The address of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin to the citizens was broadcast on federal channels. It was dedicated to the coronavirus pandemic, measures taken to protect people from danger and support for small and medium-sized businesses. Here’s the most important:
- Now Russia manages to contain the spread of the virus, but our country cannot completely isolate itself from the threat.
- The President asked to carefully consider the recommendations of doctors and authorities.
- The week from March 28 to April 5 is officially declared a non-working week with pay.
- All social benefits and benefits that citizens rely on will be automatically extended over the next 6 months without contacting the appropriate authorities.
- All families eligible for maternity capital will receive an additional 5,000 rubles for each child up to and including 3 years of age. This amount will be paid monthly over the next three months.
- Unemployment payments will be increased from 8,000 rubles to 12,130 rubles (that is, up to the minimum wage).
- The rate of payments for sick leave is also set in the amount of at least one minimum wage, regardless of the length of service of the employee.
- The all-Russian vote on amendments to the Constitution, scheduled for April 22, has been postponed indefinitely.
- Payments for the 75th anniversary of the Victory to veterans and home front workers (75 and 50 thousand rubles, respectively), which are usually transferred on May holidays, will be made in April.
- For small and medium-sized businesses, the amount of insurance premiums is reduced from 30% to 15% if the employee’s salary exceeds the minimum wage. If the salary is at or below the minimum wage, the contribution remains the same.
- The President proposed to provide small and medium-sized businesses with a six-month tax deferral (excluding VAT).
- Another proposal is to announce credit holidays for citizens and individual entrepreneurs affected by the pandemic (if monthly income has decreased by more than 30%).
- For the next six months, a moratorium will be introduced on the filing of applications by creditors for the bankruptcy of companies and the collection of debts and fines.
- For citizens who have bank deposits or invested in debt securities in the amount of more than 1 million rubles, a tax of 13% is introduced on interest income.
- Similarly, all interest and dividend income that goes to foreign accounts will be subject to an additional tax of 15%.