The government's 25-billion-euro
'Cure Italy' decree to stem the economic impact of the
coronavirus on households and businesses and bolster the
hard-pressed health system went into effect on Wednesday.
The decree, which also aims to trigger cash flows of up to
350 billion, acts in five areas: measures to boost the health
service; measures to support employment; measures to sustain
liquidity through the banking system: fiscal measures to support
households and businesses; and further measures including
deferring tax and mortgage payments and helping parents with
young children at home with a 600-euro bonus for paying
babysitters.
The decree also: stops all evictions until the end of June;
puts off the deadline for car insurance payments for two weeks;
and introduces a moratorium on bank loans to small and
medium-sized firms.
It also envisages putting off a referendum on cutting the
number of MPs until the autumn.
There will be a 100-euro bonus for workers continuing to go
into work rather than work from home, amounting to an 8.8
million euros package.
Three out of four shops have shut down in March and in order
to help them, the decree sets aside 365 million euros for rent
subsidies.
Opposition nationalist League leader Matteo Salvini
reiterated that the measures were "not enough" and said "we
won't to ratify the decree unless it changes".
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