Jun 27 (NHK) - The Japanese government will expand the scope of a subsidy program to help small businesses impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
Owners of businesses that opened between January and March of this year will be eligible for the program which provides up to about 19,000 dollars in subsidies. Some freelance workers have also been included for the first time and may be eligible for up to 9,000 dollars.
New business owners whose monthly sales from April onward fell by more than 50 percent from their average before that period can apply for the subsidy.
Freelancers could apply if their sales in a particular month this year dropped more than 50 percent compared to last year.
Officials say they will take more time with the approval period because they require more documents.
The government will start accepting online applications from Monday.
