COVID-19 – Lisbon’s city hall support measures for families and companies
Today, a set of measures to support the income of families and companies were announced by the Mayor of Lisbon.
In order to prepare for the relaunch of economic activity after the end of the crisis, Fernando Medina announced 15 extraordinary measures to support families, businesses and employment. Are they:
1 – Suspension of rent payments in all municipal apartments until June 30, 2020. After that date, the amount that was not charged can be paid for 18 months – without interest or penalties. At any time, households may request a reassessment of the rent, namely due to a decrease in household income, unemployment or a drop in income.
2 – Reinforcement of the social emergency fund aimed at families, social institutions and the purchase of all goods, services and equipment needed in this emergency situation, in the amount of 25 million euros.
3 – Full exemption from rent payments for all commercial establishments in municipal spaces (city council or municipal companies), which are closed. This measure is effective until June 30, 2020 and also covers all kiosks and stores installed in municipal districts that remain open. It is taken in conjunction with the Port of Lisbon Administration, covering commercial establishments operating in the Port of Lisbon area, without prejudice to specific details of the contracts managed by this entity.
4 – Full exemption from rent payments for all social, cultural, sporting and recreational institutions installed in municipal spaces until June 30, 2020.
5 – Suspension of the collection of all fees related to the occupation of public space and advertising to all commercial establishments, with the exception of banks, credit institutions and insurance companies. This measure covers the fees charged by the Parish Councils. The period of suspension of collection of fees starts retroactively from 1 March 2020 and ends on 30 June 2020. Establishments whose annual license expires during this period of suspension, will only have to request this renewal and make the payment from June 30, 2020.
6 – Regular purchase of fresh products from producers who sold at the fairs now closed and delivery of these products to associations with social work in Lisbon.
7 – Suspension of the entry into force of the provision on the prohibition of the use of non-reusable plastic until 30 June 2020, so as not to hinder the take-away supply.
8 – Ensure the implementation of the investment plan for 2020 and subsequent years of the Lisbon City Hall and municipal companies, estimated at 620 million euros, as a way of strengthening the public service, supporting employment, and preserving productive capacity.
9 – Maintenance of urban licensing services in full operation, ensuring the use of teleworking by more than 400 workers in these areas.
10 – Anticipation of payment to planners, namely architectural, engineering and technical services offices. This anticipation translates into the immediate payment against delivery of the project by up to 50%, with the remainder being paid after approval as it is the case here.
11 – Creation of a support team for micro, small and medium-sized companies (Lisboa Empreende), in order to ensure information on all existing support, as well as consultancy to mitigate the effects of the crisis and promote economic recovery.
12 – Creation of a marketplace that joins the needs of companies, institutions and municipalities, with the skills and offers of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Lisbon. Enable startups to continue to function by developing technological solutions to today’s challenges.
13 – Ensure cultural agents full payment for contracts already signed, namely by EGEAC, by recalendarizing their adaptation schedules for online transmission to reinforce support for the entity’s structure.
14 – Accelerate payment to cultural entities in the city that are already receiving support, with a view to supporting the maintenance of the respective operating structures.
15 – Expansion of the support system for agents and activities in the cultural sector that are currently not covered by municipal support, namely through the Municipal Emergency Fund. At the same time, the fund to support acquisitions in the field of plastic arts will be strengthened and the scope extended to the sector of books and public art.
