The cabinet's second aid package falls short for the transport sector. That is the conclusion of Transport en Logistiek Nederland (TLN). Several companies that do get affected fall by the wayside.
"With this second support package, the cabinet wants to offer companies targeted help, but it misses the mark considerably," said TLN president Elisabeth Post in a reaction to the second emergency package presented on Tuesday. It states that SMEs are entitled to relief of up to EUR 20,000, the so-called TOGS scheme. However, only companies with a specific SBI code can make use of this. The SBI code for transport companies is not in this list. Thus, they cannot claim the support measure.
Up to 1,300 companies to suffer
"It is unbelievable that the cabinet has no regard for the entrepreneurs who supply affected sectors. After all, if there is no work in those sectors, transport entrepreneurs also stand still," Post stressed. "In the case of ornamental plant cultivation, the cabinet does make a connection between the sector and the transport involved, but in the case of other sectors it does not make that connection with the entire chain. That is incomprehensible." According to TLN, between 1,000 and 1,300 transport companies are the victims of this choice.
Tozo
Although the Temporary Bridging Scheme for Independent Entrepreneurs (Tozo) will be continued, from 1 June the amount of the allowance will depend on a partner's income. For Small Transport Entrepreneurs (KTOs), this is disastrous, says TLN. "Many self-employed drivers are already not making ends meet, if they are also cut soon, it will be disastrous for many KTOs." Small self-employed hauliers still have high fixed expenses such as lease costs and insurance costs of a truck. Since they also take small orders, they cannot put their trucks out of service temporarily, TLN believes.
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