Reims (AFP)

The compensation ceiling for companies that remain closed due to the pandemic will be raised to 200,000 euros per month, announced the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire on Saturday, during a trip to traders in Reims, where he accompanied Prime Minister Jean Castex.

The government announced on Wednesday this new support system for closed businesses, which includes compensation up to 20% of their turnover compared to that achieved last year during the same month.

This support, initially capped at 100,000 euros, will therefore be doubled.

Designed in March to support smaller businesses and self-employed workers, the solidarity fund provides for the payment of a monthly allowance to compensate for part of their loss of activity linked to activity restrictions.

From December, this aid becomes available to closed companies whatever their size, and the largest will be able to choose an aid representing 20% ​​of their turnover achieved over the same period last year, which will therefore be capped at 200,000 euros.

"We decided this morning, with the Prime Minister, that the ceiling on 20% of turnover, which we had planned to set at 100,000 euros, would be set at 200,000 euros", Mr. Le Maire explained on Saturday, which thus intends to help more businesses, by reaching out to larger restaurants or hotels.

"This will make it possible to cover restaurateurs who have two, three restaurants, restaurant chains, hotels which have several dozen or hundreds of employees who were not covered until now," he said.

"This is massive compensation, immediate from the beginning of December and which makes it possible to support the entire hotel sector, cafes, restaurants but also sports halls, all those who are the first victims. of this health and economic crisis, "he said.

The state has also put in place other measures to help businesses, said Bruno Le Maire, including loans guaranteed by the state.

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