Ljubljana - The government has extended several measures aimed at helping individuals and businesses get through the epidemic. The measures would have expired at the end of the month, but have now been extended until the end of June. The furlough scheme, which expires at the end of April, has not be extended yet.

At last night's session the government extended until the end of June the universal basic income and the partial reimbursement of a lost income for the self-employed during quarantine or inability to work due to force majeure or child care.

The two measures had been in place since October and September 2020, respectively. Originally, they were introduced for until the end of last December with the possibility of extension by six months at the most.

During the first wave of the epidemic last spring, 51,501 people received the universal basic income of EUR 700, which cost the state EUR 82.4 million.

In the second wave last autumn, almost 37,984 people used it, with the costs totalling EUR 117.3 million.

The second measure, the partial reimbursement of a lost income for the self-employed during quarantine or inability to work due to force majeure or child care, was used by over 3,638 people, which cost the state EUR 1.6 million.

More than 13,000 people were eligible to partial compensation of fixed costs in the amount of EUR 133.9 million.

Measures delaying insolvency procedures if companies had become insolvent as a result of Covid-19 and lockdown measures, and deferral of taxes or payment of tax in instalments have also been extended until the end of June, the Government Communication Office said.

The furlough scheme, which expires at the end of April was not extended at last night's session. Labour Minister Janez Cigler Kralj told the press last week that he had proposed to the government that this measure too be extended given the epidemiological situation.