Finance Minister Zdravko Maric presented on Monday, after talks with employers' and entrepreneurs' associations, three measures to help entrepreneurs whose businesses are closed due to new epidemiological measures, including job-retention measures, "COVID loans" and covering fixed costs.

The government, he said, will continue paying HRK 4,000 per worker under the job-retention scheme, and HRK 470 million has been provided for that purpose for the period until the end of the year.

“COVID loans” for liquidity, totalling HRK 1.3 billion, will remain to be available for “closed” business, which are the priority, and for other businesses, as well.

The third measure will cover entrepreneurs’ fixed costs, or part of them, such as rent, lease, RTV subscription, monument annuity, music licensing fee, etc.

The decline in turnover in December will be compared to last year’s results, the minister said, with businesses that have seen a drop in turnover of at least 60% being eligible for the measure, and the Tax Administration will be in charge of administration, based on fixed costs invoices.

Representatives of hospitality stakeholders said the measures were too weak and insufficient, noting especially that it is necessary to reduce VAT.