These are tough and turbulent times, also for entrepreneurs. The group of 1,2 million self-employed persons is also included in the package of Corona measures that the cabinet announced on Friday. This scheme, in full the Temporary Bridging Scheme for Self-Employed Entrepreneurs (Tozo), means, among other things, that self-employed people can supplement their income up to social assistance level (1050 euros). The conditions for eligibility for the crisis measure are fairly flexible: for example, the partner's income or assets are not considered. So good news?
Unfortunately not, says entrepreneur Martin Schuurman, the man behind MKB Brandstof, known for the car pass.
“The main objection is that the income is only supplemented to social assistance level. The current income is deducted from the maximum benefit. All self-employed people must therefore demonstrate their current income. Complicated for them - how do you do that while your monthly invoice is not yet out of the house - and impossible for the municipal authorities, which have to test hundreds of thousands of applications. They simply do not have the capacity to process so many applications. ”
very complicated, almost impracticable job
Linda Voortman, for example, also acknowledges this, alderman of Social Affairs in Utrecht. For the time being, the cabinet is taking into account a cost item of about 4 billion euros for this measure. This could be better spent, according to Schuurman, who advocates a classic idea that has never been implemented in the Netherlands: an unconditional basic income.
“Give every self-employed person a temporary basic income of 1000 euros per month, whether or not they have an income. The advantages are obvious: this measure requires no research and therefore hardly any administrative hassle. Which means that you can pay quickly, which is important. ”
It may sound like sprinkling money and therefore a very expensive solution, but it is not. The implementation costs are minimal, and you support the self-employed with 1,2 billion euros per month, a pittance of the 90 billion that Rutte keeps behind.
To persuade the cabinet to opt for a temporary basic income instead of a crisis measure, Schuurman launched a Friday petition The cabinet's intention is good, but there is room for improvement. I hope that many people, not only self-employed people, agree with me and support the petition. The petition has been signed thousands of times.
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