Six weeks in an intelligent lockdown and the end is still not really in sight. For many, there is the possibility of working from home. A lot is possible digitally in the “new normal”. For those who have a job that requires physical contact, that possibility is not there. That part of the economy is completely at a standstill in the hope that the government will provide a financial solution. But what if you are self-employed and shortly before the outbreak of the coronavirus and the lockdown you have an accident that prevents you from working? If you have a job that means that you cannot work because of the consequences of the accident and the lockdown, can you then still appeal to the government? But what if you are a self-employed courier? Or as a self-employed cleaner in the meat processing industry? Couriers have more work than ever in this special time and the meat processor still has to clean his factory. These victims could have done the work normally, if they would not have been hindered by an accident. These victims cannot appeal to the government. For them, the loss of earning capacity must be calculated in the regular way. Ellen van Loosbroek

The text describes the situation of self-employed people who have been injured in an accident shortly before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent lockdown. These people are unable to work because of the accident, but they are also unable to work because of the lockdown.

The author of the text, Ellen van Loosbroek, argues that these people should be able to appeal to the government for financial assistance. She points out that these people could have worked if they had not been injured, and that they are therefore not to blame for the fact that they are now unable to work.

The government has not yet announced whether it will provide financial assistance to these people.

Here are some other ways to translate the text:

• “Six weeks into an intelligent lockdown, and the end is still not in sight. For many, working from home is an option. Digitally, a lot is possible in the “new normal.” For those who have a job that requires physical contact, that option is not available. That part of the economy is completely at a standstill, hoping that the government will provide a financial solution. But what if you are self-employed and shortly before the outbreak of the coronavirus and the lockdown, you are in an accident that prevents you from working? If your job is such that you cannot work because of the consequences of the accident and the lockdown, can you then still appeal to the government? But what if you are a self-employed courier? Or as a self-employed cleaner in the meat processing industry? Couriers have more work than ever in this special time, and the meat processor still has to clean his factory. These victims could have worked normally, if they had not been hindered by an accident. These victims cannot appeal to the government. For them, the loss of earning capacity must be calculated in the usual way.It has been six weeks since the start of the intelligent lockdown, and the end is still not in sight. For many people, working from home is an option. A lot is possible digitally in the “new normal.” For those who have a job that requires physical contact, that option is not available. That part of the economy is completely at a standstill, hoping that the government will provide a financial solution. But what if you are self-employed and shortly before the outbreak of the coronavirus and the lockdown, you are in an accident that prevents you from working? If your job is such that you cannot work because of the consequences of the accident and the lockdown, can you then still appeal to the government? But what if you are a self-employed courier? Or as a self-employed cleaner in the meat processing industry? Couriers have more work than ever in this special time, and the meat processor still has to clean his factory. These victims could have worked normally, if they had not been hindered by an accident. These victims cannot appeal to the government. For them, the loss of earning capacity must be calculated in the usual way.

Ellen van Loosbroek