TIRANA, March 24 – The Albanian government approved the financial assistance plan for all small businesses, households living under financial assistance and the unemployed who receive social welfare payments.
“There are many self-employed families where the head of household declares his or her minimum salary but does not declare the salary of his or her spouse. Anyone registered as self-employed with a salary or no salary in a small business, will receive a monthly salary. These consist in 60,440 people and the current amount of 710 million lek salaries declared by those who closed the small businesses during this time of war, will become 1.57 billion lek, ”- said Prime Minister Rama.
He specified that the state would give the small business twice the salaray amount declared before the crisis, compensating all small business employees or the self-employed who cannot work because of the quarantine.
Moreover, the government will allocate twice that amount to 70,000 families with financial assistance, who usually receive a total of 340 million lek. Additionally, all the unemployed people will receive double the unemployment benefits.
“There are 123,000 families more in need of help than others in this country,” Rama said, reiterating calls for citizens to stay locked up until the danger passes.
Earlier today, the European Union announced a concrete EU initiative for Albania to fight COVID-19. “4m euros for immediate equipment and health support; 11m euros for social protection; up to 35m euros for economic recovery. The EU always with Albania in times of need”, the EU ambassador wrote on social networks. Albania, Luigi Soreca.
