Japan to subsidize 100% of salaries at small companies

[Ana]

TOKYO -- Japan is working on a subsidy to ensure that temporarily idled small-business employees receive 100% of their wages during the current state of emergency, Nikkei has learned.

The offer will be more generous going forward. If small companies -- those in the service sector with up to five workers and manufacturers with up to 20 -- are asked by the central or local government to temporarily shutter operations, and they apply for the employment adjustment subsidy, the government will shoulder the full cost as long as the businesses pay 100% of last year's wage levels.

The subsidy program's parameters will cover 3 million companies and about 10 million employees.

Japan to subsidize 100% of salaries at small companies

Program aims to pay 10m laid-off workers their full wages

asia.nikkei.com