European Commission proposed that all EU countries adopt kurzarbeit
To prevent firms from laying off workers, the European Commission proposed that all EU countries adopt a German scheme under which employers cut working hours, not jobs, and the government pays for the difference in salaries. It also wants to help countries to finance the measure that it called SURE (Support to Mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency)―it proposed borrowing €100bn using its triple-A rating. It would then lend the money cheaply to member states, many of which have lower credit ratings. Brussels also came up with additional measures, such as easier access to farming subsidies and waiving the co-financing of infrastructure projects. The proposals still need national governments’ approval.
