Company Reimbursement Claim for COVID-19 Short-Time Work Allowance Upheld

A company sought reimbursement for COVID-19 short-time work allowances from the relevant labor authority, but the authority rejected the application, which was subsequently upheld by the first instance court. The company appealed this decision, arguing that the necessary prerequisites for receiving the benefit were met despite the government's directive suspending certain commercial activities. The court, however, affirmed the rejection, reasoning that the company failed to sufficiently demonstrate that the downturn in business was directly caused by the pandemic-related official measures, as opposed to other general economic factors, which is a requisite for receiving the special COVID-19 short-time work compensation.