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Polish president unveils extra help for micro-businesses amid coronavirus

21.03.2020 18:28
Poland’s president announced on Saturday that extra help would be offered to micro-businesses hit financially by a coronavirus outbreak.
President Andrzej Duda speaks during a televised press conference
President Andrzej Duda speaks during a televised press conference Photo: PAP/Rafał Guz

All self-employed and small businessmen employing up to nine people will be exempt from paying social security (ZUS) contributions for three months if their revenue has fallen by more than 50 percent compared to February, President Andrzej Duda said.

Poland’s authorities on Wednesday unveiled a PLN 212 billion (EUR 47 billion, USD 52 billion) stimulus package to shore up the economy and shield the country from the impact of an intensifying coronavirus outbreak.

The original plans proposed a postponement of social security contributions for three months, but not an exemption. Small businesses said that measure was not enough.

Duda said on Saturday that the three-month exemption had been agreed after he called an urgent meeting with Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki and other senior officials.

A total of 536 people have tested positive for the Covid-19 disease in Poland, with five deaths from the coronavirus so far, officials have said. On Saturday alone, 111 new infections were confirmed by the health ministry. 

(pk)

Source: PAP