Third lockdown brings new support schemes totaling €120m

New support measures to the tune of €120 million to address the effects Cyprus’ third total lockdown on employees and companies were announced by the Finance and Labour Ministers on Wednesday.

Announcing the measures, Finance Minister Constantinos Petrides said he expects the current suspension of business activity to be the last, given the acceleration of the vaccination program which is now covering younger age groups.

Cyprus entered a new two-week total lockdown on Monday amid a surge in daily new cases and coronavirus patients that put extreme pressure on the healthcare system.

Petrides announced that the one-time sponsorship for companies and the self-employed who suspended their operation during the first half of March will be paid tomorrow to the bank accounts of the beneficiaries, which also include self-employed taxi drivers and photographers.
 
A new one-time sponsorship was also announced for companies and self-employed, who had to re-suspend operation between April 26 and May 9 as a result of the Cabinet’s decision to impose a new lockdown. Petrides said that around 15,000 are beneficiaries in the two one-time sponsorship plans.

On her part, Labour Minister Zeta Emilianidou said new support plans were published last Friday for employees affected by current measures. She also said that the special plan to support the unemployed includes those who had exhausted their unemployment benefit by February, so they can still receive the €500 allowance.

Emilianidou said companies can apply for the new one-off or for the scheme supporting businesses who saw a partial suspension of activity by April 30.

The Labour Minister also announced a new child care plan for companies and the self-employed to assist in the cost of day-care centres.