Photography by Martin Parr
The coronavirus pandemic is wreaking havoc on the global economy, causing even the biggest businesses to change the way they operate, but among those who have been the hardest hit are small business owners and freelancers—which means the creative industries (as of a 2018 report in Germany, cultural and creative industries counted roughly 1.2 million core workers, 256, 600 of whom were freelancers). The stories we read, films we watch and music we listen to in order to pass the time in isolation are largely produced by people without full time contracts and whose positions are now more precarious than ever as many freelance contracts dry up. As governments step in to save large companies and keep businesses from letting full time employees go, the fate of freelancers is largely dependent on geography: some governments are offering meaningful lifelines to contractors as others are leaving them to fend for themselves.
Germany
As one of Europe’s strongest economies, Germany is setting an example by offering generous aid to their freelance community. Angela Merkel’s government has set aside 50 billion euro for a program of subsidies that can give freelancers up to 15,000 euro over a period of three months. The country has also implemented measures to prevent landlords from evicting tenants, who can no longer afford their rent payments owing to the crisis, as well as streamlining the process for applying for unemployment benefits.
UK
The United Kingdom has put billions aside to help the National Health Service (NHS), loan guarantees to businesses, tax cuts and a three-month mortgage payment holiday for borrowers affected by Covid-19. Where full time employees have been promised 80 per cent of their salaries by Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak (capped at a monthly sum of £2,500), thus far Boris Johnson’s conservative government has failed to extend a hand to freelancers. While there is a universal credit offer of £94.25 per week, artist groups, like the Creative Industries Federation are calling for more equitable relief.
Italy
One of the European countries hardest hit by the coronavirus, with more than 6,000 deaths at time of publishing and the longest business shutdowns, is offering monthly subsidies of 600 euro to all of its workers—self-employed and full-time—in order to offset losses from the pandemic. A suspension of mortgage payments is also available to those affected by business shutdowns.
France
As France grapples with a rising death toll and an increased number of new cases, President Emmanuel Macron has ordered the French to stay home at least the end of the month, forcing nonessential businesses to close. The French government is maintaining 70 percent of salaries up to 6,927 euro per month, allowing freelancers to apply for aid of 1,500 euro and introducing tax breaks to help the population stay afloat.