Despite the government taking additional support measures this weekend to help entrepreneurs, the claims that taxi and coach companies can make remain at 4.000 euros unchanged. The cabinet recently announced the first schemes for entrepreneurs affected by the corona crisis. Fierce criticism of VNO-NCW and the trade association KNV.

“Such measures normally take months to find out everything to determine who can claim this rule. Under current circumstances, this happened in a few days. Unfortunately, we cannot help everyone. ”, Said the State Secretary Mona Keijzer in the TV program WNL On Sunday.

Some drivers call on each other in WhatsApp groups to protest on Tuesday at the Malieveld in The Hague. Participants are called upon to remain in their taxi due to the corona virus. Mona Keijzer, Secretary of State for Economic Affairs and Climate, indicated in an initial response after hearing the plans, that when taxi drivers come to the Malieveld in The Hague next Tuesday to demonstrate, they must also respect the 1.5 meter distance rule.

The TOGS is intended for companies that have had to close their doors due to government policy and the TOZO for self-employed persons. Both taxi and coach companies are not covered by this government regulation.

fierce criticism among freelancers

The taxi sector and the non-food retail trade in particular were immediately critical because entrepreneurs in that sector could not claim the allowance of 4.000 euros (TOGS). VNO-NCW and MKB-Nederland note that there are more sectors that are still outside the scheme, but where turnover has also fallen sharply. 

KNV already took this into account after earlier explanation of the scheme, but writes that it is a wrong decision to exclude companies in their sectors now. Both taxi and coach companies, and certainly smaller companies and freelancers, are hit hard by the many bans of the cabinet. Members, especially members from the entry-level market, did not hold account with the fact that they are out of the picture. What now comes up against fierce criticism among many freelancers.

communication to the sector

Perhaps communication within the sector went badly and the TOGS scheme was misrepresented by some websites and posts on social media. The major problem in the taxi sector is that many freelancers are now excluded from the scheme to benefit from a scheme. 

Airport transport, transport for hotels, transport for shipping companies, transport to and from catering and cultural shows, etc., it has all disappeared. The specific group in the sector with a taxi does have the costs for the lease, the insurance and for their connection to a central or a TTO that go through. You really cannot pay that from the social assistance benefit to which the freelancers are entitled. Unfortunately, the emergency counter does not remove the first pain for everyone.

social minimum

For transport for municipalities, healthcare institutions and health insurers, there is now good hope that the fixed costs will continue to be paid. The business organizations are calling on entrepreneurs to only make use of the schemes if they are really necessary, because otherwise an entrepreneur will fall through the social minimum.

In addition to the announced schemes, more information is expected next week on when entrepreneurs can also apply for the new working time reduction scheme (NOW). This scheme, in particular, with compensation of up to 90 percent of labor costs, is an important vehicle for keeping many sectors afloat in this crisis. It has previously been arranged that entrepreneurs can apply for deferment of taxes and there are guarantees from the government for loans (BMKB).  

Also read: Government does not just give taxi companies support measures