On Wednesday, April 8, Vladimir Putin announced new measures to support Russians and businesses amid the impact of coronavirus on the economy. In particular, the head of state ordered to expand the program of credit holidays.

“In March, I instructed to provide for citizens a vacation on consumer and mortgage loans. I ask the government to return to this issue and consider expanding this support measure so that it becomes available to more people, ”Putin said at a meeting with governors.

Recall, on April 6, the Russian government approved the maximum amount of loans to provide holidays to the population and companies affected by the economic consequences of the coronavirus. So, for consumer loans to individuals, the amount is 250 thousand rubles, for consumer loans of individual entrepreneurs - 300 thousand rubles, for car loans - 600 thousand rubles, and for mortgages - 1.5 million rubles.

The vice-president of the all-Russian public organization of small and medium-sized enterprises "Support of Russia" Pavel Sigal suggested that the president’s proposal primarily concerns the maximum loan amounts.

“They need to be increased, since previously approved volumes are clearly excluded from this program for the help of very many, both private borrowers and entrepreneurs,” Pavel Sigal, First Vice President of the All-Russian Public Organization of Small and Medium Enterprises, explained in an interview with RT .

At the end of March, the Russian leader also proposed reducing the size of insurance premiums for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from 30 to 15% and giving a half-year delay for all taxes except VAT. Meanwhile, on April 8, as an additional measure of assistance to business, the president instructed to give a deferment in the payment of insurance premiums for six months and to provide an annual installment plan to enterprises for paying taxes.

“There should not be a situation when in half a year companies will have to immediately, at one time pay off their accumulated debts. This is what worries the business community the most; it would have an extremely negative impact on doing business. Therefore, we are restructuring such a debt. It will be possible to extinguish it smoothly, monthly, in equal installments for at least a year after the end of the delay, ”Putin emphasized.

According to analysts, the initiative will mitigate the financial burden on enterprises, as well as avoid a large number of company bankruptcies and rising unemployment.

“The delay in the payment of insurance premiums for six months will enable entrepreneurs to return to their previous turnover for a longer period, and then pay all contributions to the funds. The same applies to the possibility of debt restructuring - if banks take such measures, this will reduce the credit burden of enterprises, ”said Pavel Sigal.

Moreover, the head of state also instructed the government and the Central Bank to prepare a program for additional business support within five days. As the head of state emphasized, measures should allow companies to "maximize their employment and employee income." According to experts, the most effective way to help SMEs may be new tax breaks or direct cash payments from the authorities.

“Due to the large-scale impact on aggregate demand from tough quarantine measures, business needs direct“ injections ”from the state. It can also be assumed that such measures as a temporary suspension of taxation (VAT, on profits and on property) may provide companies with more substantial support, ”said Alexander Bakhtin, investment strategist at BCS Prime, RT.

Cash bonus

In his address, Vladimir Putin also announced the expansion of material assistance programs for families with children. So, within three months, families with temporarily unemployed parents will be able to receive unemployment benefits in the amount of one minimum wage - 12,130 rubles, as well as an additional 3 thousand rubles for each minor child.

Moreover, from May to June, families eligible for maternity capital will be additionally paid 5 thousand rubles for each child under the age of three years inclusive. At the same time, the head of state noted that the payments he proposed to the Federal Assembly for families with children from three to seven years old would begin in June - a month ahead of schedule.

“When I proposed this decision in the message, it was about the so-called criterion of need, that is, the family had to show their income for the past year in order to receive payments. But now, when many have lost their current incomes, it’s impossible to judge the family’s wealth by last year’s information, ”the president added.

According to analysts, the proposed initiatives will help support Russians who were left without work because of the coronavirus. At the same time, analysts do not exclude the introduction of additional measures to help citizens in the near future.

“Direct government subsidies are now of particular value to Russians. In the current environment, a one-time payment of unemployment benefits raised to levels close to their salaries in previous jobs could provide significant support to people who have lost their jobs or were sent on forced leave, ”said Alexander Bakhtin.

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In addition, the president ordered in April to introduce special payments to physicians fighting with coronavirus. For doctors who work directly with patients, the surcharge will be 80 thousand rubles per month, for nursing staff - 50 thousand rubles, and for the younger - 25 thousand rubles per month.

“As for emergency doctors who also work with patients with coronavirus, they will receive a payment of 50 thousand rubles per month. Paramedics, nurses and drivers of car crews - 25 thousand rubles, ”the president said.

According to him, the next two to three weeks may be decisive for the development of the current situation with infection in Russia. At the same time, as the head of state noted, the economy has enough resources to overcome the viral crisis.

“We will work confidently and rhythmically, professionally. I emphasize that for this we have everything: a stable macroeconomic situation, a minimum state debt, a solid “airbag” in the form of reserves accumulated over the previous years, there are means to solve problems in any of the possible scenarios, and finally, we have experience in overcoming past crises years, ”Putin emphasized.