Job retention programmes

Many countries are using job retention programmes to help keep workers employed and save viable jobs. These include measures that directly subsidise hours not worked, such as Germany’s Kurzarbeit or France’s Activité partielle, as well as measures that also top up the earnings of workers on reduced hours, such as The Netherland’s NOW (Noodmatregel Overbrugging Werkgelegenheid) or the Job Keeper Payment in Australia. About 60 million people across the OECD have been included in company claims for such programmes.