot continue working at all or only to a limited extent. It is particularly intended for companies affected by the government’s COVID-19 countermeasures and companies currently facing related economic difficulties. Employers in difficulty will receive a contribution to compensate employees’ wages and will not be forced to lay their employees off.

Other conditions the companies have to meet are as follows:

• employers must follow the Labor Code;
• employees may not be on notice, nor may the company terminate them;
• employees must be employed and participate in sickness and pension insurance;
• the company must pay wages and pay levies.

Other Programs

Most of the other programs for companies and self-employed people ended in August. Among them, for example, the special contribution of 25,000 CZK for self-employed people, or social contribution for entrepreneurs in the cultural field. It is therefore not possible to apply for these programs anymore.

Let us know and get your residence permit as soon as possible to be safe in the future in case the pandemic indeed returns in full force. Having a residence permit is the best way of making sure you’ll be able to return to the Czech Republic even if the borders are closed again.

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Sources: Money.cz, Ceskenoviny.cz and MSPV

Source of the image: Pixabay.com