"Today, we have 1,400 requests from companies under this measure to support the maintenance of jobs," said the Minister of Labor, Solidarity and Social Security in statements to RTP.

“These are data from today of processes that entered Social Security”, reinforced Ana Mendes Godinho.

Asked about the payment deadlines for support to companies that adhere to the simplified lay-off, the minister said that “mechanisms for the automation of processes were created so that the payment is as fast as possible and allows the control to be done afterwards. ”.

"What we have foreseen is the payment to be made on April 28," said the Minister of Labor.

Ana Mendes Godinho also clarified that workers who will be covered by the simplified 'lay-off' will deduct IRS on the two thirds of the income they will receive.

"What is foreseen is that there will be taxation in the IRS according to the income actually earned, that is what is needed in the support mechanism itself," said Ana Mendes Godinho.

The Jornal de Negócios today made the headline that this is the understanding of the Authority for Working Conditions (ACT).

The simplified 'lay-off' came into force on Friday and is one of the exceptional measures approved by the Government to maintain jobs in the context of the crisis caused by the pandemic covid-19.

Companies that join may suspend the employment contract or reduce the hours of workers who, in turn, are entitled to receive two-thirds of normal gross earnings, 70% supported by Social Security and 30% by the company.

The minimum wage is the national minimum wage (635 euros) and a maximum of three minimum wages (1,905 euros).

In addition to the IRS, workers still deduct 11% for Social Security.