Figures released for March show that unemployment rates have risen from 5.4% to 16.5% when adjusted to take account of those who have become unemployed as a result of the crisis. The recently published government draft stability programme is predicting a peak of 22% unemployment in the second quarter of the year, before gradually reducing as containment measures are eased. The government has responded by introducing three key payment schemes: the COVID-19 pandemic unemployment payment, the temporary wage subsidy scheme and the short-time work support, the latter of which is available to those who continue to work but who are working reduced hours because of the crisis.
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For more information, please contact Paul de Beer or Oana Ciuca or Sjaak van der Velden, De Burcht (Scientific Bureau for the Dutch Trade Union Movement) p.t.debeer@uva.nl or the Head of communications at the ETUI, Mehmet Koksal mkoksal@etui.org.
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