FIDC's Business Climate Survey 2020 is now open for responses, an email invite has been sent out to local businesses, however if you haven't received an invite please get in touch and a link will be sent to you via email.  

The Business Climate Survey 2020 is separated into the following five sections; (1) Business Background, (2) Business Performance, (3) The Economy and FIDC, (4) Innovation and (5) Business Associations.  

The vast majority of questions are multiple choice and most businesses will only need to answer 35-40 questions. The survey should take approximately 20 minutes to complete.
The survey opened today Wednesday the 1st of April 2020 and closes on Thursday the 30th April 2020.  

If you have any questions regarding the survey, need an email invite sent, wish to receive a hard copy instead or would like to discuss something specific, please contact Louise Ellis on telephone: +500 27211 or email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
I would like to again express my thanks for taking the time to complete the survey.

New stage in Government COVID-19 response

The King Edward Memorial Hospital is currently dealing with a critically ill child, who is suspected to have COVID-19. Until this is confirmed by test, this remains a matter of clinical judgment.

As a result of this, the Falkland Islands Government is moving its response to the next stage, in accordance with our Infectious Disease Plan and other preparations. Our thoughts go out to the child, the child’s family and friends.

We still do not have any confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Falkland Islands, until test results are received from the UK. We hope to be able to test within the Islands soon but cannot currently do so.

From tomorrow we are closing all schools until at least the start of the new term on 4 May 2020. We are also instructing all nurseries to close for the same period.

From Monday, the Education Department will be open to provide childcare for the children of essential key workers. The Education Department will be contacting parents directly who fall into this category. If you have not been contacted, please do not try to bring your child to school.

All children’s play parks will be closed until further notice.

If you have been asked by King Edward Memorial Hospital to self-isolate because you have cold/flu symptoms AND you have developed a fever (a high temperature), your whole household – all those living with you, must self-isolate for 14 days.

Anyone whose family member arrives by plane into the Falkland Islands must ensure that their family member self-isolates for 14 days. If they are not able to isolate from other members of the household, the whole household must self-isolate.

We are now advising everyone to reduce all non-essential activities until further notice; everyone should stay at home where they can, and work from home where possible.

Please follow our guidance on social distancing. Essential activities, at this stage, include critical and key work, where this cannot be done from home. Essential work categories are listed below.

These actions are ESSENTIAL to protect everyone, especially the most vulnerable, and ensure that the demand on the health service is limited.

The situation will be kept under constant review. It could change, and, when test results are known, we may step up, or scale back some restrictions. We hope to have the next set of test results back over the next few days.

Advice and guidance is available on our website, fig.gov.fk/covid-19 and from the King Edward Memorial Hospital.

Critical / Key Services:

Health and social care - including:

• Doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, social workers, care workers and any other frontline health and social care staff who need to remain at work
• Support and specialist staff required to maintain the sector

Key public services - including:

• Those essential to the running of the justice system
• Those responsible for the management of the deceased
• Media and broadcasters who are providing public service broadcasting and the Government Communications team

Government - administrative occupations essential to delivering:

• The response to coronavirus
• Key regulatory services
• Essential public services, including the payment of benefits, and key treasury functions

Food and other necessary goods - including:

Those involved in food production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery

Public safety and national security - including:
• Police and required support staff
• Fire and rescue service employees
• Those maintaining border security
• Prison and probation staff

Transport - including:

• Those who'll keep FIGAS and ferry passenger and freight and passenger transport supporting the response
• Shipping links including SAAS
• Port operators

Utilities, communication and financial services - including:

Staff needed for:

• Essential financial services provision
• Electricity and water sectors, including sewerage
• Fuel supply
• Information technology and data infrastructure sector

Key staff working in the following sectors:

• Telecommunications
• Emergency repair workers
• Accommodation providers
• Postal services
• Agricultural workers

COVID-19: Support for Private Sector Employers, Private Sector Employees and the Self-Employed

The Members of the Legislative Assembly have agreed, and Executive Council will be asked today to approve formally, an initial package of measures to support private sector employees, private sector employers and the self-employed affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

We are doing this to reinforce and support the strong public health action which the Falkland Islands Government is taking to protect the population and minimise the social and economic impact of this challenging issue.

The following measures are being proposed:

• All employees with symptoms who are advised by KEMH to self-isolate for 14 days will continue to be paid by their employer (regardless of whether they are entitled to leave or sick pay).
• Employers will be able to seek reimbursement of the costs of this measure from the Government, up to a cap of £1,250 for the 14 calendar days per employee for the period of isolation.
• All self-employed people with symptoms who are advised by KEMH to self-isolate for 14 calendar days will similarly be able to claim a sum of up to £1,250 for the 14 calendar days of self-isolation.
• All “vulnerable” self-employed people who are advised by KEMH to self-isolate for an initial period of 3 months, and who are unable to work from home, will be able to claim a sum of up to £2,500 per month for the period of isolation.
• All “vulnerable” employees who are advised by KEMH to self-isolate for an initial period of 3 months, and who are unable to work from home, will continue to be paid by their employer (regardless of whether they are entitled to leave or sick pay).
• Employers of vulnerable employees will be able to seek reimbursement for this measure from the Government, up to a cap of £2,500 per employee per month for the period of isolation.
• In situations where employees who are sole carers have been advised by KEMH that one or more of their children must stay home and self-isolate, subject to employer approval, employers will also be able to seek reimbursement of the costs up to a cap of £2,500 per employee per month for the period of isolation. 

All funds will be considered taxable to individuals and subject to the usual deductions from payroll.

We will now be working, with colleagues across Government and in the private sector to finalise the practical arrangements to bring this policy into effect at the earliest opportunity.

If employees or self-employed persons are able to work from home during any period of isolation, we would expect them to do so and not to claim re-imbursement from Government.

These measures are designed to ensure that everyone can make the right choice to take necessary public health measures, for the benefit of all, whilst ensuring that the impact on the economy is minimised. In addition to these specific measures, the Government continues to offer a range of benefits and allowances to Falkland Islands residents through the Department of Health and Social Services.

We continue to actively consult with the business community to better understand their perspective on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We will be bringing forward a further package of measures in due course to support people and businesses through this challenging time.

On Sunday the 2^nd of February FIDC attended the Early Years Conference Expo held at the Infant and Junior School between 12pm and 1pm.

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Wool Innovation is an Island wide initiative, for value adding and value chain improvements across our wool industry.

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FIDC’s Rural Energy Advisor Andrew Crighton has agreed to a contract extension to continue support to the Corporation’s Business Development team on all applications that come through regarding renewable energy systems. Andrew’s support ensures an expert oversight of applications and renewables solutions for FIDC funding.

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