Aid in the event of COVID-19

Aid in the event of COVID-19

 "My daughter was recently made redundant because her employer, a self-employed person, told her that he had no more work at this time of crisis and that he couldn't benefit from short-time working. I've heard about the huge sums released by the authorities. Isn't my daughter entitled to this? " Claude, Chatelaine

As a result of COVID-19, the Confederation has implemented various measures aimed, among other things in the economic sector, at preventing redundancies and thus safeguarding jobs. It is important to distinguish between the different recipients of these measures, as not everyone is entitled to the same aid.

Companies, for example, can receive assistance in the form of loans guaranteed by the Confederation to ensure that they do not run out of cash in these very difficult times. However, as your daughter has been made redundant by her employer, she will have to follow the usual unemployment procedure and report her situation as soon as possible to the relevant authority, which in Geneva is the Office cantonal de l'emploi. In Article 8a of the Ordinance on Measures in the Field of Unemployment Insurance in Connection with the Coronavirus (COVID-19) of 25 March 2020, the Federal Council has decided that anyone who was or is entitled to unemployment benefit on 1 March 2020 will receive a maximum of 120 additional daily allowances. The framework compensation period may also be extended by a maximum of 2 years, provided that full compensation is not possible within the current framework period.

By way of additional assistance, the Confederation has exceptionally opened up the right to an allowance for loss of earnings (APG) linked to COVID-19 for parents having to look after their children or people in quarantine. However, this allowance is subsidiary to benefits from other social or private insurance schemes and is paid to the employer if the latter continues to pay the salary.

The self-employed can also benefit from this APG under certain conditions, as long as they are not personally entitled to unemployment benefit, even partial unemployment benefit. On the other hand, they always have the right to request that their employees receive RHT benefits, which your daughter's employer could perhaps have done instead of terminating her contract, depending on the circumstances. However, you should bear in mind that the Federal Council is currently issuing new ordinances on a regular basis, so the above rules will continue to evolve.