RTL's Nadine Gautier spoke to Romain Schneider, Minister of Social Security, to find out the impact on the National Health Fund and how many people made use of the leave for family reasons.
Schneider explained the Ministry were currently working with estimates, as not all accounts were complete. They saw 28,500 requests for family leave during the month of March. The National Health Fund has supported employers, paying around 35 million euros to date, with the final total for March estimated to reach 50 million euros.
In April, new criteria were added. Schneider estimated a total of 30,000 employees had requested the additional leave. For the month of April, the National Health Fund paid around 93 million euros to employers, with the overall cost expected to be 110 million.
Schneider said it was difficult to put together projected totals for May, as much would hinge on the government's decisions to allow childcare structures and schools to reopen. The Ministry was waiting for further data from employers regarding the number of employees who had made use of leave for family reasons, and the manner in which the leave took place - some employees have chosen to take it on a part-time basis, or by hour.
This month, Schneider explained they would have the final figures for March, with April's figures to follow in June.
