One of the most important aspects of the sweeping measures was a ban on non-residential landlords from terminating contracts or raising rents until at least June 30 on tenants in “protected”sectors. These include tourism, gambling, the entertainment industry, events and sporting services. They’re the same sectors which are also primed to receive additional benefits including exemptions from paying social contributions to the government (healthcare fees have been capped at HUF 7,710 per month). The decree will also exempt construction companies for however long the crisis continues._x000D_
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Orban’s decree took a more relaxed position on employment regulations suspending the Labor Code passed in 2012 until a month after the state of emergency ends. In practice, this means that employers can order employees to work from home, or at least remotely, and come to individual agreements about how employees does their job. It will also be possible to suspend the repayment of loans issued before March 25th. The moratorium is due to in December 2020, but could yet be extended by government decree. The bill extends the deadline for final repayment of loans that would otherwise end before that date. _x000D_
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Speaking to parliament, Orban said that his most important task at the moment is to protect jobs. This will take some doing. Hungary’s tourist industry, which has been decimated by the COVID-19 ban, employs over 400,000 people.
