Employers, who normally share with the worker welfare costs amounting to nearly 42% of gross wages, would pay a flat-rate contribution of 25% on jobs up to euro400, reduced to 12% for mini-jobs (cleaners and au pairs, for example) in private households.
Given this dismal history, the focus of many business owners has turned from growth to simply preservation of cash and liquidity. (Flat is the new up.) Often, they have foregone their annual retirement plan contribution to preserve cash and liquidity.