Partial unemployment is a device that helps safeguard the employment of employees in companies going through a difficult period. The government has decided to strengthen this system to deal with the difficulties associated with the measures taken to fight against the spread of Covid-19 in New Caledonia.

It is within this framework that a  Covid-19 * allowance was created. Enforcement measures have been taken ** to provide the necessary details for its implementation. 

* Deliberation n ° 26 / CP of April 11, 2020 instituting exceptional measures relating to the Covid-19 epidemic
** Order fixing the terms of payment of the Covid-19 partial unemployment benefit

This device has been extended for companies durably affected by the health crisis for a period of three months, from 1 st June 2020 to 31 August 2020 (Decision passed by Congress June 29, 2020 and Government Decree of 7 July 2020) with the possibility of extending it for another three months.

• The amount of the allowance is equal to 70% of the gross remuneration serving as the basis for the calculation of the paid vacation allowance, reduced to an hourly rate. This remuneration is limited to 4.5 times the guaranteed minimum wage for the sector of activity concerned. This amount cannot be less than 100% of the guaranteed minimum wage of the sector of activity concerned.
• The allowance is therefore included for the general sector, between 926.44 and 2 918.29 francs / hour, or 493 191 francs for 169 hours of work in the month . For the agricultural sector, this allowance is between 787.49 and 2,480 F francs / hour, or 133,086 per month .
• n all cases, the number of hours compensated cannot exceed 39 hours per week, even for employees working a number of hours beyond this legal working time.
• Employees paid at the SMG benefit from an indemnity equal to 100% of this gross guaranteed minimum for the sector of activity concerned.
• People holding a single work-study contract receive an allowance representing 100% of the legal salary as provided for by the Labor Code.
• Household staff can benefit from the Covid-19 allowance. 

• Until August 31, 2020 , companies in the following sectors of activity (decree of July 7, 2020):

   Covid-19.pdf support allocation payment order

  Tourism and events:

• passenger transport by taxis
• regular road passenger transport
• other passenger road transport
• maritime and coastal passenger transport
• hotels and similar accommodation
• tourist accommodation and other short-term accommodation
• campgrounds and parks for caravans or recreational vehicles
• other accommodation
• short-term car and light motor vehicle rentals
• travel agency activities
• tour operator activities
• other reservation services and related activities
• organization of fairs, trade shows and congresses
• organization of receptions
• other recreational and leisure activities
• sound recordings and musical editions
• support activities for performing arts
• motion picture screenings
• activity of advertising agencies
• museum management

• Air:

• passenger air transport
• air freight transport
• auxiliary air transport services

• Others:

• pet services
• international moving services.