Business Update: May 11 – Restrictions ease, seasonal workers depart, nuclear power dwindles


A seasonal worker sorts strawberries at a farm in Faversham in southeast England in the United Kingdom on June 29, 2018. The season of fresh fruit, vegetables and berries has come, but farmers across Europe are lacking seasonal workers due to travel restrictions. Some Ukrainians, however, continue to receive working visas and move abroad for jobs that bring them more money than they can earn in Ukraine.

New rules: Ukraine’s small businesses are resuming work on May 11–12. The lifting of some coronavirus quarantine measures started on May 11 for certain businesses, including for cafes with summer terraces, barbers and beauty salons – they can resume work. “This day has come because the majority of us followed the rules,” Health Minister Maksym Stepanov said. “However, it does not mean we can disregard safety precautions.”

Ukraine’s president offers loan repayment holidays to small businesses. Small businesses affected by the lockdown restrictions should receive loan repayment holidays, President Volodymyr Zelensky has said. “We should help them now and after the quarantine so that they can recover quickly,” Zelensky said.