Caribbean Netherlands: half of companies use emergency package
As of March 2020, a package of emergency measures has been in place in the Caribbean Netherlands to tackle the economic consequences of the coronavirus crisis. Nearly half of all local enterprises availed of a financial contribution towards their wage costs and/or fixed overhead last year. This is evident from new figures released by Statistics Netherlands (CBS).
![Centraal Bureau voor Statistiek](/binaries/medium/content/gallery/rijksdienstcn-nederlands/content-afbeeldingen/nieuws-afbeeldingen/2020/cbs/centraal_bureau_statistiek.jpg)
The share of companies in the Caribbean Netherlands claiming government support for their wage costs and/or fixed overhead ranged from 45 percent on Bonaire to 55 percent on Saba and 47 percent on St Eustatius.
![CBS Noodpakket ENG](/binaries/medium/content/gallery/rijksdienstcn-nederlands/content-afbeeldingen/nieuws-afbeeldingen/2021/cbs/16-april/cbs_grafiek_1_en_160421.jpg)
Employers applied for a contribution in wage costs related to 4,020 jobs. This concerned the wage costs of both employees and self-employed. The vast majority of claims were made in the accommodation and food services sector. In this sector, 200 companies received financial support for 1,290 jobs; almost all of them were located on Bonaire (1,190). In the trade sector, 200 companies applied for contributions from the emergency package. They received a contribution towards their wage costs for altogether 500 jobs.
![CBS Noodpakket - Grafiek 2 NL](/binaries/medium/content/gallery/rijksdienstcn-nederlands/content-afbeeldingen/nieuws-afbeeldingen/2021/cbs/16-april/cbs_grafiek_-2_nl_160421.jpg)
Source
Tabel - Omvang Noodpakket Coronavirus Caribisch Nederland, 2020
(Emergency package size Coronavirus Caribbean Netherlands, 2020): https://www.cbs.nl/nl-nl/maatwerk/2021/13/omvang-noodpakket-coronavirus-caribisch-nederland-2020