The government has announced new support programme for entrepreneurs: up to PLN 30 billion will be granted during the second quarter of 2021

Poland - 04 / 02 / 2021

Poland Alert

The government has announced the allocation of an additional PLN 30 billion to continue support for entrepreneurs under the new anti-crisis programme in the second quarter of 2021. In April alone, the amounts paid out to entrepreneurs will total PLN 7 billion - by comparison, in March the sum of support amounted to PLN 3 billion. According to the government's announcements, the measures will mainly focus on maintaining jobs, but the new programme is also to be a background of the spring economic rebound that will follow the third wave of the pandemic.

The key part of the new support plan is an extension of the “Sectoral Aid”, which is to include some 16 new economic activities. As a result of the extension, support is to be available to more than 60 sectors most affected by the crisis. The aid is to be extended, among others, to the beauty sector, furniture or household appliances trade, as well as to the IT equipment, toys, watches or jewellery trade. As emphasised during the conference, it is still most important that the support is targeted precisely and covers the most affected business sectors.

The main initiatives under the extended "Sectoral Aid" programme are grants of up to PLN 5 000, exemption from social security contributions for small and individual entrepreneurs, benefits for suspended businesses of PLN 2 080 or subsidies to employees' salaries.

Activities within the framework of the "Financial Aid 2.0" of the Polish Development Fund (PFR S.A.) will also be continued, as well as the support from Bank Gospodarstwa Krajowego (BGK). The basis of the support will be de minimis liquidity guarantees, preferential loans and subsidies addressed to entrepreneurs most affected by the crisis. Enterprises with more than 249 employees will be able to benefit from a loan programme to cover 75% of their losses between November 2020 and April 2021. The amount of PLN 17.5 billion will be allocated for this purpose. The government has also announced a target to write off 100% of subsidies granted under PFR S.A.'s "Financial Aid 1.0" for micro-entrepreneurs and SMEs.

The planned aid is also addressed to tenants of service premises in commercial facilities exceeding 2 000 m². During the periods of prohibition of commercial activities in such facilities, they can count on automatic 80% reduction of rent, while for 3 months after the lifting of prohibitions the reduction is to be 50%.

It was also stressed how important it is to provide support efficiently. This is to be made possible through advisory and training programmes on how to obtain support implemented by PFR S.A. Entrepreneurs are to receive benefits within 2-3 days from submitting applications.

In case of any questions regarding the new anticrisis shield, feel free to contact us.