Fine of 50,000 lekë for employers who do not apply for employee financial aid

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 in several 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 entity that meets the conditions for receiving financial assistance to submit the application, during the period of the natural disaster declared as a result of COVID-19, shall be fined an amount of 50,000 (fifty thousand) lekë. Entities that have paid full wages to employees or former employees are not fined for failing to apply for the financial assistance benefit. Penalized entities may exercise their right to appeal to the tax administration by submitting, electronically through the e-filing portal, the reasons and/or causes for not applying, 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are expected to benefit, of whom about 100,000 belong to small businesses and the rest to large entities that have withdrawn employees from the insurance scheme as of April 10, as well as in the tourism sector.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 made for about 100,000 people. Source: Monitor.