Central government budget

The Government previously announced that turnover-based support for sole traders would be extended until the end of April 2021. Today, the Government can announce that in connection with the extension of the turnover-based support for sole traders, a possibility will be introduced for sole traders who have received unemployment benefit during the support period in their application and sole traders who have taken parental leave or sick leave during the reference period to also access the extended turnover-based support.

To mitigate the economic impacts of the increasing spread of the virus, the Government proposes that the State aid measure in support of certain commercial tenants receiving a rent rebate – introduced in spring 2020 – be reintroduced for January–March 2021, i.e. for a further three months. This measure is temporary and designed for companies in certain vulnerable customer-facing sectors that have been hit hard financially by the pandemic. The proposal for reintroducing this State aid measure is based on an agreement between the government parties, the Centre Party and the Liberal Party.

Businesses that are unable to operate as a result of a closure decision under the new Pandemic Act will be able to receive financial support to cover their fixed costs during the closure. Up to 100 per cent of the costs will be reimbursed. The proposal is based on an agreement between the Government, the Centre Party and the Liberal Party.

As the Government previously announced, turnover-based support for sole traders – which currently applies for the period March to July 2020 – will be extended to include the period August 2020 to February 2021. The Government also previously announced the introduction of a specific turnover-based support targeting trading partnerships, including limited partnerships in which at least one partner is a natural person. This support will cover the same period, that is March 2020 to February 2021. Today, the Government can announce that the level of support for November 2020–February 2021 will be raised from 75 to 90 per cent. The Government’s proposal is based on an agreement between the government parties, the Centre Party and the Liberal Party.

The Swedish economy is showing a stronger recovery than expected during the autumn. The labour market situation has also developed more positively compared with previous assessments. The employment rate is expected to be somewhat higher this year and next year compared with the assessment in the Budget Bill for 2021, while unemployment is expected to be lower. However, in the future, activity is expected to be hampered as a consequence of an increased spread of the COVID-19 virus and restrictions. This is clear from the Ministry of Finance’s most recent economic forecast, presented today by Minister for Finance Magdalena Andersson.

The Government today proposed extending the government credit guarantee programme ‘Företagsakuten’ into 2021 so as to cover lending after 31 December. The programme is intended to facilitate lending to small and medium-sized companies affected by the pandemic. The Företagsakuten programme was launched in spring 2020 as part of the Government’s measures to support the business sector during the ongoing pandemic and builds on an agreement between the government parties, the Centre Party and the Liberal Party.

Several measures taken to support Swedish jobs and businesses through the crisis will be extended. These include short-term lay-offs, deferral of tax payments, reorientation support and turnover-based support to sole traders. The proposals are based on an agreement between the government parties, the Centre Party and the Liberal Party.

Enhancing safety and security in society is one of the Government’s most important priorities. In the Budget Bill for 2021, the Government continues to strengthen the judicial chain through important investments in the Swedish Police Authority and the Swedish Prison and Probation Service.

On September 24 the Government decided to extend until the end of the year the government credit guarantee programme aimed at supporting small and medium-sized enterprises that have experienced financial difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The programme was launched in the spring as part of the Government’s measures to support the business sector during the ongoing pandemic and builds on an agreement between the government parties, the Centre Party and the Liberal Party. As a result of this decision, the option for businesses to take part in the credit guarantee programme applies to loans granted until 31 December 2020.

The Government proposes the following investments in culture in the additional amending budget, the autumn amending budget and the Budget Bill for 2021. The Government’s proposals are based on an agreement between the government parties, the Centre Party and the Liberal Party.