In light of the uncertainty that exists due to the situation in Grindavík, the Directorate of Labour would like to make the following statement:

If the wage payments to employees of companies in Grindavík are cancelled due to the decision of the Civil Protection on a public evacuation, they can contact the Directorate of Labour. The unemployment insurance system's safety net ensures the employees' livelihood in cases where an employee has earned the right to unemployment benefits. Self-employed individuals can also contact the institution.

The Directorate of Labour would like to emphasise the following:

• That staff discuss the situation with their employers before deciding to apply for unemployment benefits.

• In light of the situation, applications for unemployment benefits will be valid from the moment the Civil Protection decided to evacuate Grindavík, i.e. on the evening of November 10th. It is therefore not necessary to apply for unemployment benefits immediately while uncertainty exists.

• We encourage employees to wait through the week to apply for unemployment benefits until further clarification is made.

• That applications for payments are made through

The Minister of Social Affairs and Labour mentioned in Silfrin on Monday evening 13 November that the Government has begun to respond and the Directorate of Labour is waiting for further clarification.

The Directorate of Labour is aware of the uncertainty that exists and information will be updated regularly on the Directorate’s website in Icelandic, English and Polish.