The Council of Ministers has decided to fine employers who do not apply for financial assistance for their employees a sum of 50,000 lek.
This administrative measure is sanctioned by certain amendments and additions to Normative Act No. 3, dated March 15, 2020, Of the Council of Ministers, “On the Adoption of Special Administrative Measures During the Period of Infection Caused by COVID-19,” as amended.
“Failure by the employee or former employee subject to submit the application, who meets the conditions to receive financial assistance, during the period of the natural disaster declared as a result of COVID-19, is punishable by a fine of 50,000 (fifty thousand) lek.
Entities that have paid full wages to current or former employees will not be fined for not applying for financial assistance.
Penalized entities may exercise the right of appeal to the tax administration by submitting electronically, through the e-filing portal, the grounds and/or reasons for non-compliance no later than 30 (thirty) days from the date the fine is communicated, in accordance with the Code of Administrative Procedure,” it states.
From the second financial package, 176,000 people are expected to benefit, of whom about 100,000 belong to small businesses and the rest to large enterprises that have withdrawn employees from the insurance scheme as of April 10, as well as in the tourism sector. By early May, when the latest tax data were published, applications had been filed for about 100,000 people.
Source: Monitor.