Moreover, as of April 1, 2021, the amount for which the debtor accesses the foreign exchange market to settle principal in relation to the loans contained in Communication “A” 7106, point 7, is raised from USD 1 million to USD 2 million.
On July 10, 2021, new measures issued by BCRA were released. These measures established additional restrictions to the operations in the foreign exchange market.
On October 28, 2021, through Communiqué “A” 7385 (as subsequently amended by Communiqué 7422, as revised, and Communiqué “A” 7433 of January 6, 2022), the BCRA introduced new amendments (effective as from November 1, 2021) in the supplementary provisions related to the payments of imports of goods established in foreign trade and foreign exchange regulations.
The Argentine government established, through Presidential Decree No. 329/2020 of April 1, 2020, the prohibition: (i) to dismiss employees with no fair reason and based on the lack of or reduced work and force majeure, and (ii) to suspend employees on the grounds of force majeure or the lack of or reduced work. It also established that dismissals and suspensions in violation of such provision will produce no effects and the employment relationships and current conditions will remain effective. This prohibition was initially effective for 60 days, but was extended successively.
Double severance pay for the termination of the employment relationship during the employment crisis remains effective through December 31, 2021.
On December 23, 2021, Decree No. 886/2021 was issued, by which the Public Emergency in Occupational Matters was extended until June 30, 2022.
In this sense, it is established that the affected workers will have the right to receive, in addition to the compensation corresponding to the applicable legislation, an increase equivalent to the following percentages:
75% from January 1, 2022 to February 28, 2022.
50% from March 1, 2022 to April 30, 2022.
25% from May 1, 2022 to June 30, 2022.
Likewise, the rule provides that the amount corresponding to the increase may not exceed, in any case, the sum of pesos ARG $ 500,000.
32. COVID-19
During 2020, the spread of COVID-19 has impacted many countries with a significant level of severity. In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global pandemic. During this period, countries, organizations and company have taken considerable steps to mitigate the risk to communities, employees and business operations.
The Argentine Government implemented a series of measures aimed at reducing the circulation of the population, providing for preventive and mandatory social isolation from March 20, 2020, allowing the movement only of those people linked to the provision / production of services and essential products; this isolation was extendable for the time that was considered necessary in view of the epidemiological situation, the National Executive through Decree No. 867/21 extended the health emergency until December 31, 2022.
The Company continues to take a cautious approach and prioritizes employee welfare by facilitating social distancing at the operations, implementing testing, and taking other relevant measures. The Company’s COVID-19 Crisis Plan, which provides for numerous mitigating measures to be adopted in response to an outbreak of infections, can be implemented as required.
The Company monitors effects of these issues on an ongoing basis and estimates that, based on the information and the effects known to the date of issuance of these financial statements, this situation will not generate a material effect on the Company’s financial position or continuity of its operations