Social Protection and Jobs Responses to COVID-19: A Real-Time Review of Country Measures “Living paper” version 10 (May 22, 2020) Ugo Gentilini (WB), Mohamed Almenfi (WB), Pamela Dale (UNICEF), John Blomquist (WB), Harish Natarajan (WB), Guillermo Galicia (WB), Robert Palacios (WB), and Vyjayanti Desai (WB) This paper benefited enormously from contributions by Miglena Abels, Aysenur Acar, Nazanin Akhgar, Haleem Hassan Kashkol Al-Kazali, Amel Allahoum, Elena Andreeva, Colin Andrews, Edward Archibald, Temilade Aromolaran, Jehan Arulpragasam, Angela Elzir Assy, Ashiq Aziz, Indra Baatarkhuu, Reena Badiani-Magnusson, Yusuf Bafozoda, Sarah Bailey, Paul Bance, Mehdi Barouni, Roland Berenger Berehoudougou, Martina Bergthaller, Anush Bezhanyan, Sharon Corinne Benzoni, Mira Bierbaum, Mark Blecher, Christian Bodewig, , Stefanie Brodmann, Hugo Brousset Chaman, Dimitriy Bychkov, Yoonyoung Cho, Tungalag Chuluun, Francesca Ciardi, Emmanuelle Collet, Facundo Cuevas, Matthew Cummins, Pamela Dale, Louise Moreira Daniel, Marie-Christina Dankmeyer, Benedicte Leroy De La Briere, Gustavo Demarco, Malin Linnea Sofia Ed, Randa El-Rashidi, Gerardo Escaroz, Fatou Fall, Maliha Fanning, Olesia Feoktistova, Katharina Maria Fietz, Gabrielle Fox, Nicholas Freeland, Luis Frota, Carlos Galian, Jordi Jose Gallego-Ayala, Maria Concepcion Steta Gandara, Elena Glinskaya, Elisaveta Gouretskaia, Rebekka Grun, Sabina Guliyeva, Sibusiso Gumbi, Melis Guven, Courtney Hallink, Mahdi Halmi, Siddharth Hari, Gonzalo Javier Reyes Hartley, Abu Yadetta Hateu, Alessandra Heinemann, Himanshi Jain, Johannes Hoenigl, Maddalena Honorati, Armenuhi Hovakimyan, Su Su Htay, Roberto Iacono, Adina-Maria Iorganda, Kumiko Imai, Adina-Maria Iorganda, Buthaina al-Iryani, Aylin Isik-Dikmelik, Marijana Jasarevic, Mustafa Kadhim Mohammed, Amjad Zafar Khan, Alex Kamurase, Sandor Karacsony, Dmitri Karasyov, Selma Kasic, Ayaba Gilberte Kedote, Qaiser Khan, Johannes Koettl, Julian Alexander Koschorke, Adea Kryeziu, Francesca Lamanna, Aleksandar Lazovski, Matthieu Lefebvre, Kook Hee Lee, Louisa Lippi, Christina Lowe, Mattias Lundberg, Mattia Makovic, Iftikhar Malik, Alicia C. Marguerie, Jonathan Marskell, Ana Georgina Marin Espinosa, Alessandra Marini, Erica Mattellone, Shea McClanahan, Karla McEvoy, Cem Mete, Andrei Mikhnev, Natalia Millan, Emma Mistiaen, Khalid Ahmed Ali Moheyddeen, Matteo Morgandi, Harry Edmund Moroz, Lindi Mzankomo, Martien Van Nieuwkoop, Desislava Enikova Nikolova, NIFI (Research Institute of Finance, Moscow), Nga Nguyet Nguyen, Noel Muller, Anthony Njage, Marina Novikova, Marija Novkovic, Foluke Adetola Ojelabi, Philip O’Keefe, Yulia Olenik, Vitorino Mello Oliveira, Ian Orton, Mirey Ovadiya, Efsan Nas Ozen, Truman Packard, Karuna Pal, Robert Palacios, Montserrat Pallares-Miralles, Ekaterina Pankratova, Ana Pantelic, Jasmina Papa, Clemente Avila Parra, Kenia Parsons, Nathalie Pazmino, Luca Pellerano, Remy Pigois, Ariel Pino, Juul Pinxten, Lucian Bucur Pop, Aleksandra Posarac, Nadine Poupart, Ana Prodanovic, Pamela Pozarny, Ma. Lourdes M. Rivera, Nina Rosas Raffo, Amanina Binti Abdur Rahman, Zandile Portia Ratshitanga, F. Zehra Rizvi, Claudia Rodriguez Alas, Mba Minko Djekombe Rony, Pedro Rosas, Friederike Uta Rother, Solene Rougeaux, Monica Rubio, Mira Saidi, Manuel Salazar, Marijana Šalinović, Glayson dos Santos, Indhira Santos, Karin Schelzig, Achim Schmillen, Anita Schwarz, Sirma Demir Seker, Karin Seyfert, Ivan Shulga, Nuno Cunha Meira Simoes, Karan Singhal, Charles Chilufya SJ, Andrius Skarnulis, Oleksiy A. Sluchynskyy, Rene Antonio Leon Solano, Tayana Charisse Oliveira de Souza, Tayllor Spadafora, Federico Spano, Maya Stern-Plaza, Victoria Strokova, Anna Sukhova, Changqing Sun, Kalilou Sylla, Claudia Zambra Taibo, Emil Tesliuc, Mauro Testaverde, Samman Thapa, Andrei Tretyak, Julieta M. Trias, Fiona Stewart, Gulsana Turusbekova, Emre Uckardesler, Silas Udahemuka, Uladzimir Valetka, Rashiel Velvarde, Fabio Veras, Andrea Vermehren, Dewen Wang, Asha M. Williams, Penny Williams, Briana Wilson, Natalia Winder-Rossi, Gelila Woodeneh, Yuliya Yafimenka, Ruslan G. Yemtsov, Soonhwa Yi, Alketa Zazo, Nahla Zeitoun, Lansong Zhang, Yukun Zhu, Roman Zhukovskyi, Mustapha Ziroili, Rocco Zizzamia, and Maria Zlatareva. The analysis and support of Saksham Khosla and Ana Veronica Lopez has been outstanding. This week’s special feature on cash transfer payments includes summaries from case studies by Guillermo Galicia, Nilima Ramteke, Dorothee Delort and Harish Natarajan. This complement last week’s discussion on eligibility and registries. Special thanks to Michal Rutkowski and David Stewart for their precious guidance and support. 1 As we reach the double-digit, 10th update of this weekly review, 190 countries and territories have planned, introduced or adapted social protection measures in response to COVID-19. New entries since last week include Cambodia, Cyprus, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Latvia, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Mozambique and Suriname. Social protection measures grew by 7%, or from 870 to 937 (figure 1). Figure 1. Trends in number of countries/territories and social protection measures 200 190 1000 181 937 180 171 900 870 159 160 151 803 800 752 number of SP measures (line) Number of countries (bars) 140 133 700 126 685 120 600 106 564 100 505 500 84 80 418 400 60 283 300 45 40 200 20 103 100 0 0 20. Mar 27. Mar 3. April 10. April 17. April 24. April 1. May 8. May 15. May 22. May Social assistance transfers are the most widely used class of interventions. These non-contributory programs account for 59.6% of global responses, or 559 measures (table 1 and figure 2). Among safety nets, cash transfer programs account for half of intervention by governments (figure 3), with their 283 COVID-related measures representing one-third (30.2%) of total social protection programs. N. of N. of Table 1. Social assistance program type measures countries Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) 246 124 Universal one-off cash 5 5 Childcare support 9 9 Social pensions 23 19 Sub-total (all cash-based measures) 283 124 in-kind food/voucher schemes 103 77 School feeding 27 22 Sub-total (all in-kind measures) 130 77 Utility and financial obligation support (waiver/postponement) 134 81 Cash for Work 12 9 Total SA measures 559 168 2 Figure 2. Composition of global social protection response (left), and cash transfers as % of social assistance (right) Social assistance Social Insurance Labor markets Other social assistance Cash 13% 27% 51% 49% 60% Both cash-based and in-kind transfers have been growing steadily, with cash accounting for a much larger number of measures. Cash-based measures are over twice those of in-kind programs (figure 3). About 57% of cash transfer measures (161 out of 283) are new programs in 104 countries, while one-fourth of measures (25.4%) are one-off payments. A significant number of new in-kind programs (91) has been also been introduced, accounting for 70% of total in-kind measures. Figure 3. Trends in cash-based and in-kind transfers measures 300 283 264 250 244 246 214 Number of measures 200 186 165 150 146 130 120 107 111 100 100 88 73 62 50 43 22 0 27. Mar 3. April 10. April 17. April 24. April 1. May 8. May 15. May 22. May Cash-based measures In-kind support measures Cash transfers include programs of various duration. The duration of programs ranges from 1 to 6 months, for an average of 2.9 months (figure 4). In some cases, programs are tied to the duration of the crisis. This is the case, for example, in Morocco and Tuvalu. 3 Figure 4. Cash transfer duration 6 months 4 months 3-6 months 3 months Global average 2 months = 2.9 months 1.5 months 1 month 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 The size of cash transfers is relatively generous. Current transfers account for an average 25% of monthly GDP per capita in respective countries. The highest increase, or 47%, is registered in low income countries (among regions, ECA had the highest rate of 27%). On average, transfers have more than doubled (+139%) compared to average pre-COVID transfer levels (where data is available for a subset of 17 countries) (figure 5). Mongolia’s Child Money Program is increasing benefits from about MVT 10,000 in pre-Covid time to MNT 100,000. Figure 5. Cash transfers size as % of monthly GDP/capita (left) and as % increase relative to average pre-Covid level (right) 50% 47% Global average = 139% 45% Moldova 50% Russia 50% 40% Armenia 61% Cameron 67% 35% Angola 67% 30% Global average Turkey 100% 27% 27% % of GDP = 25% Turks and Caicos islands 100% 25% 22% Dominican Republic 100% 20% Albania 100% Brazil 140% 15% South Korea 150% 10% Egypt 157% Trinidad and Tobago 200% 5% Mongolia 900% 0% 0% 200% 400% 600% 800% 1000% HIC LIC LMIC UMIC 4 Social assistance has been adapted to COVID-19 response in three ways. This includes expanding coverage, increasing benefits, and making administrative requirements simpler and more user-friendly. Specifically, administrative adaptations are occurring in 42 countries (figure 6). For example, anticipation of payments that due at later date (e.g., Malaysia); flexibility in the time of collection (e.g., Algeria); home delivery of cash for seniors (e.g., Armenia); postponement of recertification (e.g., Georgia); waiving of conditionalities (e.g., Philippines); and sharing of delivery systems across programs (e.g., Jordan). Increases in benefits among preexisting programs are implemented in 46 countries, including transfer value being increased (e.g., Egypt) and additional payment cycles (e.g., Chile). Coverage extension is underway in 159 countries: this includes expanding coverage of existing programs (22 cases) and 391 new social assistance programs (6 of which universal). Combined, those adaptations across administration, generosity and coverage in social assistance benefit over 1.7 billion individuals (i.e., 1,766,201,920). The same estimate applied only applied to cash transfers lead to an estimated 1.1 billion people benefiting from such adaptations (1,150,156,185). If we only consider coverage (horizontal expansion) of new and existing cash transfer schemes, these cover an estimated 914 million people (914,783,460). N. of N. of Table 2. Adaptation programs countries Increase in existing benefits 68 46 Vertical expansion 48 Additional payment 20 Scale up coverage 413 159 Horizontal expansion of existing programs 22 New programs 391 153 one-off (targeted) 67 one-of (Universal) 5 UBI 1 new/ad hoc 318 Both vertical and horizontal expansion 13 10 Administration 65 42 Admin simplification 53 Advanced payment 10 shared delivery systems 2 Total 559 168 5 Figure 6. Adaptations in cash transfers Vertical expansion (more generous or Increase in both adequacy adequate transfers) Only increase in adequacy and coverage [46 countries, 68 measures] [10 countries, 13 measures] Only coverage increase Admin adaptation [159 countries, 413 [42 countries, 65 measures] measures] Horizontal expansion (coverage scale up) Regions are scaling up cash transfers at different levels and pace. Asia is region with the highest absolute number of beneficiaries of cash transfers coverage, including EAP (first) and SAR (second). The lowest number is registered in Sub-Saharan Africa. In terms of share of the population covered, North America is the highest (22% of the population), while only 2% of Sub-Saharan Africa’s is covered by planned or actual cash transfers reported for Covid-19 (table 3 and figure 7). Table 3. Trends in coverage of cash transfers (million individuals) % of regional population 1.May 8.May 15. May 22. May covered by cash transfers (May 22) AFR 6 19 19 19 2% EAP 100 210 357 357 15% ECA 8 26 26 26 3% LAC 60 73 94 94 15% MNA 36 41 41 41 9% NA 0 0 80 80 22% SAR 200 209 274 298 16% Global 410 577 890 915 12% 6 Figure 7. Number of global cash transfer beneficiaries (left) and by region (right) 1000 400 915 350 357 357 890 900 300 298 274 AFR 800 250 EAP 210 ECA 700 200 200 209 LAC MNA 150 600 577 NA 100 100 SAR 94 94 73 80 80 500 60 50 36 41 41 41 409 26 19 26 19 19 8 6 26 400 0 0 0 1. May 8. May 15. May 22. May 1.May 8.May 15. May 22. May In terms of social insurance, there has been a remarkable uptick in measures recently – now including 254 measures in 124 countries. Among the most popular interventions, unemployment benefits include 77 measures, now higher (for the first time since we track measures) than social security contributions having been waived or subsidized (61 programs). These are followed by 55 paid sick leave measures in 47 countries. Table 4 and the adjacent figure lay out main interventions. N. of N. of Paid sick Table 4. Social insurance program type Unemploymen measures countries support t benefit 22% Paid sick support 55 47 30% Healthcare insurance support 12 12 Healthcar Pension 49 35 e 53 insurance Social security contribution waiver/subsidy 61 support Unemployment benefit 77 62 Pension 5% Total SI programs 254 124 Social security contribution 19% waiver/subsidy 24% The number of labor market interventions includes 126 measures in 79 countries. Wage subsidies continue to dominate those interventions (table 5 and accompanying pie chart), although they lost a few percentage points since last week. Activation measures and labor market regulation adjustments are present in 16 and 21 countries, respectively. Shorter-time work arrangements are adopted in 9 countries. 7 Table 5. Labor markets program type N. of N. of Shorter work measures countries time benefits Wage subsidy 74 64 9% Activation (training) measures 18 16 Labor Labor Regulatory adjustment 23 21 Regulatory adjustment Shorter work time benefits 11 9 18% Total LM programs 126 79 Wage subsidy Activation 59% (training) measures 14% Trends and composition in regional measures vary. ECA has the highest upward trend, with LAC accelerating in recent weeks. Sub-Saharan Africa has been on a steady raise, with North America relatively flat (figure 8). Social assistance accounts for 84% of Africa’s Covid-related response (and 73% in SAR), while the largest share of social insurance appears in North America (50%) and MENA (37%). At almost 20%, East Asia and ECA show the highest share of labor market programs globally (figure 9). The region with the highest share of cash transfers out of its social assistance portfolio is North America (67%), while the same region, in tandem with SAR, has also the largest share of inkind transfers (33%) (figure 10). Figure 8. Regional trends in Covid-related social protection measures 350 ECA, 327 300 250 Number of SP programs LAC, 209 200 EAP, 162 150 AFR, 122 100 MNA, 68 50 SAR, 37 North America, 14 0 27. Mar 3. April 10. April 17. April 24. April 1. May 8. May 15. May 22. May 8 Figure 9. Regional composition in Covid-related social protection measures Social Assistance Social Insurance Labor Markets 100% 4% 11% 10% 7% 5% 18% 13% 90% 12% 19% 22% 80% 21% 37% 27% 70% 25% 50% 35% 60% 50% 40% 84% 68% 73% 30% 56% 60% 53% 47% 43% 20% 10% 0% Figure 10. Regional composition in Covid-related social assistance measures Cash-based (%) In-kind-based (%) Other Social assistance (%) 100% 0% 90% 23% 23% 19% 22% 28% 26% 33% 80% 38% 70% 17% 14% 16% 23% 60% 31% 33% 50% 32% 40% 63% 64% 67% 30% 57% 46% 51% 20% 44% 29% 10% 0% AFR EAP ECA LAC MNA North America SAR Global average Spending in social protection is over half-trillion globally. Countries are spending an average of $45 per capita in social protection COVID-19 response. Our estimates indicate a level slightly higher than half-trillion (541 billion) in US dollars. Importantly, not all countries report on cost figures, and some are planned volumes. The bulk of spending includes universal or quasi-universal cash transfer programs in countries like Japan and the United States. Social assistance spending equals $541.7 billion, $484 of 9 which in HICs. For the moment, LIC are investing $247 million in social assistance, while MICs about $56 billion ($23 billion of which in India). Defined in these terms, the overall global volume of social protection response to COVID-19 is 0.6% of global GDP (nearly $85 trillion). In terms of per capita spending, this ranges from $1 in LICs to $99 in HICs, and from $5 in Africa and MENA to $297 in North America. Table 6. Spending by country income group and regions Social Assistance Social insurance Labor Markets Spending pc # of # of # of countries Spending ($) countries Spending ($) countries Spending ($) $/per capita LIC 9 247,922,606 0 - 0 - 1 LMIC 12 35,369,827,569 3 1,014,126,211 2 1,076,579,479 6 UMIC 25 21,857,864,273 11 12,493,280,113 8 4,699,728,031 24 HIC 17 484,195,027,899 6 2,767,439,265 7 6,030,679,534 99 541,670,642,348 16,274,845,590 11,806,987,044 45 Social Assistance Social insurance Labor Markets Spending pc # of # of # of countries Spending ($) countries Spending ($) countries Spending ($) $/per capita AFR 19 3,376,771,248 1 86,207 2 2,245,495,495 5 EAP 12 140,649,226,658 5 1,191,239,269 6 7,743,990,427 111 ECA 14 74,208,455,182 4 332,951,157 6 1,013,330,007 57 LAC 13 9,538,563,341 6 13,036,568,956 1 260,000,000 33 MNA 3 531,575,000 2 1,709,000,000 2 544,171,114 5 NA 1 290,000,000,000 1 5,000,000 0 - 297 SAR 2 23,366,050,919 0 - 0 - 4 64 541,670,642,348 16,274,845,590 11,806,987,044 45 In terms of “how” countries are implementing social protection programs in response to Covid-19, this edition offers a special feature on emerging delivery practices in relation to cash transfer payments 1. Authorities around the world are promoting the usage of digital payments to conform with social distancing measures. In order to prevent crowding around cash-out points (e.g. ATMs, bank’s branches, non-bank agents) which could increase health risks for the population, authorities are working 1This section was developed by Guillermo Galicia, Nilima Ramteke, Dorothee Delort and Harish Natarajan based on a note prepared by the G2Px cross- GP initiative at the World Bank. 10 with stakeholders to provide incentives for the immediate adoption and usage of digital payments. Policy responses for a wider adoption of digital payments include enabling easier opening of accounts for individuals, onboarding of agents and merchants, increases in transaction limits 2 and fee waivers 3 for digital payments transactions. Several countries have leveraged/ deployed digital payments to deliver emergency Government- to-Person (G2P) programs. The nature and scope of deployment of digital payments for G2P emergency programs depends on the level of development of the digital payment ecosystem and financial inclusion in the country. Countries with robust digital payments ecosystem and high levels of financial inclusion among recipients were able to quickly deploy digital cash transfers. For example, in India, 200 million account holders of the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana program, a financial inclusion program, were able to receive account-based cash transfers as an immediate response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Thailand used the PromptPay system to deliver digital cash transfers. In contrast, in other countries, with low levels of financial inclusion and development of the digital payments ecosystem, authorities have found themselves bound to either hand out cash directly to beneficiaries (Philippines) or exclusively use cash-out points to deliver social assistance payments (Ecuador). Countries with relatively well-developed payments ecosystem, such as Colombia, deployed digital cash transfers in different phases as authorities and stakeholders reinforced their social registries and payments mechanisms 4. In some cases, authorities have deployed non account-based options that leverage digital payment channels. For example, the emergency program for informal workers in Peru uses One-Time-Passwords, that are obtained through a cellphone application that can be used without opening an account, to withdraw money from branches, ATMs and non-bank agents. Jurisdictions delivering cash-only G2P payments are experiencing crowding around cash-out points. In order to avoid this several jurisdictions are moving to account based cash transfers. In the case of Ecuador, beneficiaries of the Bono de Protección Familiar, the emergency G2P program designed by the government, are crowding in at cash-out points even with recent efforts of the government and stakeholders to increase the number of access points and space out payments. Across jurisdictions it is common for some cash-out points to become unavailable due to a variety of reasons: sanitary restrictions, limited operating hours of branches, lack of protective material for employees and customers, lack of liquidity, and staff unavailability due to health concerns. This leads to further crowding at available cash-out points. In response, several jurisdictions are moving to Account-based solutions, where the cash transfer amount is credited into an account in the name of the recipient and maintained with a licensed payment service provider (PSP). The recipient is then able to access the cash transfer at agents, branches and ATMs of the PSP and the digital payment networks in which the PSP participates. Furthermore, the recipient can also directly make digital payments from the account and receive other payments like remittances into the same account. 2 In Albania, Brunei, Egypt, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Nepal, Philippines, Palestine, Pakistan, Portugal, Rwanda and Uganda authorities have withdrawn fees for using electronic payment services, such as electronic transfers and mobile money services. In Cameroon, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Uganda and Zambia private providers are waiving fees to users of mobile payments. 3 Authorities raised transaction limits on digital payments in Bangladesh, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nepal, Rwanda and Uganda. 4 Payment mechanism refers to the combination of characteristics that collectively describe how a person accesses their account, how a payment is made, where and how cash can be accessed from an account. A debit card or prepaid card for example allows accessing the underlying account at ATMs, agents and at merchants using a physical card, in contrast a mobile money service enables accessing an account using mobile phone using an app or SMS/USSD messages and can be used at agents to deposit and withdraw cash and at merchants for making payments and can be used to make transfers. 11 Most account based digital cash transfers use the following three-pronged approach (figure 11). Including the following:  Social protection agencies collect information and create list of beneficiaries using two mechanisms: (i) Add households from existing social registries and (ii) Accept applications on- line and/or with mobile applications (see last week’s review, version May 15).  Authorities use the targeting and enrollment process to either collect information on existing accounts or their preferred choice. In some cases authorities have used analytics to identify if beneficiaries already have an account: In the latter case, financial and social protection authorities work along with relevant stakeholders to identify if beneficiaries possess an account used to receive other cash transfers or an account used for personal purposes. If an account is used to receive any existing cash transfer, then the same account can be used.  Authorities instruct beneficiaries without an existing account to open an account with a PSP: Authorities communicate with beneficiaries through remote channels (e.g. SMS) and either instruct beneficiaries to open an account on a specific PSP or allow the beneficiary to choose the PSP, depending on the country circumstances. Figure 11. General approach for account-based digital cash-transfers Source: World Bank 2020 (forthcoming) Key considerations and policy options for emergency cash-transfer payment solutions. Ideally, recipients should be able to receive their cash transfers in a PSP of their choice and the social protection agency should not have to decide or select the PSP. However, in most countries, authorities have had to assign a set of PSPs due to various reasons (e.g., lack of PSP coverage in certain areas of the country) to ensure a minimum level of service quality and exert control over the entire delivery process. In the current context and particularly for vulnerable segments of the population, such as those in remote and rural areas, there might be no real choice for the recipients. Additionally, in some 12 instances, authorities are guided by considerations of avoiding excessive reliance on a specific PSP. Because of this, authorities chose to empanel a set of PSPs that can be used as a default option. In general, authorities’ criteria to choose empaneled PSP includes the size and reach of their network, interoperability 5 of their payments solution and ability to quickly deploy the program. In some cases, authorities have chosen state-owned banks, for example, in Brazil, the digital cash transfers are carried out through the state-owned bank Caixa. In other jurisdictions, interoperability was a key criterion, which is the case of Jordan, where e-money providers are interoperable through the JoMoPay platform. In some countries, authorities have sought to offer a variety of options based on specific segments of recipients. Most countries chose a single PSP who in turn offers a specific payment mechanism to deploy a specific G2P emergency program. However, some countries have tailored different payments mechanisms to fit needs of different segments of beneficiaries within the same program. In Colombia, for the Ingreso Solidario program, authorities have implemented different types of delivery mechanisms based on specific characteristics of the telecommunications and financial infrastructure available to beneficiaries. For example, beneficiaries with smartphones will be requested to open accounts with PSP that offer payments platforms that can only run on these devices. Beneficiaries with feature phones will be directed to open accounts on providers that offer SMS based platforms 6 and recipients located in remote communities will receive the payment in branches of the state-owned bank with presence in such communities. Social registries, databases and on-line and mobile platforms have become essential to deliver digital G2P emergency payments. Many countries that deployed digital cash transfers have leveraged the information contained in the social registries or collected through on-line and mobile platforms. Usage of the information ranges from prefilling digital forms for account opening (Brazil) to providing beneficiaries’ contact information to authorities, so they can request them to open accounts (Jordan). In this case a successful implementation of digital cash transfers is also a direct function of the quality and completeness of the social registries, databases and on-line and mobile platforms. Data disclosure and protection measures are put in place for identifying existing accounts of beneficiaries’. Authorities are using information available with them to identify recipients who already have existing accounts with PSPs. In such case, regulatory reforms have been enacted to allow the exchange of information and assure the confidentiality and protection of the information. Authorities in Colombia, and recently Peru, established emergency decrees that allow them to access and share with relevant stakeholders critical information such as existing account information. The regulatory provisions require that all parties that participate in the information exchange implement measures to protect the confidentiality of the information, as well as restrict its circulation. For beneficiaries without an existing account, authorities are leveraging adoption of basic accounts as well as simplified and remote account opening processes. Basic accounts are accounts with restricited functionalities and come with caps on the balance amount and transaction limits. These could be held with banks or non-bank providers (referred to as e-money or mobile money). Because of these limitations account opening requierements can be relaxed, which allow for remote and simplified 5 The ability of customers of one PSPto transact with customers of another PSP and at agents, merchants and ATMs of another PSP. Interoperability requires a central infrastructure to which all participating PSPs are connected. The operator of this infrastructure could be the central bank, a consortium of PSPs or a public-private partnership. 6 This type of platforms allows the user to initiate payments or other transactions through the exchange of structured messages using SMS (Short Message Service) / text messages with their PSP. In some cases, a specific service called USSD offered by telecom companies is used, this allows a menu-based interaction between the PSP and its customer. 13 customer due dilligence. For deployment of digital cash transfers, authorities set up or used existing legal and operational framework that allows for using either exclusively or a combination of basic accounts, and remote and simplified customer diligence. Authorities have implemented a set of policy responses to facilitate and increase adoption of this type of digital cash transfers (table 1). Table 7. Examples of policy responses for digital cash transfers Use of Simplified simplified Increased Use of Remote Customer Fee waivers platforms transaction Interoperability basic onboarding Due /reductions (SMS limits accounts Diligence based) Brazil X X X X Colombia X X X X X Jordan X X X X X X Morocco X X X X X X Bangladesh X X X X X X Pakistan X X X Simplified payments platforms are being used to open accounts and make payments. As many beneficiaries’ lack smartphones to run sophisticated payments apps, in some countries, authorities have empaneled PSP that can provide payment platforms that can run on feature phones. In Colombia and Togo, beneficiaries can set up accounts and carry out payments over platforms that run on feature phones. In Peru, non-account digital payments can be accessed through a simplified version of the mobile banking platform, which works through a simple exchange of SMS. In Bangladesh, the existing mobile money services are already available on feature phones. Communication and financial education relevant to the digital payment mechanism are considered essential in jurisdictions delivering cash transfers. Authorities are leveraging remote channels such as digital media and social networks to communicate the processes and steps required to receive cash- based or digital payments. PSPs are creating special resources and communication channels to help setting up and using digital payments. In Jordan, besides the PSPs and the payments infrastructure operator - JoPACC, the central bank is also aiding beneficiaries for setting up and using e-wallets. Further, a demo e-wallet can be accessed by beneficiaries to try the functionalities and build trust. Incentives to increase usage of digital transactions are being included as part of the framework for digital cash transfers and authorities are taking steps to expand acceptance of digital payments. Besides increased transaction limits and fee waivers, other incentives like free mobile connectivity and data charges are being offered. Limited acceptance of digital payments by shops and other establishments where the recipients typically visit, will lead to recipients cashing-out their benefit transfers in full. Acceptance of digital payments remains a challenge in many countries, particularly in remote and rural zones where the cost and technological requirements to deploy payments infrastructure remain high. Approaches like Quick Response code based payments 7 (QR) and mobile phone-based solutions could be relevant in this regard, but they require that a set of preconditions. Some authorities have created initiatives for developing low-cost and simpler acceptance technologies. In India, the National Payments Corporation of India developed a fully on-line and remote process for vendors and merchants onboarding 7 Quick response codes are two-dimensional codes that are machine readable. In payments, they are used to transmit payment instructions by scanning the code with an optical device, such as a camera. 14 for usage of QR payments. The Central Bank of Jordan recently launched a challenge fund that aims to create incentives for providers of e-wallets to acquire merchants that accept digital payments. In addition to the efforts to expand acceptance of digital payments, authorities are also expanding cash-out options. As acceptance of digital payments remains limited and the provision of some essential services can only be paid with cash, authorities are also paying attention to the cash-out options. To alleviate liquidity pressures authorities and avoid concentration of payouts at single locations authorities provide guidance and direct beneficiaries to specific locations to cash-out. Also, authorities have simplified requirements to open new cash-out locations and coordinated with the PSPs to increase the number of cash-out points. In the case of Jordan, beneficiaries can access card-less cash withdrawals from ATMs, and in Ecuador, cash-out points were increased from 3,500 to 10,500 in order to provide a wider number of cash-out options. The first wave of cash transfers highlights the importance of digitizing these payments and developing the digital payments ecosystem. Countries with well developed digital payment ecosystems were able to rapidly scale the G2P programs and offer convenient options for the recipients. Furthermore, it is expected that some authorities may seize this opportunity to put in place the building blocks or accelerate initiatives that were already underway. However, it is important to recall that there are important challenges (e.g. interoperability, acceptance) that are not exclusively related to G2P programs and that need to be addressed to realize digital payments’ benefits. Additionally, authorities must act upon other risks that come from the operation of digital payments, such as ensuring that customer protection measures are in place and that limits, overdrafts and other account-related matters do not impact the ability of the recipient to access the full amount of the cash transfer in line with their needs and context. Digital cash transfers programs that do not address these issues may increase beneficiaries’ costs and exposure to health risks. Also, authorities need to monitor other type of unintended effects, including the effect of policy responses for cash transfers on competition in the payments market. The following case studies will dig deeper into countries’ experiences with payments arrangements in practice. Brazil (based on note produced by Rodrigo Ortiz D’Avila Assumpcao as part of the G2Px initiative) 8 Emergency Aid is a new Cash Transfer Program, approved by congress on April 2, aiming to provide emergency financial protection during the Covid 19 pandemic crisis. The program is operated through Caixa Econômica Federal and will be paid to 54 million beneficiaries and reach above 84 million people. Citizens apply for the cash transfer through mobile and on-line platforms and receive a code that can later be used to open a Digital Social Savings Account. Once the beneficiaries have been selected the payment is disbursed through existing channels for beneficiaries of Bolsa Família (the largest G2P program in Brazil) including cards and accounts opened in Caixa, by direct deposit to new beneficiaries with an existing account in the Bank of Brasil or Caixa, an account registered by beneficiaries during the program enrollment period or through the recently implemented Digital Social Savings Account. Authorities reached an agreement with banks to avoid charging existing debts or overdrafts over the cash transfer. 8 With contributions from Guillermo Galicia Rabadan, Nilima Chhabilal Ramteke and Harish Natarajan. Developed with information as of April 2020. 15 The Digital Social Savings Account is an all-digital account offered by Caixa and beneficiaries can operate it through an app developed by the bank. The account is free and includes free transactions: Two ATM withdrawals per month, three monthly transfers to other banks, unlimited transfers within Caixa and two monthly statements. There are no data charges for downloading and operating the app for 90 days. To open the account, beneficiaries input in the Caixa app their CPF 9 and the code they received after they finalized the application, no other information must be provided by beneficiaries as authorities use information collected through the program application process to conduct the customer due diligence process. As of April 2020, Caixa stated that it has opened more than 10 million Digital Social Savings Accounts. Colombia (based on note produced by Luz Stella Rodriquez, Peter McConaghy and Guillermo Galicia Rabadan as part of the G2Px initiative) 10 An innovative new program to respond to COVID-19 and targeting informal workers, Ingreso Solidario, utilizes recent regulatory modernization supportive of digital financial services to offer the transfer through bank accounts and mobile wallets. As of May 12, 2020, Colombian authorities have been able to reach 1.6 million families through more than 20 financial institutions with the Ingreso Solidario program. A key innovation surrounding Ingreso Solidario is its use of the financial sector to promote digital deployment (via bank accounts and mobile wallets). It also incorporates tiered and remote customer onboarding, data sharing protocols, and leverages recent regulatory modernization towards non-bank payment service provision. 11 The type of account that is used for the program is a simplified account with balance and transaction limits. Data that must be provided for opening simplified accounts include type of ID, ID number, place and date of issue, full name of accountholder, and place and date of birth. A regulatory modification (Decree 518 of 2020) allowed for the exchange of information between Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), banks, and the Government (safeguarded and for the implementation of the program). These characteristics support the program’s dual mandate of addressing immediate consumption needs and financial inclusion. The government saw a unique opportunity for leveraging bank and fintech delivery for low-value emergency payments, including the promotion of account-based deposits. The program design intends to minimize agglomeration and risks to public health, and both improving government efficiency and customer experience. Phase one of the program has already been implemented and reached close to 1.6 million families. The government made account-based payments for those beneficiaries who already owned a bank account through more than 20 financial institutions. Under phase two of the program, which is currently under development, the government is working in collaboration with banks to identify beneficiaries without a bank account. Beneficiaries are contacted by the banks through a SMS and requested to remotely open accounts with simplified customer due diligence through mobile wallets and mobile banking solutions offered by banks and SEDPEs. Mobile solutions are available for smartphones and feature phones, and operation of wallets and mobile banking 9 CPF is the tax number related to citizens and is the de facto main personal identifier in the country. Similar in use to the Social Security Number in the US. 10 Developed with information as of May 15, 2020. 11 Building on Law 1735 of 2014 on Financial Inclusion that enables a simplified financial license for entities specializing in electronic deposits and payments (SEDPEs) to capture public money in electronic demand deposits. 16 can be carried out without data plans. The payment will be deposited in the simplified accounts and beneficiaries will be able to use the functionalities of the mobile applications including person to person transfers, payment of services, such as public services, and cash-outs by obtaining OTPs through the apps. Phase two of the program is expected to reach close to 1,900,000 households who previously did not have access to the formal financial systems (see Figure 1). Beneficiaries located in remote areas will be reached through Banco Agrario branches. Authorities are in the process of designing an identification and payment mechanism for beneficiaries without a cellphone. Ecuador (based on note produced by Veronica Trujillo, Luz Stella Rodriguez and Douglas Randall as part of the G2Px initiative) 12 Due to the Covid-19 emergency, in late March 2020, the government created by Executive Decree 1022 the Bono de Protección Familiar as a response to the COVID-19 crises. This emergency transfer is targeted at vulnerable households, not included in previous programs, whose income is below US$ 503 a month. The Executive Decree explicitly refers to non-wage earners workers or self-employed, registered in the social security system. The total amount to be transferred is US$ 120, in two separate disbursements. The government initially identified 400,000 new beneficiaries and has recently announced that it will be expanded to 550,000 new households. The payment arrangement for the emergency program relies on OTC or cash disbursements. Once MIES identifies the beneficiaries, they transfer their data (name, ID number, and amount to be paid) to a transactional platform, created specifically to facilitate these transfers, called switch concentrador. Seven institutions, known as concentradores, are connected to this platform and each of them has a network of financial institutions (211 in total) delivering the emergency payment. Financial institutions participating in the mechanism include public and private banks and cooperatives. Banecuador – state-owned bank – plays a key role due to its wide geographic coverage. The payment process starts with a desirous beneficiary calling MIES office or accessing the MIES website, to verify their eligibility. To ease the process, beneficiaries are assigned a place and day of payment according to their address and the last digit of their ID. This information is provided via text message or via the dedicated phone line. The last digit of the beneficiary ID defines a range of days when they can claim the payment. For example, if their ID finishes in 1, they could claim the transfer on the 1st, 11th, or 21st day of the month. Beneficiaries visit a specific cash-out point and provide national ID, information from ID is captured and then validated against the switch concentrador. If information is valid, the beneficiary receives the cash payment. MIES has increased substantially the number of points of access available by relaxing rules for the participation of agents, such as the minimum time providing services, reduced to 6 months, or daily liquidity requirements for money agents (decreased to US$ 600). Disbursements were usually delivered through approximately 3,500 points of access, including branches and agent correspondents. This number has increased to more than 10,500 outlets now. 12 With contributions from Guillermo Galicia, Silvia Bauer-Yazbeck and Fiorella Risso. The G2P emergency cash transfer payment solution in Ecuador is evolving in real time. This note includes information as of April 23, 2020. 17 Jordan (based on note produced by Harish Natarajan, Guillermo Galicia and Ragheb Budeiri as part of the G2Px initiative) 13 Jordan declared State of Emergency on March 17th, 2020 through the activation of the defense law, which immediately had an economic effect on vulnerable groups, particularly on daily wage workers. As a response to Covid-19, the government issued the Defense Order no. 9, which provides cash transfers to informal workers whose jobs have been curbed by the Covid-19 crisis. The initiative will reach approximately 200,000 households and deliver an estimated 136 JOD (192 USD) per month for households with three or more members, and JOD 70 (USD 48) for households with two members or less. The payment arrangement is based on the delivery of cash transfers through e-money accounts also referred to e-wallets, which can be opened with any of the seven licensed PSPs. To facilitate this process the Central Bank of Jordan relaxed its current regulations for PSPs by allowing remote e-wallet opening, which can be carried out through simplified Know-Your-Customer requirements. The Central Bank also instructed PSPs to achieve full interoperability through the central JoMoPay switch. Once the National Aid Foundation (NAF), the social protection agency in charge of the program, has identified beneficiaries, they compile a list and provide it to the Jordan Payments & Clearing Company (JoPACC) which operates the JoMoPay switch, to verify if any of the beneficiaries have an active e- wallet in the JoMoPay system. Once beneficiaries with e-wallets have been identified, they are contacted through SMS to confirm if they want to use the existing e-wallet to receive the cash transfer. Beneficiaries without e-wallets are also contacted through an interactive SMS and are requested to choose one PSP to open an e-wallet. Upon selection, NAF sends each PSP a list for their respective beneficiaries and PSPs must assist beneficiaries in the process to open an e-wallet. Before disbursing cash transfers to beneficiaries, authorities confirm the information with JoPACC to avoid any errors in recording beneficiary account information. Beneficiaries can use e-wallets to transfer money and to cash-out from any nearby agents as well as few bank’s ATMs that offer mobile wallet cash-out service. Authorities have made efforts to increase the CICO network and increased access points. The wallet to agent ratio went from 450:1 to 229:1. Authorities have set additional incentives to increase adoption of digital payments, such incentives include increasing the transaction limits for e-wallets o up to 5,000 JOD and reduce interchange fees. Also, the Central Bank of Jordan launched a challenge fund for PSPs, which intends to increase adoption of digital payments at merchants. The PSPs in collaboration with NAF, JoPACC, the Central Bank of Jordan and different international social protection agencies, such as the WFP and UNICEF, provide training sessions, material and communication channels for beneficiaries. Through these channels, beneficiaries can receive information and guidance on how to open and use e-wallets. Pakistan (based on note produced by Amjad Zafar Khan as part of the G2Px initiative) 14 Pakistan's main cash transfer program is administered by the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) - an autonomous organization, established through an Act of the Parliament. It is placed under the 13 With contributions from Anastasiya Denisova, Ghada Waheed Ismail and Alexi Sluchynskyy. This note includes information as of April 2020. 14 With contributions from Gul Najam Jamy. 18 administrative control of the Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Division of the Federal Government. Its programs form an integral part of Government's overall social protection program titled "Ehsaas" (empathy). BISP makes regular transfers of PKR 2,000 per month to about 4.5 million families. Government of Pakistan launched the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program in early April 2020 to address the economic burden placed on the poor and vulnerable, specially daily wage earners, due to the corona virus crisis. The Emergency Cash Program is designed for immediate deployment, using the existing digital payment system of BISP. The target is to disburse PKR 144 billion (about USD 0.9 billion) among 12 million families (PKR 12,000 per family). BISP beneficiaries receive regular cash transfers from Points of Sale (POS) of biometrically enabled branchless banking operations and biometrically enabled ATMs. All new beneficiaries first enroll in the Program by providing their biometrics at nearby payment touch point. They also have the option to ask the concerned bank to open a savings account for them and transfer the cash to the account for later use. To avoid error and fraud, cash is disbursed only after biometric verification of each beneficiary through NADRA. All existing and new beneficiaries receive emergency cash through the existing payment system. However, to increase number of touch points the existing payment mechanism has been enhanced by asking the provincial governments to provide open public spaces for setting up fully secure cash disbursement centers (in addition to existing POS and ATMs). Non-BISP beneficiaries of emergency cash program do not have the option of opening a savings account since they are only being provided a one-time transfer. COVID-specific safety measures (safe distancing, provision of hand-sanitizers, regular cleaning of biometric devices, wearing of masks etc.) have been adopted at all payment points. By April 30, 2020, Government had disbursed PKR 78 billion to 6.4 million beneficiaries across the country. Peru (based on note produced by Fiorella Risso and Douglas Randall as part of the G2Px initiative)15 Peru declared a State of Emergency on March 16th, 2020, initiating a 14-day quarantine period and taking different measures to resolve the health response and in turn reduce the impact on the economy, especially in the vulnerable households. Through the Emergency Decree N 027-2020, the Peruvian Government approved an exceptional transfer of 380 PEN (110 USD) directed to 2.7 million poor and non-extreme poor households, which will be implemented through MIDIS (“Yo me quedo en casa” program). Additionally, on March 27th, 2020, through Emergency Decree No. 033-2020, the Ministry of Labor granted to 780,000 households with self-employed workers who have not benefited from the first subsidy, a transfer of the same amount (380 PEN – “Bono Independiente” program). For the “Yo me quedo en casa” subsidy, the payment has been carried out by the four largest private banks and the state bank of the country. Over 500 000 beneficiaries with an existing account in Banco de la Nación (BN) receive the bono in their accounts. Cash-out was allowed from existing financial institution ATM network with no charges, and BN banking agents as well. In order to ensure liquidity for banking agents, the government has, through the BN, granted credit lines, which were offered to selected agents. The majority of beneficiaries without BN accounts received cash in hand in bank branches showing their ID card. 15 With contributions from Guillermo Galicia, Hugo Brousset, and Veronica Trujillo. The G2P emergency cash transfer payment solution in Peru is evolving in real time. This note includes information as of April 23, 2020. 19 After reviewing eligibility on the online platform adapted by the social protection agency (MIDIS), beneficiaries receive specific information on the disbursement: day, time, bank branch, address. Bank branches have been selected through a geographic localization method which allows people go to the bank branch closest to their home. A staggered payment schedule was used to address the need of minimizing risk of contagion of Covid-19. For the “Bono independiente” program, the Ministry of Labor, together with the National Registry (RENIEC) and BN, have implemented a new platform “Bono independiente” to review eligibility for the subsidy. Beneficiaries’ identity validation is then carried out through RENIEC (ID card number and name). Currently, the only FSP for the disbursement strategy is BN. As for MIDIS payment, beneficiaries with an account in BN received the transfer directly into their accounts. For those who did not have an account, BN opens temporary, limited functionality, mobile accounts linked to the mobile number of the beneficiary. The beneficiary receives a link and code through SMS connecting them to the USSD mobile platform. By inserting the code in the system, the beneficiary can select cash withdrawal options and get their payments from the selected access point. The temporary account allows certain functionalities in relation to payments as well as the partial or total withdrawal of the subsidy. Beneficiaries can also made transfers between BN accounts as well as making payments for basic services. Legal restrictions prevent BN from opening fully functional basic accounts for beneficiaries. About this review This 10th “living paper” edition contributes to the global knowledge on how countries are responding to the pandemic by documenting real-time actions in a key area of response – that is, social protection measures planned or implemented by governments. For the purpose of this review, we organized interventions by social assistance, social insurance and labor market programs. For the latter measures, we deliberately focused on supply-side programs (e.g., mostly wage subsidies and other activation programs). In most cases, data sources include official information published in government websites, while in many cases we reported information from global and national news outlets. In some cases, information was provided directly by country-based experts, while the full database was validated and integrated by regional and country social protection teams at the World Bank and UNICEF. Overall, findings should be considered preliminary, subject to change, and as such interpreted with caution. The information on country-level measures presented in this review is continuously verified, triangulated and enriched, with updated versions being released on a weekly basis (i.e., every Friday) until further notice. This would help provide a “situation room” with a view to inform decisionmakers, practitioners and the broad public about the most recent policy and operational developments in the sphere of social protection responses to COVID-19. The reminder of the note zooms into a country-by-country examination of measures presented in tabular form. The structure by social assistance, insurance, and labor interventions is accompanied by more granular reporting of specific schemes and their summary description. Sources are provided as weblinks in footnotes. This is preceded by an “at a glance” overview of broad categories of programs present across social protection. For information, clarifications, and suggestions about country-level measures, please contact us at ugentilini@worldbank.org, malmenfi@worldbank.org, and pdale@unicef.org. 20 Countries with planned or ongoing social protection responses to COVID-19 as of May 22, 2020 (n=190; gray = no data/measures reported) 21 SOCIAL ASSISTANCE SOCIAL INSURANCE LABOR MARKETS Cash- Utility Pensions In-kind (in- Health Social security Labor Reduced based Public and Paid and Wage Activation Countries kind/school insurance contributions regulation work time transfers Works financial leave/unemployment disability subsidy (training) feeding) support (waiver/subsidy) adjustment subsidy * support benefits Afghanistan ✓ Albania ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Algeria ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Angola ✓ Anguilla (UK) ✓ ✓ Antigua and Barbuda ✓ ✓ Argentina ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Armenia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Aruba ✓ ✓ Australia ✓ ✓ ✓ Austria ✓ ✓ ✓ Azerbaijan ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Bahamas, the ✓ ✓ Bahrain ✓ ✓ ✓ Bangladesh ✓ ✓ ✓ Barbados ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Belarus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Belgium ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Belize ✓ ✓ ✓ Benin ✓ Bermuda ✓ ✓ Bolivia ✓ ✓ ✓ Bosnia & Herzegovina ✓ ✓ ✓ 22 SOCIAL ASSISTANCE SOCIAL INSURANCE LABOR MARKETS Cash- Utility Pensions In-kind (in- Health Social security Labor Reduced based Public and Paid and Wage Activation Countries kind/school insurance contributions regulation work time transfers Works financial leave/unemployment disability subsidy (training) feeding) support (waiver/subsidy) adjustment subsidy * support benefits Botswana ✓ ✓ ✓ Brazil ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ British Virgin Islands ✓ ✓ Brunei Darussalam ✓ Bulgaria ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Burkina Faso ✓ ✓ Cabo Verde ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Cambodia ✓ ✓ ✓ Cameron ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Canada ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Caribbean Netherlands ✓ ✓ Cayman Islands ✓ ✓ ✓ Chad ✓ Chile ✓ ✓ ✓ China ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Code d’lvoire ✓ Colombia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Congo, Dem. Rep ✓ Congo, Rep. ✓ ✓ Cook Island ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Costa Rica ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Croatia ✓ ✓ Cuba ✓ 23 SOCIAL ASSISTANCE SOCIAL INSURANCE LABOR MARKETS Cash- Utility Pensions In-kind (in- Health Social security Labor Reduced based Public and Paid and Wage Activation Countries kind/school insurance contributions regulation work time transfers Works financial leave/unemployment disability subsidy (training) feeding) support (waiver/subsidy) adjustment subsidy * support benefits Curacao ✓ Cyprus ✓ ✓ Czechia ✓ ✓ Denmark ✓ Dominica ✓ Dominican Republic ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Ecuador ✓ ✓ ✓ Egypt ✓ ✓ ✓ El Salvador ✓ ✓ ✓ Equatorial Guinea ✓ Estonia ✓ ✓ ✓ Eswatini ✓ Ethiopia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Fiji ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Finland ✓ ✓ France ✓ ✓ Gabon ✓ ✓ Gambia, The ✓ Georgia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Germany ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Ghana ✓ ✓ ✓ Gibraltar ✓ Greece ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Grenada ✓ ✓ ✓ Guatemala ✓ ✓ ✓ 24 SOCIAL ASSISTANCE SOCIAL INSURANCE LABOR MARKETS Cash- Utility Pensions In-kind (in- Health Social security Labor Reduced based Public and Paid and Wage Activation Countries kind/school insurance contributions regulation work time transfers Works financial leave/unemployment disability subsidy (training) feeding) support (waiver/subsidy) adjustment subsidy * support benefits Guernsey ✓ ✓ ✓ Guinea ✓ ✓ Guinea- Bissau ✓ ✓ Haiti ✓ ✓ ✓ Honduras ✓ Hong-Kong ✓ ✓ Hungary ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Iceland ✓ ✓ ✓ India ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Indonesia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Iran ✓ ✓ Iraq ✓ ✓ Ireland ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Israel ✓ Italy ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Jamaica ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Japan ✓ ✓ ✓ Jordan ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Kazakhstan ✓ ✓ Kenya ✓ ✓ ✓ Kosovo ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Kuwait ✓ Kyrgyz Republic ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Latvia ✓ ✓ Lebanon ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 25 SOCIAL ASSISTANCE SOCIAL INSURANCE LABOR MARKETS Cash- Utility Pensions In-kind (in- Health Social security Labor Reduced based Public and Paid and Wage Activation Countries kind/school insurance contributions regulation work time transfers Works financial leave/unemployment disability subsidy (training) feeding) support (waiver/subsidy) adjustment subsidy * support benefits Lesotho ✓ Liberia ✓ ✓ Libya ✓ Liechtenstein ✓ Lithuania ✓ ✓ ✓ Luxembourg ✓ ✓ ✓ Madagascar ✓ ✓ ✓ Malawi ✓ Malaysia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Maldives ✓ ✓ ✓ Mali ✓ ✓ Malta ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Mauritania ✓ Mauritius ✓ ✓ Mexico ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Micronesia, Fed. Sts. ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Moldova ✓ ✓ ✓ Monaco ✓ ✓ Mongolia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Montenegro ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Montserrat (UK) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Morocco ✓ ✓ ✓ Mozambique ✓ ✓ Myanmar ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Namibia ✓ ✓ 26 SOCIAL ASSISTANCE SOCIAL INSURANCE LABOR MARKETS Cash- Utility Pensions In-kind (in- Health Social security Labor Reduced based Public and Paid and Wage Activation Countries kind/school insurance contributions regulation work time transfers Works financial leave/unemployment disability subsidy (training) feeding) support (waiver/subsidy) adjustment subsidy * support benefits Nepal ✓ ✓ ✓ Netherlands ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ New Zealand ✓ ✓ ✓ Niger ✓ Nigeria ✓ ✓ ✓ North Macedonia ✓ ✓ ✓ Northern Mariana Islands ✓ ✓ Norway ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Pakistan Panama ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Papua New Guinea ✓ Paraguay ✓ ✓ Peru ✓ ✓ Philippines ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Poland ✓ ✓ ✓ Portugal ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Qatar ✓ ✓ Romania ✓ ✓ ✓ Russia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Rwanda ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Saint Lucia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Samoa ✓ ✓ ✓ Sao Tome and Principe ✓ 27 SOCIAL ASSISTANCE SOCIAL INSURANCE LABOR MARKETS Cash- Utility Pensions In-kind (in- Health Social security Labor Reduced based Public and Paid and Wage Activation Countries kind/school insurance contributions regulation work time transfers Works financial leave/unemployment disability subsidy (training) feeding) support (waiver/subsidy) adjustment subsidy * support benefits Saudi Arabia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Senegal ✓ ✓ Serbia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Seychelles ✓ Sierra Leone ✓ Singapore ✓ ✓ Sint Maarten (Dutch part) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Slovak Republic ✓ ✓ ✓ Slovenia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Solomon Islands ✓ Somalia ✓ South Africa ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ South Korea ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ South Sudan ✓ Spain ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Sri Lanka ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ St Kitts and Nevis ✓ ✓ St. Vincent and the Grenadines ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Sudan ✓ Suriname ✓ ✓ Sweden ✓ ✓ Switzerland ✓ ✓ 28 SOCIAL ASSISTANCE SOCIAL INSURANCE LABOR MARKETS Cash- Utility Pensions In-kind (in- Health Social security Labor Reduced based Public and Paid and Wage Activation Countries kind/school insurance contributions regulation work time transfers Works financial leave/unemployment disability subsidy (training) feeding) support (waiver/subsidy) adjustment subsidy * support benefits Taiwan ✓ Tajikistan ✓ Thailand ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Timor-Leste ✓ ✓ Togo ✓ ✓ Tonga ✓ ✓ ✓ Trinidad and Tobago ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Tunisia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Turkey ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Turks and Caicos islands ✓ ✓ Tuvalu ✓ ✓ Uganda ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ UK ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Ukraine ✓ ✓ United Arab Emirates ✓ ✓ ✓ Uruguay ✓ ✓ ✓ US ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Uzbekistan ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Vanuatu ✓ ✓ Venezuela ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Vietnam ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ West Bank and Gaza ✓ Zambia ✓ ✓ 29 SOCIAL ASSISTANCE SOCIAL INSURANCE LABOR MARKETS Cash- Utility Pensions In-kind (in- Health Social security Labor Reduced based Public and Paid and Wage Activation Countries kind/school insurance contributions regulation work time transfers Works financial leave/unemployment disability subsidy (training) feeding) support (waiver/subsidy) adjustment subsidy * support benefits Zimbabwe ✓ 30 Countries and territories 1. Afghanistan 36. Chad 76. Honduras 115. Monaco 152. Singapore 2. Albania 37. Chile 77. Hong-Kong 116. Montenegro 153. Sint Maarten 3. Algeria 38. China 78. Hungary 117. Montserrat (UK) 154. Slovakia 4. Angola 39. Côte d’lvoire 79. Iceland 118. Morocco 155. Slovenia 5. Anguilla (UK) 40. Colombia 80. India 119. Mozambique 156. Solomon Islands 6. Antigua and Barbuda 41. Congo, Dem. Rep. 81. Indonesia 120. Myanmar 157. Somalia 7. Argentina 42. Congo, Rep. 82. Iran 121. Namibia 158. South Africa 8. Armenia 43. Cook Island 83. Iraq 122. Nepal 159. South Korea 9. Aruba (Netherlands) 44. Costa Rica 84. Ireland 123. Netherlands 160. South Sudan 10. Australia 45. Croatia 85. Israel 124. New Zealand 161. Spain 11. Austria 46. Cuba 86. Italy 125. Niger 162. Sri Lanka 12. Azerbaijan 47. Curaçao (Netherlands) 87. Jamaica 126. Nigeria 163. Sudan 13. Bahamas 48. Cyprus 88. Japan 127. Northern Mariana 164. Suriname 14. Bahrain 49. Czechia 89. Jordan Islands (U.S) 165. Sweden 15. Bangladesh 50. Denmark 90. Kazakhstan 128. North Macedonia 166. Switzerland 16. Barbados 51. Dominica 91. Kenya 129. Norway 167. Tajikistan 17. Belarus 52. Dominican Republic 92. Kosovo 130. Pakistan 168. Taiwan 18. Belgium 53. Ecuador 93. Kuwait 131. Panama 169. Thailand 19. Belize 54. Egypt 94. Kyrgyz Republic 132. Papua New Guinea 170. Timor Leste 20. Benin 55. El Salvador 95. Latvia 133. Paraguay 171. Togo 21. Bermuda (UK) 56. Equatorial Guinea 96. Lebanon 134. Peru 172. Tonga 22. Bolivia 57. Estonia 97. Lesotho 135. Philippines 173. Trinidad and Tobago 23. Bosnia & Herzegovina 58. Eswatini 98. Liberia 136. Poland 174. Tunisia 24. Botswana 59. Ethiopia 99. Libya 137. Portugal 175. Turkey 25. Brazil 60. Fiji 100. Liechtenstein 138. Qatar 176. Turks and Caicos Islands 26. British Virgin Islands 61. Finland 101. Lithuania 139. Romania (UK) (UK) 62. France 102. Luxembourg 140. Russia 177. Tuvalu 27. Brunei Darussalam 63. Gabon 103. Madagascar 141. Rwanda 178. UAE 28. Bulgaria 64. Gambia, The 104. Malawi 142. Saint Lucia 179. Uganda 29. Burkina Faso 65. Georgia 105. Maldives 143. Saint Kitts and Nevis 180. UK 30. Cabo Verde 66. Germany 106. Malaysia 144. Saint Vincent and the 181. Ukraine 31. Cambodia 67. Ghana 107. Mali Grenadines 182. Uruguay 32. Cameroon 68. Gibraltar (UK) 108. Malta 145. Samoa 183. USA 33. Canada 69. Greece 109. Mauritania 146. Sao Tome and 184. Uzbekistan 34. Caribbean 70. Grenada 110. Mauritius Principe 185. Vanuatu (Netherlands) 71. Guatemala 111. Mexico 147. Saudi Arabia 186. Venezuela 35. Cayman Islands (UK) 72. Guernsey (UK) 112. Micronesia 148. Senegal 187. Vietnam 73. Guinea 113. Moldova 149. Serbia 188. West Bank and Gaza 74. Guinea-Bissau 114. Mongolia 150. Seychelles 189. Zambia 75. Haiti 151. Sierra Leone 190. Zimbabwe 31 (back to the top) fits e ns t le a v men mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure ime n ad con nt & s b e sfer t d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Afghanistan ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions Social In-kind transfers Assistance • On April 29, the government started providing free bread to about 2.5 Food, vouchers, others million needy and poor people in Kabul, and plan to extend to other cities 16 17 School feeding Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions 16 https://www.imf.org/en/Topics/imf-and-covid19/Policy-Responses-to-COVID-19 17 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-afghanistan-food/afghanistan-distributes-free-bread-as-prices-soar-amid-coronavirus-idUSKBN22H1A4 32 Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 33 (back to the top) its eave ions time ment enef rt ibut a id l ppo just ity b s ontr P e su sure n ad & l sabi s ity c sfer ent ranc lic W ers mea latio ork vers y & di rks b si d oym Tran f ecur an s n su dw egu ion o a i s e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Albania ● ● ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • Recipients of Ndihma Economike (flagship cash transfer program) will receive double the amount of benefit (vertical expansion) Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) • Self-employed families will receive a special benefit equivalent to a state-set monthly salary (new) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions Social In-kind transfers Assistance • Council of Ministers Decision No 236, date 19.3.2020, ‘On providing home assistance to persons in need during the Covid-19 epidemic’ establishes additional responsibilities to government institutions in Food, vouchers, others order to ensure home delivery to the persons in need (elderly, disabilities, recipients of economic assistance etc.) of food, medical products and other services. School feeding Public works • Decision No. 58 date 26.3.2020 of the Energy Regulatory Authority, Utility waivers providing relaxed and exceptional procedures on metering the 34 consumed electricity during the Covid-19 emergency (admin adaptation) • Normative Act No.3, date 15.3.2020, ‘On special administrative measures during the Covid-19 infection period’. The act allows individuals/businesses (up to 14 million ALL turnover)/students to postpone the property/premises/house rental payments for two months (April and May) (admin adaptation) Paid sick leave Health insurance • Council of Ministers Decision No 263, date 30.3.2020, ‘On indexing of pensions’ increases (indexing) by 2.3 percent the pensions, establishing also the new limits – minimum cc 14 thousands ALL and maximum cc Pensions 28 thousands ALL (per month), plus compensations for the lower levels. Estimated budget impact is cc 2.1 billion ALL. • Unemployed people will receive double the unemployment benefit.18 • Council of Ministers Decision No 254 date 27.3.2020 (amended) ‘On the procedures for the financial support to the employees of Social businesses with turnover up to 14 million ALL, economic support and Insurance unemployment benefits due to the Covid-19’ (aka first financial package). This financial package, cc. 6.4 billion ALL supports: - Businesses with annual turnover up to 14 million ALL, closed down as a result of the imposed restrictions on Unemployment benefits businesses (closed down): - All the employees in these businesses receive a payment equal to the minimal wage (26 thousands ALL) over the duration of restrictions. - Individuals with annual personal income over 2 million ALL are not eligible to receive such support. - Economic assistance (Ndihma Ekonomike) received by the eligible individuals would be doubled in amount during the Covid-19 situation. 18 https://exit.al/2020/03/qeveria-pagese-direkte-per-te-vetepunesuarit-sa-2-here-rroga-e-deklaruar-dyfishon-pagesat-e-ndihmes-ekonomike-dhe-papunesis/ 35 - Unemployment assistance received by the eligible individuals would be doubled in amount over the duration of the Covid-19 situation. • Council of Ministers Decision No. 305, date 16.4.2020, ‘On the procedures for the financial support to the actual employees and the unemployed due to Covid-19’ (aka second financial package). The financial package, cc 7 billion ALL, supports with: - 40.000 ALL as lump sum for all the employees (formally employed at the time) in enterprises with annual turnover higher than 14 million, closed down by the imposed government restrictions. - 40.000 ALL as lump sum for all the employees dismissed during the period until April 10th (starting from the time the restrictions applied) in all enterprises allowed to operate by the government restrictions. - 40.000 ALL as lump sum for all the employees (formally employed at the time) in enterprises with annual turnover up to 14 million, allowed to operate by the government restrictions, with the exception of certain activities (lawyers, notaries, food industry, pharmaceuticals, etc.) - 40.000 ALL as lump sum for all the employees (formally employed at the time) in all accommodation structures active at the start of the emergency. • Council of Ministers Decision No 13, date 22.4.2020, ‘On amendments to Council of Ministers Decision No. 305, date 16.4.2020, ‘On the procedures for the financial support to the actual employees and the unemployed due to Covid-19’. This decision supports with: - The lump sum amount of 40.000 ALL for every employee of the Ballsh Refinery. - Economic assistance by 16.000 ALL per person for all the applicants of the economic assistance (NE) since July 2019, which have not received any economic assistance until April 2020. 36 Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 37 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Algeria ● ● ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • To avoid crowding in post offices, beneficiaries (1M) can receive Solidarity Allowance benefits at any time without a specific deadline (in normal circumstances on the 30th/31st of the month the uncollected benefits to beneficiaries is automatically returned to the Social Development Agency). (admin adaptation) Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) • The President decided to allocate a benefit of 10000 Algerian Dinars (79 USD) to cover Ramadhan expenses for the poor families impacted Social by the Covid19. The President urged the Government to identify the Assistance beneficiaries. 19 (new) One-off cash transfers Childcare support • To reduce exposition risk for elderlies, a proxy letter can be delivered to another person to receive pensions/benefits in place of the Social pensions beneficiary (for retirees, old persons receiving cash transfers, etc.). (admin adaptation) 19 http://www.aps.dz/societe/104006-une-allocation-de-10-000-da-pour-les-familles-necessiteuses-et-celles-affectees-par-le-coronavirus 38 In-kind transfers • In-kind distribution campaign of food and hygiene items to the most vulnerable families, including those living in isolated areas and Food, vouchers, others impacted by the lockdown School feeding Public works Utility waivers • Paid leave for 50% of employees (temporary); Paid leave for all pregnant women, and for women who take care of children, of Paid sick leave persons with chronic diseases and health vulnerabilities (temporary) 20 Health insurance • To reduce exposition risk for elderlies, a proxy letter can be delivered Social Insurance to another person to receive pensions/benefits in place of the Pensions beneficiary (for retirees, old persons receiving cash transfers, etc.). Unemployment benefits • Expanded coverage of social security to deliveries in private maternal Social security contributions health facilities (permanent) 21 Activation measures Labor market regulations Labor Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 20 https://www.joradp.dz/FTP/JO-FRANCAIS/2020/F2020015.pdf 21 https://www.joradp.dz/FTP/JO-FRANCAIS/2020/F2020016.pdf 39 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw & egu ion o s e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Angola ● Cash-based transfers • As part of a package of social protection responses, the Ministry of Social Affairs, Family, and Women’s Promotion (MASFAMU) announced that the Child Grant implemented in Bie, Moxico, and Uige provinces will be topped up (from 3000 to 5000 Kwanzas, or Cash transfers approximately US$6 to US$10 monthly) and a double payment will be (conditional and unconditional) made. The government has also adapted the payment procedures to ensure adequate sanitation and worker protection during the Social transfers. (top up and extra payment) Assistance One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave Social Health insurance Insurance Pensions 40 Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 41 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Anguilla (UK) ● ● Cash-based transfers • For those that do not qualify for the Unemployment Benefit offered by the social security system, the Government will provide support direct financial support of up to EC$800 (US$296) per month, payable at the end of every month for a period of 3 months beginning Cash transfers 30th April 2020. (new) (conditional and unconditional) • As well as vertical and horizontal expansion of public assistance Social programme.22 (vertical and horizontal expansion) Assistance One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works Utility waivers 22 http://www.gov.ai/documents/2020%20Budget%20Address.pdf 42 Paid sick leave Health insurance Pensions • Reintroduction of a temporary unemployment benefit to cater to the Social unemployed and underemployed through the social security system. Insurance The temporary unemployment assistance benefit through the Social Unemployment benefits Security Board will provide financial assistance of up to EC$1,000.00 (US$370) per month, to contributors to the fund whose jobs and wages have been severely impacted by the pandemic.23 Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 23 http://www.gov.ai/documents/2020%20Budget%20Address.pdf 43 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Antigua and Barbuda ● ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers • Relief packages will be made available to single-parent and no-income (conditional and unconditional) households, with further details of that package to be disclosed24. One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions Social In-kind transfers Assistance • The Ministry of Social Transformation is providing relief packages of food and medication to elderly living alone, persons with disabilities, Food, vouchers, others and unemployed adults with children.25 School feeding Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave Social Health insurance Insurance Pensions 24 https://antiguaobserver.com/government-to-provide-relief-packages-to-some-families/ 25 https://www.facebook.com/675762122516480/videos/221429098944378/ 44 Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 45 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Argentina ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • Argentina has instituted an Increase in money transfers, equivalent to an additional payment of the Universal Child Allowance (AUH) and the Universal Pregnancy Allowance for $3,100 Argentine pesos (US$47) for 4.3 million people (Total: $14 billion Argentine pesos or US$215 million). 26 (vertical expansion) • The government introduced the Emergency Family Income (Ingreso Familiar de Emergencia) (non-contributory). A lump sum payment of Social $10,000 (US$155) provided for the month of April to one member of Cash transfers Assistance the family. The total number of expected beneficiaries: 3.6 million (conditional and unconditional) families including; - Informal workers - “Monotributistas” of category A and B - Domestic workers (all new) • There will be an extraordinary bonus of $3,000 Argentine pesos (US$45) for the people who receive social programs (565,000 people). (vertical expansion) 26 https://www.lanacion.com.ar/economia/quienes-cuando-cobraran-bono-extraordinario-anunciado-anses-nid2344443 46 One-off cash transfers Childcare support • Beneficiaries of the non-contributory system (including those from Pension Universal para el Adulto Mayor, PUAM): 1,597,100 people Social pensions beginning April. Cost estimated at 4.7B pesos. In-kind transfers • The Ministry of Social Development ruled that families who have not yet received the food support can card (Tarjeta de alimentar) receive the value of this amount through the Universal Child Allowance (AUH), a temporary measure that is part of a series of provisions to strengthen food policies, after Social, preventive and compulsory isolation be decreed for the entire population until March 31. The plan is to deliver more than 1,500,000 cards (2,800,000 recipients). 27 To date the food card has reached 1,100,000 people, with nearly 400,000 households will receive this additional amount through the AUH until they receive their food support card. Food, vouchers, others • In order to guarantee supply and control the abuse of prices during the health emergency, the Ministry of Productive Development ordered that from March 20 and for 30 days, the Basic food basket prices, beverages, toiletries and cleaning will maintain, at most, the price they had as of March 6. The measure covers hypermarkets, retail and wholesale supermarkets, mini-markets, warehouses and self- services 28 • The government is distributing the remaining school feeding food School feeding stocks as take-home rations. 29 Public works 27 https://agenciapais.com/2020/03/20/quienes-aun-no-recibieron-la-tarjeta-alimentar-recibiran-el-dinero-por-medio-de-la-auh/ 28 https://www.boletinoficial.gob.ar/detalleAviso/primera/227052/20200320 29 https://cdn.wfp.org/2020/school-feeding-map/ 47 • To guarantee the basic rights of Argentines, the Government has prohibited the eviction of persons renting accommodation until the 30th September. Simultaneously, all rental contracts are extended until the same date regardless of current expiration of date. In turn, the freezing of the price of the rental contracts is provided, and the amount corresponding to the month of March of the current year must be paid until September 30th. 30 • The government has ruled that key utilities such as energy, gas and water - as well as telecommunication, internet and television services cannot be suspended during the crisis even if 3 consecutive or alternate bill payments are missed. The measure will govern for 180 Utility waivers days and includes users who are holders of the AUH and AUE, retirees and pensioners, those who receive unemployment insurance, and other groups. 31 • To guarantee the basic rights of Argentines, the Government has prohibited the eviction of persons renting accommodation until the 30th September. Simultaneously, all rental contracts are extended until the same date regardless of current expiration of date. In turn, the freezing of the price of the rental contracts is provided, and the amount corresponding to the month of March of the current year must be paid until September 30th. 32 • Paid leave for adults over 60 years old, pregnant women and people with health conditions that present a risk (until the quarantine declaration on 3/20 when the leave was extended to all workers who are not in the excepted sectors: health, production, distribution and Social Paid sick leave sale of food Insurance and hygiene items and pharmacy, among others) • Paid leave for all workers, public and private, who have dependent sons and daughters and must attend to care needs due to the 30 https://www.argentina.gob.ar/coronavirus/medidas-gobierno 31 https://www.boletinoficial.gob.ar/detalleAviso/primera/227120/20200325 32 https://www.argentina.gob.ar/coronavirus/medidas-gobierno 48 emergency (until the declaration of quarantine on 03/20 when the leave was extended to all workers who are not in the excepted sectors: health, production, distribution and sale of food and hygiene items and pharmacy, among others. Health insurance • Beneficiaries of the contributory system: those who receive the minimum pension (15,892 pesos) will receive an additional 3,000 pesos for April only. This concerns 2,774,465 beneficiaries and an expenditure estimated at 8.3B pesos. Beneficiaries who receive a Pensions pension of more than 15,892 pesos and up to 18,892 pesos will receive an additional benefit equal to the difference to reach 18,892 pesos. This affects 277,252 beneficiaries and with an expenditure estimated at 416M pesos. • Emergency Work Assistance Program envisaging the following benefits: Unemployment benefits - A comprehensive unemployment benefits system: the workers who meet the requirements will receive an economic unemployment benefit. • Emergency Work Assistance Program envisaging the following benefits: - Postponement or reduction of 95% of the payment of contributions employers to the Argentine Integrated Social Social security contributions Security System. - Compensatory Salary Allowance: Allowance paid by the State for all workers and female workers in the private sectors for companies up 100 workers. Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time 49 • See the Emergency Assistance Program for Work above. The allocation amount will be determined according to the following parameters: - For employers with up to 25 workers: 100% of the gross salary, Wage subsidies with a maximum value of 1 current Minimum Wage. - For the employers of 26-60 workers: 100% of gross salary, with a maximum value of up to 75% of the current Minimum Wage.. - For the employers of 61-100: 100% of gross salary, with a maximum value of up to 50% of the current Minimum Wage 50 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Armenia ● ● ● ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • The government will provide $60M as extra social assistance payments. 33 Specifically, the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (MLSA) is planning a 3-months emergency benefit (54,000 AMD = $108) to households registered in the Family Benefit Program, but not yet receiving it (about 20,000 households). • MLSA and SRC (State Revenue Committee) are closely cooperating to provide cash payments to those who sent to mandatory leave and/or Social Cash transfers being laid off (about 70,000 registered employees) (new). Assistance (conditional and unconditional) • On 25 and 30 March the Government approved a comprehensive action plan to counter the adverse coronavirus impact and several measures to offset its economic and social consequences with a total envelope of at least 300M USD. These included: - Assistance to families with children under 14, who face bottlenecks due to the shrinking labor market (formal employees (with certain criteria) released from work after March 13, 100,000 AMD (US$201) lump sum payment for every child)). 33 https://www.azatutyun.am/a/30495643.html 51 - Support to persons in formal employment (receiving less that 500,000 AMD for the past two months) who lost their job after 13 March in the amount of monthly minimum wage. - Support to pregnant women who are not employed until 30 March and whose husband lost the job after 13 March in the amount of a 100,000 AMD (US$201) lump sum payment. - Support to hired workers and individual entrepreneurs (formal employment) in Armenia’s private sector most affected by the spread of coronavirus, specifically, in hotel and hostel, public catering, tourism, barber shops and beauty parlors, retail trade. . This was expanded to cover also hired workers and individual entrepreneurs from the following sectors: ground transport operations (route transport); preschool institutions (private kindergartens); sporting activities (sports clubs, swimming pools); entertainment and other leisure activities. The amounts would range between 68,000 and 136,000 AMD. (US$137-274). 34 (all new) • On 13 and 14 April, the Government announced a new package of measures, which include: - Support package number 9 (social) - Beneficiary: Family with a child aged 0-18, where both parents do not have a registered job as of March 12, 2020, and no part-time or full-time work from March 12-March 31.This was expanded to cover parents, who were as of March 12, 2020, in child care leave for children under the age of 3 - Support type: lump-sum assistance for each child in the amount of AMD 26,500 (about 55 USD). - Basic conditions: the children and at least one of the parents reside in the Republic of Armenia, the family is not eligible for a family benefit; at least one of the parents did not have a job with a 34 https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1010183.html 52 monthly salary of over 500,000 drams before March 1, 2020. (all new) • Support package No 13: One-time assistance at the rate of 50% of the amount of the social benefit or family benefit for those families enrolled in the family benefit system and eligible as of April 2020. There is no need to apply. 70% of the assistance will be available as a cash payment in addition to the amount of the family allowance for April; the balance of 30% will be transferred to the utility operator on behalf of the subscriber of electricity. If the beneficiary has a debt, the funds will be used to settle the arrears. In the absence of overdue bills, they will come as a prepayment for services. If the beneficiary is not an electricity subscriber, this part of the funds shall be offered to the beneficiary as a cash payment. For example, if a family receives an average family benefit of 31,350 AMD (app. 66 USD), then 21,945 AMD (46.2 USD) would go as top-up cash payment and 9,405 AMD (19.8 USD) for electricity (or if no electricity, then also as cash). (new) • Support package No 14: three different options of assistance for students. 1) semester tuition fees for Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD students with a GPA of 90 or more and in graduate course of the existing system of state universities will be 100% paid by the Government. Semester tuition fees for non-graduate students with a GPA of 90 or more will be paid 75 percent. Graduate students who do not have a tuition fee debt may turn down the assistance, or receive the amount if it has been paid by an individual. And if the graduating student's fee is paid through a student loan, the money will be directed to pay the loan. 2) the procedure for providing student loans will be simplified. Interest rates on current and new loans for students with a GPA of more than 80 will be zeroed for 2020, including for the students at state-accredited universities; 3) Loan interest rates for students with a GPA less than 80 will be subsidized by 5%; that is, loans will be available at 4 percent. (new) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers 53 • MLSA in collaboration with the Armenian Red Cross will provide between one and three food and hygiene packages to 1,400 citizens. The packages will mainly go to elderly people living alone and people with disabilities, including Syrian-Armenian refugees and people in social housing. The initiative is funded from the State budget, while the Food, vouchers, others Int’l Red Cross provides volunteers. Also, MLSA is planning the provision of food packages and other protective measures for 2 months to about 90,000 households (including 50+ year old unemployed and people with disabilities). School feeding • Support package 15: The program aims to create temporary jobs for socially vulnerable groups in the agricultural sector while tackling environmental problems through a reforestation program protecting the riverbed from erosion and floods. Those hired will plant local willow Public works tree cuttings along several rivers in the country as well as fencing off the planted areas. The minimum daily salary of AMD 10,000 has been calculated per person (21 USD), accepting as a basis the calculation that 200 trees can be planted on a daily basis (50 AMD per tree (0.10 USD)). • The Public Services Regulatory Commission has recognized the coronavirus as force majeure when utility payments can be delayed without the consequence of light, water or gas outages. • The government will reimburse 50% of the February expenditures on natural gas and electricity for those consumers whose gas and electricity bills did not pass 10,000 AMD (about 21 USD) and 5,000 AMD (about 10 USD) respectively. The government will reimburse 30% Utility waivers of the February expenditures on natural gas and electricity for those consumers whose for gas and electricity bills were 10,001-30,000 AMD (about 21-62 USD) and 5,001-10,000 AMD (about 10-21 USD) respectively. These transfers will be automatic and universal, with no obligation to apply. • Government covers 30% of the citizens’ electricity and gas bills for February if 5001-10.000 AMD and 10.0001-30.000 AMD respectively. If already paid the bill for February they will receive the 54 reimbursement. Beneficiaries: 280.000 households. No application needed, the procedure is done automatically. • PSRC declared COVID19 force major which let beneficiaries to pay the utilities March 15-May 15 in June with no disruption risks.. • Support package 16: lump-sum assistance to beneficiaries for utilities. 30% for natural gas, if the bill was between 30,001-40,000 AMD (February), 50% for electricity, if the bill was between 10,001-25,000 AMD (February) and 50% for drinking water/drainage service for up to 3000 AMD (March). Paid sick leave Health insurance • All pensioners who receive their pensions in cash will not need to go to Social the post office and will have their pensions delivered to them by Pensions Insurance HayPost (Nationwide Postal Office) employees. (admin adaptation) Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor market regulations Reduced work time • A total of $50M will be allocated to firms in the form of partial reimbursement of loans taken to cover the salaries of their workers. MLSA proposed amendment to the Labor Code to allow employees to Labor receive compensation from employers equal to the minimal hourly Markets rate (409 AMD) set for the minimum wage (68,000AMD), flexible Wage subsidies working hours, etc. - Government pays 49.000 business entities who have 2-50 employees 20% of the overall monthly salary fund. Once the personal income statement is submitted online by the company her, they can receive the refund within 5 days. 55 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Aruba (Netherlands) ● ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social Social pensions Assistance In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contribution Activation measures Labor • Flexibility with the working hours based on the individual needs to be Markets Labor market regulations proven by every company. Employees retain the right to receive payment for the hours they have worked, this in mutual agreement 56 between employer and employee. The Government urges companies to maintain working agreements active; it is recommended to grant paid vacation before going over to reduce working hours while still keeping five vacation days as a buffer. Noncompliance with any of the above-mentioned conditions and failing to prove financial reasons to terminate working agreements will result in the layoff permit submitted, not being granted. • Introduction of a flexibility package for 3 months effective April 1, including an Emergency Social Assistance Fund (FASE) 35 to avoid mass employment termination due to the Coronavirus. Government has also allowed businesses to reduce working hours to 0 or pay employees for the hours worked. FASE assists those who have been laid off or lost income due to the Coronavirus; been sent home without payment; seen their income reduced to less than Afl. 950 (US$528) monthly; or have been laid off 36. To qualify, employers must: Reduced work time - Pay the March 2020 payroll as usual. - Present a detailed plan on how they are going to tackle the financial consequences of the Coronavirus crisis, keeping the workers' interest in mind. - Prove their willingness to be flexible with the working hours of their employees partially before abruptly reducing working hours completely. Failing to meet these requirements will disqualify employers from the relief being offered and the employees retain all the rights to claim their income with their employer. Wage subsidies 35 http://www.gobierno.aw/news/news_47033/item/flexibility-package-for-covid-19-crisis_48794.html 36 http://www.gobierno.aw/news/news_47033/item/procedure-for-the-emergency-funds-for-social-assistance-fase_48785.html 57 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Australia ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • In Australia, as part of a mitigation and stimulus package, the Government released two economic support stimulus packages. In the first package, there will be a one-time cash payment to all those on the basic government pension and those receiving youth allowances, family tax benefits, disability support and carer payments of AUD 750 per person (around USD 455), to around 6.6 million people (roughly one-quarter of the population) and costing AUD 4.8 billion (USD 2.9 Social Cash transfers billion) in total. In the second package, the government announced a Assistance (conditional and unconditional) time-limited coronavirus supplement to be paid at a rate of AUD 550 per fortnight (around USD 330) to recipients of Jobseeker payment, parenting payment, youth allowances and other payment types. The Newly Arrived Residents Waiting Period for recent migrants was temporarily waived for eligible recipients. 37 This supplement will be in place for the next six months at a cost of AUD 14.1bn (USD 8.5bn). 38 (new) 37 https://www.dss.gov.au/about-the-department/coronavirus-covid-19-information-and-support 38 https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-03/Overview-Economic_Response_to_the_Coronavirus.pdf 58 • The Tasmananian State Government will provide a one-off emergency relief payment of $250 for individuals and up to $1,000 for families who are required to self- quarantine. This will be available to informal casual workers and those on low incomes 39. (new) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave Health insurance • The government is allowing individuals affected by the Coronavirus to access up to $10,000 of their superannuation in 2019-20 and a further $10,000 in 2020-21. Eligible individuals (including unemployed individuals on temporary work visas) will be able to apply online to access up to $10,000 of their superannuation before 1 July 2020. They will also be able to access up to a further $10,000 from 1 July 2020 Social Pensions for approximately 3 months (exact timing will depend on the passage Insurance of the relevant legislation) 40. • The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) has also suspended all new license applications from pensions and insurance sectors. (admin adaptation) Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time 39 http://www.premier.tas.gov.au/releases/ministerial_statement_covid-19_response_measures 40 https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-03/Fact_sheet-Early_Access_to_Super.pdf 59 • Wage subsidy of 50% of the wage of apprentices and trainees from January to September 2020; the subsidy is up to AUD 21,000 per person and for a total cost of AUD 1.3 billion. • Australia is providing a wage subsidy (so-called “JobKeeper payment”) for all permanent, part-time and casual workers who have worked for at least a year with their employer and were employed as of March 1, Wage subsidies 2020. It is up to AUD 1,500 (USD 909) per two weeks for a period of six months, which is around 70 percent of the national median wage. Firms must show major reductions in turnover to qualify, which is 50 percent reduction in turnover for large firms and 30 percent for smaller firms. This is expected to cover around 6 million of the 13 million strong workforce. 41 41 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-30/coronavirus-wage-subsidies-government-businesses-workers/12103108 60 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Austria ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • Cash assistance for one-person companies and freelancers affected by the crisis (e.g. service providers, artists, etc.) through a hardship Cash transfers fund, implemented by the Austrian Economic Chamber. Design details (conditional and unconditional) to be announced 42. One-off cash transfers Social • Temporary waiving of conditionalities to receive the childcare benefit Assistance (i.e. obligatory health examinations that usually have to take place at Childcare support fixed times during pregnancy until age 5 of the child). Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works Utility waivers 42 https://www.wko.at/service/haertefall-fonds-epu-kleinunternehmen.html 61 • Employees with care responsibilities for one or more children under the age of 14 can take up to 3 weeks of care leave (Sonderbetreuungszeit) Paid sick leave with full wage replacement (1/3 of the salary will be reimbursed to the employer by the government) 43. Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance • Temporary waiving of the conditionality to regularly meet the case worker at the labor market service to receive unemployment benefits Unemployment benefits 44 (admin adaptation) Social security contributions Activation measures Labor market regulations Reduced work time • The government is covering up to 90% of wages/salaries of workers to stay employed, rather than being laid-off. 45. Implemented by Austrian Labour market service, companies can register their employees to short-time work over a period of up to 3 months (starting from now onwards) – with potential extension of another 3 months (depending on future developments). Labor The working time of employees registered for short-time work can be Markets reduced down to 10% of their normal working time during this period Wage subsidies (Working time can be organized flexibly, e.g. this could also mean that employees do not work at all during the first and second month and 30% during the third month of short-time work) and will usually have to consume their old leave entitlements. Employees will receive 80- 90% (depending on their current gross salary) of their net salary over this period (reimbursed to the employer by the labor market service). Employers get incidental wage costs for the non-working time reimbursed (up to gross salaries of 5,370 Euros). 43 https://news.wko.at/news/niederoesterreich/coronahotline.html 44 https://www.gesundheitskasse.at/cdscontent/?contentid=10007.857901&portal=oegknportal&viewmode=content 45 https://www.oegb.at/cms/S06/S06_0.a/1342627789286/home/rechenbeispiele-zeigen-warum-corona-kurzarbeit-fuer-alle-sinnvoll-ist 62 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Azerbaijan ● ● ● ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • Continue assistance to families and individuals whose Targeted State Social Assistance benefits (TSSA) expires during the special Cash transfers quarantine regime until the end of the special quarantine regime and (conditional and unconditional) simplify the determination of targeted state social assistance during this period One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social Social pensions Assistance In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding • Ensure public works participation for 50 thousand new beneficiaries Public works • Increase by 100 kWh the volume of discounted electricity limit for the population in April-May. Cover the tuition fees of students from Utility waivers vulnerable families. 46 46 https://cabmin.gov.az/az/document/4382/ 63 • Payment of tuition fees to the following categories of individuals: - recipients of targeted state social assistance; - where both parents (if there is a single parent, the same person) or legal representatives belong to any of the following categories: persons with I- and II-degree disabilities; those registered as unemployed; labor pensioners by age; or recipients of age-related social benefits 47. Paid sick leave Health insurance Pensions • Provide a lump-sum payment in the amount of the subsistence minimum (AZN 190, around USD 112) to jobseekers registered with the State Employment Service. (new) Social Insurance • Expand the coverage of unemployment insurance payments and Unemployment benefits create proactive appointment mechanism. Continue to pay insurance payments and stipends during the special quarantine regime for persons whose unemployment insurance payments have expired but are not employed, and students who are in break from vocational training courses. Social security contributions Activation measures • Prevent unjustified dismissal, layoffs of public sector employees and ensure the maintenance of salaries of employees on leave. Conduct legislative work on employers and ensure daily control in order to Labor market regulations prevent unjustified dismissals and layoffs of employees in the private Labor sector Markets • Reduced work time • A program of compensating for the damage caused to the Wage subsidies entrepreneurs and their employees. The amount of which is lower than 712 manat ($418) will be fully paid by the state to the enterprise. 47 https://cabmin.gov.az/az/document/4381/ 64 • A program on providing micro entrepreneurs and private entrepreneurs: the amount of funds to be paid to micro entrepreneurs or private entrepreneurs will not be less than 250 manat ($147) and the maximum amount will reach 5,000 manat ($2,941). 48 48 https://cabmin.gov.az/az/document/4371/ 65 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Bahamas ● ● Cash-based transfers • Government is funding a Government Funded Unemployment Assistance for COVID-19 that will provide weekly payments of $200 Cash transfers to persons to self-employed tourism workers for a period of up to (conditional and unconditional) eight weeks. The delivery of the transfer is being managed by the National Insurance Board. 49 One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social • Persons with disabilities under the age of 16 who normally receive their Assistance services every two months, had their April assistance advanced to Social pensions them in the month of March to facilitate whatever preparations they needed to make. Similar arrangements were also made for persons receiving foster care subsistence 50. In-kind transfers • The Department of Social Services continues to provide assistance to Food, vouchers, others persons in need by assessing them for Emergency, Temporary or Permanent Food Assistance. This includes special food assistance to http://www.bahamas.gov.bs/wps/portal/public/gov/government/news/ 49 http://magneticmediatv.com/2020/04/campbell-outlines-measures-undertaken-by-social-services-in-light-of-covid-19/ 50 66 those persons who – as a result of the closure of the tourism sector — found themselves on reduced workweeks 51. School feeding Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 51 http://magneticmediatv.com/2020/04/campbell-outlines-measures-undertaken-by-social-services-in-light-of-covid-19/ 67 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Bahrain ● ● ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Childcare support • Social security benefits for 17,000 families, to be distributed in mid- Social pensions April, were doubled, as were disability pensions for 12,000 individuals. Social A budget of BD 5.5 million was allocated for this purpose. 52 Assistance In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works • The Electricity and Water Authority will pay individuals and businesses’ utility bills for 3 months from April 2020 (up to the costs Utility waivers incurred during the same period in 2019). 53 Social Paid sick leave Insurance Health insurance 52 https://www.bna.bh/en/HRHPremierorderstodoublethevalueofsocialsecuritybenefits.aspx?cms=q8FmFJgiscL2fwIzON1%2BDnsLlEDOxXSIjsQrjGl7ljM%3D 53 https://www.moh.gov.bh/COVID19/Details/3969 68 Pensions • Private sector employees who are registered with the national Social Insurance Organization will have their salaries paid for 3 months from Unemployment benefits April 2020 from the unemployment fund. A total of 100,000 Bahraini will benefit from the measure (cost of BD 215 million) 54 55 Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 54 https://www.moh.gov.bh/COVID19/Details/3969 55 https://www.moh.gov.bh/COVID19/Details/3982 69 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Bangladesh ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • Benefit under key safety net programs will be increased (amount not determined yet). • Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced the disbursement of Taka Cash transfers 1,250 crore cash assistance among 50 lakh poor families (5 million (conditional and unconditional) households) hit hard amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. 56 The total fund of Taka 1,250 crore will be distributed among the 50 lakh families through the mobile financial services (MFSs) Social One-off cash transfers Assistance Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers • Food subsidies would include selling rice at Tk5/kg through OMS, down Food, vouchers, others from Tk30/kg School feeding Public works Utility waivers 56 https://tbsnews.net/coronavirus-chronicle/covid-19-bangladesh/pm-launch-disbursement-cash-aid-50-lakh-families-tomorrow 70 Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor market regulations Labor Reduced work time Markets • The government would pay the salaries and wages of select factories Wage subsidies (details to me announced) 57 57 https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/unprecedented-bailout-package-the-way-1885042 71 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Barbados ● ● ● ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • Establishment of “Household Survival Programme” (BBD 20 million or USD 10 million) incl. several initiatives to assist the vulnerable, including: - an increase of 40 per cent in all rates and fees paid by the Welfare Department to its clientele that it serves on an annual basis (up to BBD 10 million) - Barbados Vulnerable Family Survival Programme assisting 1,500 Social Cash transfers vulnerable families identified by the Welfare Department and the Assistance (conditional and unconditional) Household Mitigation Unit with BBD 600 monthly (total of BBD10 million). 58 (new) • An increase of 40 per cent in all rates and fees paid by the Welfare Department to its clientele that it services on an annual basis (up to BBD 10 million) (vertical expansion) One-off cash transfers 58 https://gisbarbados.gov.bb/blog/vulnerable-programme-put-in-place-for-families/ 72 Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers • The government has distributed 4,000 care packages, comprising a 14-day supply of basic food and sanitary items, to vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, the disabled and the impoverished in the community, as identified by social service agencies, incl. the National Food, vouchers, others Assistance Board, the National Disabilities Unit, Barbados Council for the Disabled, the Welfare Department, Salvation Army, Jabez House, Prison Fellowship. 59 School feeding Public works • There will be a six-month payment moratorium on all existing loans and mortgages for persons and businesses who are directly affected Utility waivers and impacted by COVID-19. Persons must go to their bank and work out those programmes. Paid sick leave Health insurance Pensions • Persons who are laid off will immediately have the opportunity to get their unemployment benefits, guaranteeing them 60 per cent of their insurable earnings, up to a limit of 26 weeks. The National Insurance Unemployment benefits Social Board has agreed to relax the requirement to visit the employment Insurance exchange at Warrens • For those employers who are prepared to retain three quarters of their workforce, even if some on short week, Government will defer their obligation to pay the employer’s contributions for three months, in the Social security contributions first instance, with the preparation to extend it for another three months if the crisis continues beyond that period 60. Activation measures 59 https://gisbarbados.gov.bb/blog/care-packages-distributed-to-vulnerable-groups/ 60 https://barbadostoday.bb/2020/03/21/welfare-cheques-boost-to-help-families/ 73 Labor market regulations Reduced work time Labor • The National Insurance Board will give those on short weeks 60 per Markets cent of their earnings for those days. For example, if a person is put on Wage subsidies a three-day week, then the Board will pay 60 per cent of the wages the person would have earned for the other two days 61. 61 https://www.stlucianewsonline.com/coronavirus-barbados-announces-20m-survival-stimulus-package-landlords-told-not-to-evict/ 74 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Belarus ● ● ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • The President of Belarus signed the decree “On Financial Incentives to Health Workers”. According to this document, health workers should receive a monthly bonus for the work associated with infections; its Cash transfers amount is differentiated by the organizations (units) and the (conditional and unconditional) categories of workers (making from 300 to 4,000 Belarusian roubles). (new) Social One-off cash transfers Assistance Childcare support • On March 25, 2020, “Belpochta” (Belarusian Post Office) announced that it provides pensions home-delivery service by post worker because of the coronavirus situation. Pensioners can also pay their Social pensions communal services when they receive pensions/benefits.62 (admin adaptation) In-kind transfers 62 http://www.belpost.by/press-centre/news-company/5025.html 75 • On April 6, 2020, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection informed that the social services are ready to provide support to elderly people and people with disabilities and to deliver foods and medicines. This support is provided by social workers and volunteers through the territorial centres of social protection of population. Belarus has 146 such centres, located in every district of the country. The number of people living alone and people with disabilities is about Food, vouchers, others 830,000, including almost 160,000 persons who have no close relatives.63 • The Ministry of Anti-Monopoly Regulation and Trade introduced state regulation of prices on medical masks and disinfectants (antibacterial and decontaminating agents).64 School feeding Public works • The National Bank of Belarus asked banks of the country to announce payment holidays for their clients, who are natural persons: “in order to decrease the credit load on people because of worsening of their financial situation and impossibility of proper implementation of their Utility waivers obligations, we recommend that banks should consider the provision of additional time to pay credits and interests on the credits, i.e., payment holidays”. • The terms of sick leaves for people who have coronavirus or are first- or second-level contacts are specified in Ordinance of the Council of Ministers no. 208 “On Self-Isolation Measures”.65 According to this Social Paid sick leave document, the first-level contacts should be self-isolated for 14 days Insurance from the time of the last contact, whereas the second-level contacts should be self-isolated during the period when they manifest respiratory symptoms. People who work and pay fees to the Social 63 http://mintrud.gov.by/ru/news_ru/view/-sotsialnaja-sluzhba-gotova-okazat-pomosch-odinokim-pozhilymnbsp-grazhdanam-i-invalidam-po-dostavke-produktov-pitanija-i- lekarstv-_3459/ 64 https://www.mart.gov.by/news/price_control_mask 65 http://pravo.by/upload/docs/op/C22000208_1586379600.pdf 76 Protection Fund (or such fees are paid by their employers) are eligible for sick-leave benefits during the period of self-isolation. When a person breaches the self-isolation requirements, the sick-leave is paid at 50 percent of the benefit calculated according to the legislation. Non-compliance with the self-isolation behaviour rules or other sanitary and epidemiological requirements entails administrative liability (a fine up to 50 base rates (1 base rate = 27 belarusian rubles) or administrative arrest) or criminal liability (including deprivation of freedom). Health insurance • The terms of sick leaves for people who have coronavirus or are first- or second-level contacts are specified in Ordinance of the Council of Ministers no. 208 “On Self-Isolation Measures”. According to this document, the first-level contacts should be self-isolated for 14 days from the time of the last contact, whereas the second-level contacts should be self-isolated during the period when they manifest respiratory symptoms. People who work and pay fees to the Social Protection Fund (or such fees are paid by their employers) are eligible Pensions for sick-leave benefits during the period of self-isolation. When a person breaches the self-isolation requirements, the sick-leave is paid at 50 percent of the benefit calculated according to the legislation. Non-compliance with the self-isolation behaviour rules or other sanitary and epidemiological requirements entails administrative liability (a fine up to 50 base rates (1 base rate = 27 belarusian rubles) or administrative arrest) or criminal liability (including deprivation of freedom). Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Labor Activation measures Markets Labor market regulations Reduced work time Wage subsidies 77 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Belize ● ● ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers • The government will also upscale transfers through ВООЅТ, The (conditional and unconditional) conational cash transfers program66. One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions Social In-kind transfers Assistance Food, vouchers, others • Children on national school meal programs will receive take-home School feeding rations and high schools are encouraged to do same 67. Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave Social Health insurance Insurance Pensions 66 https://www.breakingbelizenews.com/2020/03/30/pm-barrow-says-stipends-for-the-unemployed-to-be-disbursed-this-week-discusses-other-financial-measures/ 67 https://www.breakingbelizenews.com/2020/03/18/minister-faber-confirms-school-closures-on-covid-19/ 78 • A new Unemployment Relief Program to provide temporary benefits to the unemployed and persons who directly lost their as a result of the crisis. Employed and self-employed who lost their jobs directly as a Unemployment benefits result of the COVID19 crisis will receive BZ$150 every 2 weeks for 12 weeks (US$450). Persons who were unemployed prior to the crisis will receive BZ$100 every 2 weeks for 12 weeks (US$300). Applications are processed online.68 Social security contributions Labor Activation measures Markets Labor market regulations Reduced work time Wage subsidies 68 https://www.breakingbelizenews.com/2020/04/03/citizens-can-now-apply-for-unemployment-relief-program/ 79 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Belgium ● ● ● ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers Social Food, vouchers, others Assistance School feeding Public works • Extension of the seasonal suspension of evictions from dwellings (la trêve hivernale). Some jurisdictions will temporarily cover utility costs for households with a worker facing temporary employment; utilities Utility waivers (water, gas, power) will not be disconnected during the Covid-19 crisis 69. Paid sick leave 69 OECD database http://www.oecd.org/social/Covid-19-Employment-and-Social-Policy-Responses-by-Country.xlsx 80 • Self-employed workers who are incapacitated for work for at least 8 days are entitled to an incapacity for work benefit payable by the Health insurance health insurance scheme from the first day 70. Pensions • Temporary unemployment available and the associated benefits are increased 65-70% (the ceiling being set at € 2,754.76 per month). Temporary unemployment due to Coronavirus (force majeure) will be Social extended by 3 months (till June 30, 2020). In addition to the Unemployment benefits Insurance unemployment benefit, workers get an extra €5.63 per day. A professional withholding tax of 26.75% will be deducted from this compensation 71. • Self-employed workers who are affected by the consequences of the coronavirus can submit a written request to their social insurance fund to request a 1-year deferral of the payment of provisional social Social security contributions contributions, without being charged any increases and with no effect on benefits. Labor Activation measures Markets Labor market regulations Reduced work time Wage subsidies 70 https://www.inasti.be/fr/news/difficultes-suite-au-coronavirus 71 https://www.onem.be/fr/nouveau/chomage-temporaire-la-suite-de-lepidemie-de-coronavirus-covid-19-simplification-de-la-procedure 81 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Benin ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers Social Food, vouchers, others Assistance School feeding Public works • To promote the use of electronic payment tools the Western Africa Central Bank (BCEAO) is providing more flexible measures to open a Utility waivers mobile money and making transfers between people backed by electronic money free. Paid sick leave Social Health insurance Insurance Pensions Unemployment benefits 82 Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 83 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Bermuda (UK) ● ● Cash-based transfers • Introduction of an unemployment benefit for laid-off employees who are not on financial assistance. The transfer amount was set at 60% of gross earnings up to a maximum of $500 a week. Where the eligible applicant is receiving a percentage of their salary from their employer, and the amount is less than $500 per week, the applicant will be entitled to the different up to a gross amount of $500. Eligible applicants must meet the definition of an employee under Cash transfers employment legislation, and be Bermudian, the spouse of a Social (conditional and unconditional) Bermudian, a permanent resident’s certificate holder, or a work-permit Assistance holder unable to leave Bermuda (UK) (UK) because of travel restrictions. They must have been in full-time employment and have been laid off or had their employment terminated because of the Covid-19 pandemic, put on mandatory medical quarantine without compensation from their employer, or be self-employed and no longer at work because of the illness. 72 (new) One-off cash transfers Childcare support 72 http://www.royalgazette.com/labour/article/20200324/weekly-500-safety-net-for-laid-off-workers 84 Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave Health insurance Pensions • Introduction of an unemployment benefit for laid-off employees who are not on financial assistance. The transfer amount was set at 60% of gross earnings up to a maximum of $500 a week. Where the eligible applicant is receiving a percentage of their salary from their employer, and the amount is less than $500 per week, the applicant will be Social entitled to the different up to a gross amount of $500. Eligible Insurance applicants must meet the definition of an employee under Unemployment benefits employment legislation, and be Bermudian, the spouse of a Bermudian, a permanent resident’s certificate holder, or a work-permit holder unable to leave Bermuda (UK) (UK) because of travel restrictions. They must have been in full-time employment and have been laid off or had their employment terminated because of the Covid-19 pandemic, put on mandatory medical quarantine without compensation from their employer, or be self-employed and no longer at work because of the illness. Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 85 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Bolivia ● ● ● Cash-based transfers The GoB has created three new temporary cash transfer programs Bono Familia (BF), Bono Canasta Familiar (BFC) and Bono Universal (BU) that together provide economic support for households impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially two cash transfer programs were designed – BF and BCF – that both rely on a temporary increase of the value of existing social protection interventions to meet the additional needs of the current beneficiaries (vertical expansion). • BF is expected to directly and indirectly cover 65.3 percent of the Social population and the transfer amount is Bs $ 500 Cash transfers Assistance • BCF is expected to indirectly and directly cover 23.9 percent of the (conditional and unconditional) population and the transfer amount is Bs $ 400. By design, it mostly reaches the elderly (86.2 percent of the population 65 years or older), but also pregnant women, mothers of children below 2 years old, and people with disabilities accessing subsidies. Despite significant inclusion errors of BF and BCF, the GoB introduced a third program, the Bono Universal, in order to minimize the exclusion of informal workers and self-employed. • Bono Universal is estimated to directly and indirectly cover 46.5 percent of the population and the transfer amount is Bs $ 500. 86 Together, BF, BCF and BU are expected to reach 3.3 million households and their 11.1 million members (comprising both direct recipients and indirect beneficiaries, who are other household members), or 97.9 percent of the entire population. One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works • Families (and companies) that cannot meet financial obligations are exempt from paying their mortgages and credits. This relief will apply Utility waivers for 2 months. • As part of revised paid leave requirements, Bolivia is permitting reduction of working hours; paid leave for older adults, pregnant women and people with health conditions; paid leave for workers with Paid sick leave dependent children and who must meet care needs due to the emergency; and paid leave for all workers, public and private, that are Social suspected cases of having contracted COVID-19. Insurance Health insurance Pensions Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 87 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Bosnia and Herzegovina ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • Individual local governments are providing significant sums to assist the elderly and families with low or no income ($250,000 thus far Cash transfers from Sarajevo municipality Stari Grad). Plans are underway for larger- (conditional and unconditional) scale assistance. Social One-off cash transfers Assistance Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance • A total of Eur 5.5M is allocated for unemployment benefits for 2020, Unemployment benefits but this could increase to another Eur 10M to support job retention and/or increase unemployment benefits. 88 Social security contributions • The government has allocated Eur 33M for 2020 for activation programs which may be reallocated for immediate assistance to Activation measures unemployed. Labor Markets Labor market regulations Reduced work time Wage subsidies 89 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Botswana ● ● ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers Social • P114,839,250 has been approved for Food Hampers for the month of Assistance April, 2020. Food baskets have been distributed to over 325,000 HHs Food, vouchers, others (ie more than half of all households). School feeding Public works • 3 months’ moratorium or an interest free period to allow businesses to Utility waivers build enough cash flow reserves before they start repaying their loans for informal sector business owners Paid sick leave Social Health insurance Insurance Pensions Unemployment benefits 90 Social security contributions Activation measures Labor market regulations Reduced work time • Businesses that are registered for tax will be eligible for COVID-19 Labor wage subsidies regardless of whether they owe tax. Unless specifically Markets exempted such subsidies are taxable 73. 50% of basic salary of employees of affected businesses and the subsidy range between Wage subsidies P1000 – P2500 per month for 3 months (April, May and June 2020). 165 681 employees as beneficiaries has been approved for disbursement in April 2020. Total budget allocation is (P1 billion). 73 https://home.kpmg/content/dam/kpmg/us/pdf/2020/04/tnf-botswana-apr6-2020.pdf 91 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Brazil ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • The government is allocating R$3 billion for the Bolsa Familia program to add 1 million families. 74 • In Brazil, a 3-month emergency cash transfer of $115 per month (or 60% of the minimum wage) for adults who don’t have a formal job (informal workers) up to a maximum of two benefits per family; have per capita family income lower than half of the minimum wage or 3 minimum wages in total family income; and don’t receive other Social Cash transfers government transfers (except Bolsa Familia). Assistance (conditional and unconditional) The beneficiaries will be identified through Cadastro Unico, the country’s social registry, but those eligible individuals not in the social registry will be able to apply through an online platform to be launched April 7. Single mothers will receive double benefit, i.e., $230 per month. (new) • The city of Maricá in Brazil will increase the existing cash transfers amount from R$130 ($25) to R$300 per month ($60) at least through June. Total beneficiaries of this scheme will 42,000 of the city’s 74 https://g1.globo.com/economia/noticia/2020/03/16/ministerio-da-economia-anuncia-novas-medidas-para-reduzir-impacto-do-coronavirus-veja-lista.ghtml 92 lowest-income residents. Moreover, End-of-year bonuses will be advanced to make April’s payment an even larger R$430 per person 75 (new) One-off cash transfers Childcare support • The 13th salary for retirees, salary bonus allowances and benefits for Social pensions people with disabilities as well as sickness benefits will be anticipated In-kind transfers • The term of payroll credit loans will be extended to 84 months and the maximum interest will be reduced. Furthermore, debt collection will be Food, vouchers, others suspended and the terms will be easier to renegotiate • A law allowing mayors to use FNDE (Federal fund for school feeding) resources to purchase and distribute food baskets to students was signed on 7 April. In advance of the signing of the law, mayors and School feeding governors began distributing food baskets 76 or topping up Bolsa Familia with the value of the school meal (sometimes more) 77. Public works • The Electric Energy Agency (Aneel) suspended energy supply cuts for Utility waivers 90 days. Paid sick leave Health insurance Social • The government is allowing the possibility of withdrawal from the Insurance FGTS Pensions for formal workers (21,500 million Brazilian reals or US$4 billion); advance of the salary payment for formal workers (12.8 billion Brazilian reals or US$2.5 billion); and advance of the end of year 75 http://bostonreview.net/class-inequality/paul-katz-leandro-ferreria-brazil-basic-income-marica 76 ttps://twitter.com/IPC_IG/status/1250000996253794304 77 https://twitter.com/IPC_IG/status/1250046319705698306 93 payment (thirteenth month) for pensioners (23 billion Brazilian reals or US$4.5 billion). (revised rules) • Through the introduction of the program “Beneficio Emergencial de Manutenção do Emprego e Renda” the unemployment insurance value Unemployment benefits of the worker won’t be affected78 • Advanced withdraw of FGTS (unemployment savings account) up to 1 MW. • Postponement of Social Security Contributions, PIS/PASEP, Cofins and FGTS (FGTS payments for March – May will be collected from Social security contributions July onwards • Reduction of 50% of Sistema S contributions for 3 months 79 Activation measures • Teleworking, anticipation of individual holidays, grant collective Labor market regulations vacation benefits, suspension of required administrative medical examinations connected to employment 80 • Banco de Horas – allows to interruption of working hours and compensate at a later stage by working up to 45 hours per week Reduced work time (work outs can be compensated 18 months after the end of the “State of public calamity” Labor • Beneficio Emergencial de Manutenção do Emprego e Renda: The Markets government introduced a program, which allows i. firms to reduce the workday by 25%, 50% and 70% for 3 months. The government will compensate lost salary taking Seguro Desemprego as a basis for calculations; firms guaranty Wage subsidies to employ the worker after those 3 months for the same time frame the subsidy was used for; firms can suspend the contract for up to 2 months with the condition to hire the worker for the corresponding time after the suspension ended 81 78 Beneficio Emergencial de Manutenção do Emprego e Renda 79 http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/_ato2019-2022/2020/Mpv/mpv927.htm 80 http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/_ato2019-2022/2020/Mpv/mpv927.htm 81 http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/_ato2019-2022/2020/mpv/mpv936.htm 94 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act British Virgin Islands (UK) ● ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers Social Assistance • Assistance with food supplies delivered to over 800 families’ homes during the 24h curfew period, jointly organized by the Social Development Department, BVI Red Cross and the Family Support Network. It prioritizes the needs of the most vulnerable, including the Food, vouchers, others elderly, persons with chronic illnesses and with children first, then the unemployed or those with reduced incomes. They can register with BVI Red Cross hotline at 494-6349 and are then cross-referenced with the list of Social Development Department and other agencies. 95 Items included in each package are basic and essential products such as flour, rice, beans, water and fruits and vegetables 8283 School feeding Public works • Water and Sewerage customers across the Territory have been given Utility waivers a month’s suspension in payment of their water charges. 84 Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 82 https://bvinews.com/high-response-from-residents-in-need-of-food-supplies/ 83 https://scontent.fbgi2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0- 9/93308675_1313972948993232_2304899477913206784_n.jpg?_nc_cat=107&_nc_sid=110474&_nc_ohc=K96NBcwmC2IAX9pl0HQ&_nc_ht=scontent.fbgi2- 1.fna&oh=82977560a151239fd6574c946c9ec00f&oe=5ECEA767 84 https://bvi.gov.vg/media-centre/water-charges-suspended-one-month 96 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Brunei Darussalam ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social Social pensions Assistance In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave Social Health insurance Insurance Pensions Unemployment benefits 97 • The fiscal measures include amongst others, the deferment of payments on Employees Trust Fund (TAP) and Supplementary Social security contributions Contributory Pension (SCP) contributions. 85 Labor Activation measures Markets Labor market regulations Reduced work time Wage subsidies 85 https://www.imf.org/en/Topics/imf-and-covid19/Policy-Responses-to-COVID-19 98 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Bulgaria ● ● ● ● ● ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) • The Ministry of Labour and Social Policy is introducing a one-off cash transfer of BGN 375 (EUR 192) to parents of children under 12 who are on unpaid leave for at least 20 days due to inability to work from home during the state of emergency. This assistance will be means tested as the monthly income per family member should not be higher Social than the minimum wage BGN 610. Other conditions: parents should Assistance not have any other income from rents, services or additional One-off cash transfers contracts, should not receive other assistance under the Social Assistance Act, should not to be included in the scheme for wage subsidies to employers 60/40 and should have exhausted their paid leave Children should have attended kindergarten or school before 13 March 2020, and the parents should have been insured in the last six months. 86 (new) • The Government decided to expand the coverage of the one-off cash transfer to include parents of children up to 14 years as well as 86 https://www.mlsp.government.bg/index.php?section=PRESS2&prid=1977&lang= 99 families in which one or both parents have lost their jobs but are not entitled to unemployment benefits. The aid will be paid in the event that the parents applying for it are not covered by the job-saving compensation scheme, which has gained popularity as the measure 60/40. Both parents or the single parent must be insured under the Social Insurance Code within the last 6 months. This condition will not apply to unemployed parents without the right to unemployment benefits. The assistance may be granted if the child/children in the family attended a nursery, kindergarten or school before 13 March 2020. It will also be granted to foster families and families of relatives, in which the child is placed under the Child Protection Act. They must meet the criteria. Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers • The Ministry of Labour and Social Policy reallocated BGN 45 million (US$ 24.8 million) under Operational Programme Human Resources Development for expanding the coverage and scope of the home visiting services provided to elderly people and other vulnerable groups (people with disabilities), including the delivery of food and medicines. The services are provided by the municipalities. • Expanding the coverage and scope of in-kind support for the elderly, Food, vouchers, others people with disabilities, and people living under the poverty line. This includes: - provision of individual food packages by the Bulgarian Red Cross to an additional 41,000 beneficiaries 87; - provision of hot meals through municipalities to 50,000 additional recipients. 88 87 https://www.mlsp.government.bg/index.php?section=PRESS2&prid=1969&lang= 88 http://asp.government.bg/bg/koronavirus-covid-19/agentsiyata-za-sotsialno-podpomagane-publikuva-utvardena-ot-ministara-na-truda-i-sotsialnata-politika-tseleva- programa-topal-obyad-u-doma-v-usloviyata-na-izvanredna-situatsiya-2020-g 100 • Over 420,000 children and students from more than 3,200 schools will receive their products under the food schemes "School fruit" and "School milk" in their homes. Fruit and dairy products will be delivered to schools and after that will be distributed to families through the School feeding home visiting services of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy. The measure will be valid for the entire period of the emergency situation and deliveries will be made on a weekly basis. 89 Public works • The Ministry of Energy introduced a deferral for the payment of utility bills for electricity for up to 30 days. At the same time the possibility Utility waivers for each client to negotiate and rescheduling the amounts due for electricity is preserved. 90 Paid sick leave Health insurance • All medical certificates determining the degree of lost working capacity (the validity of these documents for people below standard retirement age is between 1 and 3 years; working capacity of people above standard retirement age doesn’t need to be reassessed) which expire during the period of the state of emergency and have to be renewed, are automatically renewed for the whole period of the state Social of emergency + 2 months after that. Approximately 75,000 disability Insurance pensioners will benefit from that measure. Pensions • All pensions of working pensioners will be recalculated officially as of 1 April on the basis of the data in the administrative registers. In Bulgaria, pensioners can work and receive a pension and a salary without restrictions. Now, pensioners are not required to submit any documents and to contact the NSSI’s staff. The idea is to limit the number of visitors of the NSSI’s offices as a precautionary measure and to reduce the risk COVID-19 spread. Approximately 258 000 pensioners will benefit from that measure. 89 https://www.mzh.government.bg/bg/press-center/novini/nad-420-000-deca-i-uchenici-she-poluchat-polagashi/ 90 https://www.me.government.bg/bg 101 • On Monday (23 March) the National Assembly adopted an Emergency Measures and Actions Act, which was later amended. For the moment, the period of the state of emergency is two months, i.e. from 13 March to 13 May. Over this period, the Unemployment Fund will pay 60% of the income of the employees from sectors most heavily influenced by the COVID-19 crisis for up to three months. The Council of Ministers has adopted the criteria and procedures according to which employers will be able to receive support. In addition to employers in sectors, where operations have been suspended as a result of the social distancing measures (tourism, sports, culture, etc.), any other Unemployment benefits employer that can prove a 20% y/y drop in revenue in March is also eligible for the 60% salary subsidy. • Unemployment benefit claims shall be submitted by the claimants through the local employment offices at the same time when they get registered as jobseekers. National Employment Agency (a structure to the Minister of Labour and Social Policy) will inform NSSI through the means of electronic data exchange about the submitted claims. Further measures are under consideration91. Social security contributions Activation measures • Provisions allowing employers to hire workers who are on unpaid leave from other companies without the authorization of the first employer unless there is an explicit prohibition in the main labour contract of the Labor worker. There are no restrictions on the time that employees can work Labor market regulations Markets under the second employment contract while on unpaid leave. The only requirement is for the second employer to ensure observance of daily and weekly rest periods. 92 Reduced work time 91 https://dv.parliament.bg/DVWeb/showMaterialDV.jsp?idMat=147150 92 https://www.mlsp.government.b/index.php?section=PRESS2&prid=1973&lang= 102 • BGN 1 billion was allocated for paying 60% of the wages of workers who risk being laid off because of the crisis in the course of three months, provided that their employees cover the remaining 40 per cent. According to latest data from MLSP, 7,403 employers have submitted applications for 101,849 employees (as of 29 April 2020). 93 • Another BGN 200 million was conferred to BBD for providing portfolio Wage subsidies guarantees to commercial banks so that they can provide unsecured interest-free loans in the amount of up to BGN 1,500 (US$827) to workers who are put on unpaid leave 94 95. • Finally, a supplementary pay in the amount of BGN 1,000 (US$552) was accorded to medical staff and other front-line responders to the pandemic 93 https://www.mlsp.government.bg/blizo-102-000-sluzhiteli-ot-nad-7400-firmi-zapazvat-rabotnite-si-mesta 94 https://www.bnt.bg/en/a/coronavirus-government-allocates-funds-for-increased-costs-of-ministries 95 https://www.investor.bg/ikonomika-i-politika/332/a/dyrjavata-zadelia-45-mlrd-lv-za-podkrepa-na-ikonomikata-zaradi-koronavirusa-301072/ 103 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Burkina Faso ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • Cash transfers to informal sector workers (fruits and vegetable sellers). Total cost of US$10 million (5 billion CFA) to help the fruits Cash transfers and vegetable informal retailers affected by the situation, particularly (conditional and unconditional) women. More details to be announced96. (new) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social Social pensions Assistance In-kind transfers • Price controls for staple foods. Type of food included in this measure are cereals (rice, millets, sorghum, maize, beans) and others food items (sugar, oil) but also gasoline and cooking gas Food, vouchers, others • In-kind transfers to market vendors. This aimed at the most- vulnerable people of the markets that have been closed due to the outbreak. 96 https://lefaso.net/spip.php?article95931 104 School feeding Public works • To promote the use of electronic payment tools the Western Africa Central Bank (BCEAO) is providing more flexible measures to open a mobile money and making transfers between people backed by electronic money free. • Several utilities support including: subsidies for water bills and water Utility waivers points, subsidies for electricity bills (100% for certain types of connections, 50% for others), removal of penalties on water and electricity bills, reduction of costs of solar panel kits by 50% for poor households, and finally, subsidies on water and electricity costs for market vendors. Moreover, vehicle tax is delayed to late June 2020 Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 105 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Cabo Verde ● ● ● ● ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers • Expansion of CTs under the existing SP project to 8,000 families (from (conditional and unconditional) original 5,000) a monthly income of 5,500 escudos ( US$53) 97 • Support for workers in micro and small enterprises and self-employed in the informal sector, including sellers of informal commerce and One-off cash transfers municipal markets. These workers are guaranteed a value of 10,000 escudos (US$100) for one month. 30,000 workers are expected to Social benefit. 98 Assistance Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers • Immediate Food Assistance to 22,500 families (around 90,000 people), whose income is below the minimum wage or without any Food, vouchers, others source of income 97 https://www.mfis.gov.cv/index.php/about-us-2/blog-2-columns-view/205-governo-implementa-medidas-de-protecao-social-para-as-familias-e-ao-protecao-do-rendimento 98 https://www.mfis.gov.cv/index.php/about-us-2/blog-2-columns-view/205-governo-implementa-medidas-de-protecao-social-para-as-familias-e-ao-protecao-do-rendimento 106 • Support for school feeding for around 30,000 children who belong to School feeding the most vulnerable households. 99 Public works • Households and firms that borrow from banks will, according to a decision announced by the Central Bank of Cabo Verde, have a three- Utility waivers month moratorium on payment of debt instalments. Paid sick leave Health insurance Pensions Social Insurance Unemployment benefits • One of the measures include the cancellation of contributions to Social security contributions Pension Fund for three months. Activation measures Labor market regulations Labor Reduced work time Markets • Employees will get 70% of gross salary in the event of the labor contract being suspended. 35% will be paid by the employer and 35% Wage subsidies by INPS (National Institute of Social Security). 100 99 https://expressodasilhas.cv/pais/2020/03/27/governo-garante-rendimento-a-30-mil-trabalhadores-informais/68653 100 https://www.asemana.publ.cv/?MEDIDAS-PARA-APOIAR-AS-EMPRESAS-E-AUMENTAR-A&ak=1 107 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Cambodia ● ● ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social Social pensions Assistance In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others • Food distribution to pagodas and poor population 101 School feeding Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave Social Health insurance Insurance Pensions Unemployment benefits 101 http://www.mosvy.gov.kh/article/491 108 • Suspension of monthly contributions to NSSF for enterprises in the Social security contributions garment and tourism sectors 102 Activation measures Labor market regulations Reduced work time Labor Wage subsidies • Companies wishing to suspend employment contracts must first Markets submit an application to the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training (MLVT). If approved, the suspended employees can receive monthly allowances from the government. 103 The maximum period for suspension is two months but this can be extended further depending on the circumstances. 102 https://www.aseanbriefing.com/news/incentives-obligations-announced-businesses-cambodia-tourism-garment-industries/ 103 https://www.aseanbriefing.com/news/incentives-obligations-announced-businesses-cambodia-tourism-garment-industries/ 109 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Cameroon ● ● ● ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers • Increase in family allowance from CFAF 2,800 to CFAF 4,500 104 (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others Social School feeding Assistance Public works • MTN Cameroon announces the suspension, effective Friday, 20 March 2020, of the payment of fees on money transfers between MTN Mobile Money accounts. This measure suspending the payment of fees concerns money transfers for amounts up to 20,000 FCFA (twenty Utility waivers thousand francs). The measure will be limited to 3 transactions per day, per account, and will be valid for a period of 30 days. This may be reviewed based on the evolution of the health crisis. MTN Cameroon, by suspending the payment of money transfer fees between Mobile 104 http://www.crtv.cm/2020/04/covid19-prime-minister-joseph-dion-ngute-unveils-19-relieve-measures/ 110 Money accounts, seeks to provide its support in the fight against this Coronavirus, by reducing the use of cash as much as possible, and favoring distance payments 105. Paid sick leave Health insurance Social • 20% increase in pensions for those that did not benefit from the Pensions Insurance revaluation following the 2016 reform Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Labor Activation measures Markets Labor market regulations Reduced work time Wage subsidies 105 https://mtn.cm/2020/03/19/mtn-cameroon-suspends-payment-of-money-transfer-fees-by-mobile-money-to-fight-against-the-spread-of-covid19/ 111 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Canada ● ● ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • Income support is provided for those who don’t qualify for employment insurance, including a payment of $2,000 per month for the next 4 months. 106 107 • British Columbia will provide a one-time CAD 1,000 payment to people Social Cash transfers who lost their incomes due to COVID-19. 108 Other provisions under the Assistance (conditional and unconditional) B.C. Emergency Benefit for Workers include tax credits, suspension of evictions of tenants in subsidized and affordable housing, temporary rent supplements of up to CAD 500 per month paid to landlords, six- month freeze on student loan payments, and payment deferral and/or subsidies for water bills. (new – BC) One-off cash transfers 106 https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html%20l%20https://www.canada.ca/en/department- finance/news/2020/03/canadas-covid-19-economic-response-plan-support-for-canadians-and-businesses.html 107 https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-trudeau-says-new-merged-benefits-will-help-workers-affected-by-covid/ 108 https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/employment-business/covid-19-financial- supports?bcgovtm=20200319_GCPE_AM_COVID_4_NOTIFICATION_BCGOV_BCGOV_EN_BC__NOTIFICATION#BCEBW 112 Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others • British Columbia arranged to provide school meals for at-risk School feeding students. Public works Utility waivers • The usual one-week waiting period will be waived for people who are in quarantine or have been directed to self-isolate and are claiming for Employment Insurance (EI) sickness benefits (estimated cost of $5M). Eligible workers with no or limited paid-leave benefits through their Paid sick leave employers can apply for up to 15 weeks of employment insurance if they cannot work for medical reasons such as cancer, a broken leg, or in this case, being quarantined in a public-health threat. The current EI payment is 55% of earnings up to a maximum of $573 a week. 109 Health insurance • OSFI freezes defined benefit transfers and annuity purchases, extends Social regulatory deadlines – The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Insurance Institutions (OSFI) has announced that it would implement certain regulatory adjustments in light of the extraordinary circumstances posed by the COVID-19 crisis. OSFI has announced a temporary freeze Pensions on portability transfers and annuity purchases relating to defined benefit provisions of pension plans. Additionally, the deadlines for certain actions and filing requirements under federal pension legislation have been extended • Seniors to receive up to $500 in a one-time payment to offset added costs due to COVID-19 110 Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures 109 https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/corporate/notices/coronavirus.html 110 https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/seniors-supports-covid19-1.5565743 113 Labor market regulations Reduced work time • 75% wage subsidy up to CAD 847 per week or CAD 58,700 per Labor employee for eligible employers for up to 12 weeks, retroactive to 15 Markets March to prevent job losses and allow for rehiring workers. The subsidy Wage subsidies is available for a subset of employers, excluding public bodies, experiencing a drop of at least 30% of their revenues. 111 111 https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economic-response-plan/wage-subsidy.html 114 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Caribbean (Netherlands) ● ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers Social • Households or persons who, despite the income schemes and support Assistance Food, vouchers, others from their immediate environment, do not have enough money for food, can apply for food package support 112 School feeding Public works • Households and companies in Bonaire can expect a reduction in costs of the electricity and water bills of nearly USD 60.00 per month as of Utility waivers May 1st until the end of this year. For St. Eustatius this is more than USD 50.00 per month and for Saba USD 44.00 per month113. https://english.rijksdienstcn.com/covid-19/news/2020/april/24/food-aid-for-the-most-vulnerable-households 112 https://english.rijksdienstcn.com/covid-19/news/2020/may/5/reduction-in-costs-for-households-and-companies-caribbean-netherlands 113 115 • Households in need can qualify for support when paying fixed costs such as rent, WEB or internet bills. 114 Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Labor Activation measures Markets Labor market regulations Reduced work time Wage subsidies 114 https://english.rijksdienstcn.com/covid-19/news/2020/april/24/food-aid-for-the-most-vulnerable-households 116 (back to the top) fits e ns t le a v men mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure ime n ad con nt & s b e sfer t d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Cayman Islands (UK) ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • An additional KY$425 (US$510) stipend to those on permanent Cash transfers financial assistance, as well as to seamen and veterans. 115 (conditional and unconditional) • One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions Social In-kind transfers Assistance • Work permit holders who urgently require food supplies and who have insufficient income or savings to sustain themselves could, if they qualify, be eligible for a KY$150 (US$180) food voucher, effective Food, vouchers, others Wednesday, 1 April. The voucher will provide interim support over a two-week period to those who qualify until the airport reopens or they can resume their jobs. 116 • Cayman Islands government will organize voucher and daily lunch School feeding Programme with distribution through school cafeteria providers and 115 https://www.caymancompass.com/2020/04/01/one-off-payments-made-to-vulnerable-caymanians/ 116 https://caymannewsservice.com/2020/03/nau-receives-81-new-applications/ 117 NGO partners. 117 The Department of Education has support from Kiwanis and Feed Our Future (FOF) to run a voucher and daily lunch programme. At the Government Primary school level, Feed our Future will continue to work through school canteens to prepare hot meals for delivery through the help of their dedicated bus services provider from the week of March 23. At the Government Secondary school level, Feed our Future will be working with school counsellors to distribute supermarket food vouchers in staged intervals across the period of the school closure to families in order to ensure access to food. Public works • Support for Rent and Utilities is also being provided to Needs Utility waivers Assessment Unit clients.. Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 117 https://cdn.wfp.org/2020/school-feeding-map/ 118 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Chad ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions Social In-kind transfers Assistance Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works • Electricity and water bill of vulnerable households will be paid by the State throughout the territory for six months (water) and three Utility waivers months (electricity) Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions 119 Labor Activation measures Markets Labor market regulations Reduced work time Wage subsidies 120 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Chile ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • The Ministry of Social Development has introduced the Ingreso Familiar de Emergencia – a new, transitory transfer program intended for households that depend on informal work for their livelihood. Nearly 2 million households are expected to receive the transfer which will be granted for a maximum of three months. The first payout corresponds to 100 percent of the full transfer amount, Cash transfers the second payout 85 percent and the third 65 percent. The transfer Social (conditional and unconditional) amount depends on household type (whether the households is Assistance exclusively informal, or whether the households is vulnerable and partially informal) and size of the household. As an example, a household with four members that are exclusively dependent on income from the informal sector will receive a first transfer corresponding to CLP $ 280,000 (USD $ 340). Partially informal households will receive half of that amount. 118 One-off cash transfers Childcare support http://portal.nexnews.cl/showN?valor=MzFSNjk4MjYyRDE2NjM1MjQyMDcyNTEwMTI0ODE5MjUzOTUxMzY1MDE1NDU5MTUxNjgxNTQ2NTE0NTM1MjU0NDYyMDY0MFc1NT 118 U1NTU1NTU1NTU1 121 Social pensions In-kind transfers • The President of Chile just announced “Alimentos Para Chile” a new program that will deliver food baskets to vulnerable families. Approximately 2.5 million baskets of nonperishable food and hygiene products will be delivered directly to the homes of the beneficiaries. Food, vouchers, others According to the president, 70 % of the most vulnerable will benefit from this program. The deliveries will start no later than May 25 and will be carried out with help of the Armed Forces and the Carabineros de Chile. 119 • Distribution of food packages out of special buses, at schools or from alternative distribution sites. Some schools remain open only for the food distribution. The government has designed a food delivery School feeding system to continue to benefit 1,600,000 children and adolescents. Individual baskets will be delivered, containing breakfasts and lunches for ten (10) business days 120. Public works Utility waivers • Leave with pay (guaranteed through the Solidarity Unemployment Fund) for all workers, public and private, who due to emergency Paid sick leave reasons must remain at home without the possibility of remote work Social (USD $ 2 billion). Insurance Health insurance Pensions Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies https://www.cnnchile.com/pais/gobierno-entrega-2-millones-canastas-alimentos_20200518/ 119 https://cdn.wfp.org/2020/school-feeding-map/ 120 122 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act China ● ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • The latest government policy directive (6 March 2020) instructed local governments to extend coverage of dibao and temporary assistance programs, simplify the application and approval process, and increase the benefit level to cover the families who are affected by the epidemic (both directly through infection and indirectly through economic impacts). Examples are available at local level (information collected by WBG): - In Hubei province, RMB 500 for urban Dibao recipients and RMB 300 Social for rural Dibao recipients were transferred as temporary living Cash transfers Assistance allowance subsidies. Temporary assistance (emergency help in nature) (conditional and unconditional) supported more than 13000 people with cash transfer of RMB 30 million and provided temporary resettlement for more than 6000 people in 69 sites. - In Chongqing, a transfer of twice the monthly Dibao amount was introduced to some recipients if they were infected as temporary assistance. - In Shenzhen, the amount of cash transfer as temporary assistance could range between 2-18 times of the local Dibao threshold based on the individual recipient's situation. 123 • Cash transfer for retention migrant population in Wuhan. One-time One-off cash transfers cash assistance of RMB 3000. (new – Wuhan) Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave Health insurance Pensions Unemployment benefits • Between February and June 2020, all enterprises enrolled in China's Social Security Schemes are exempt from making employer Social contributions to pension, unemployment, and work-related injury Insurance insurance schemes. 121 For instance, this is the case of the Hubei province. For other provinces and cities (except Hubei), micro, small, Social security contributions and medium-sized enterprises are exempt from making employer contributions to pension, unemployment, and work-related injury insurance schemes. Large enterprises may reduce employer contributions to pension, unemployment, and work-related injury insurance schemes by 50%. • The measures include: (i) coordination across line ministries and between migrant-sending and receiving regions to provide Labor Activation measures transportation and employment services to support return to work; (ii) Markets enhanced use of UI funds to provide public employment and online learning and training services; and (iii) expanded online recruitment, 121 https://home.kpmg/cn/en/home/insights/2020/02/china-tax-alert-15.html 124 online employment guidance and postponing face to face interview to support job search of college graduates. Labor market regulations Reduced work time Wage subsidies • As part of general guidance to provinces, China is encouraging the use of unemployment insurance funds to provide wage and job subsidies to enterprises, in particular for SMEs. The amount varies by locality, but for example in Nanjing, it has been 100 yuan per worker per day 125 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Côte d’lvoire ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others Social School feeding Assistance Public works • To promote the use of electronic payment tools the Western Africa Central Bank (BCEAO) is providing more flexible measures to open a mobile money and making transfers between people backed by electronic money free. Utility waivers • Postpone, for all subscribers, the payment deadlines for electricity and water bills, from April to July 2020, and from May to August 2020. To this end, payment facilities will be offered for relieve populations. Moreover, the government will take charge of the electricity and water bills, to be paid in April and May 2020, disadvantaged groups, that is 126 households subscribed to the social electricity tariff, and households billed only in the social tranche for water. This concerns more than a million households, or around 6 million of our fellow citizens. Paid sick leave Health insurance ocial Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 127 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Colombia ● ● ● ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • Two existing programs will pay additional benefits: - One additional cash payment to 2.6M households that are beneficiaries of Familias en Acción. Transfer is of COP 145,000 ($98 in 2011 PPP) - One additional cash payment to 204,000 beneficiaries of Jóvenes en Acción (COP 356,000, or $240). (all vertical expansion) Social • Another special measure consists in anticipating the implementation Cash transfers Assistance of the VAT Refund to the Poor Program that is expected to distribute (conditional and unconditional) 3% of the funds collected as VAT to the most vulnerable families. The transfer is nearly COP 80,000 per household ($47). This program was scheduled to start on January 2021, with a pilot of 100.000 families; however, now it will start on April 8, 2020, and will include around 1M people among the most vulnerable segments of the population 122. 122 https://www.eltiempo.com/politica/gobierno/coronavirus-en-colombia-medidas-del-gobierno-para-evitar-el-pico-del-covid-19-475032 128 • New cash transfer program, “solidarity income”, includes a one-off payment of COP 160,000 ($108) 123 for informal workers and their families. These include 3M households identified by via SISBEN and tax collection databases. Payment is planned for week of March 30-April 5 through bank account for half of identified households who have those; through electronic payments through cells phones for others. 124 (new) • A program called “Bogotá Solidaria En Casa” will provide poor and vulnerable families of the District with cash for the 23-day quarantine One-off cash transfers (03/25-04/13) to prevent them to have to get out their home to a daily subsistence income. The transfer is estimated to cover ~70% of their expenditure. Conditions and requirements include comply with quarantine and not having been reported of domestic violence. It will benefit 500,000 families (350,000 ‘poor’ and 150,000 ‘vulnerable’ ones) identified via 2018 Census, SISBEN, and District’s own data (plus data from cell phone operators). Transfer includes COP 423,000 ($286) for the poor, COP 178,000 for the vulnerable ($120). (new – Bogota) Childcare support • Anticipation of cash payment to 1.7M beneficiaries of Colombia Adulto Mayor program to support consumption (This is the old-age subsidy program for the poor and extreme poor over 60+ years old population). This includes 3 monthly payments for March, April, and May (total of COP 70,000) advanced to March 25 and April 6. Social pensions • Colombia Mayor (Unconditional transfers for destitute older adults, who do not have a pension or live in extreme poverty or indigence) will pay a single payment for 1.7 million older adults worth COP $240,000 (US$68). (new) In-kind transfers https://www.eltiempo.com/politica/gobierno/ultimas-medidas-anunciadas-por-ivan-duque-antes-de-la-cuarentena-nacional-476678 123 https://id.presidencia.gov.co/Paginas/prensa/2020/Hoy-tenemos-identificados-3-millones-hogares-en-la-informalidad-sabemos-donde-estan-y-en-municipios-afirmo-Diego- 124 Mol-200325.aspx 129 • ICBF delivers “reinforced food baskets for children and women at nutritional risk” to 1.7M household beneficiaries of ICBF programs. • Voucher for food basket delivered by the Red Cross and including in- Food, vouchers, others kind donations from supermarket chains (people and firms can donate through a new platform: bogotasolidariaencasa.gov.co) • On March 24, 2020, the government of Colombia announced that children that benefit from the national school feeding programme - Programa de Alimentacion Escolar (PAE) – will continue to receive meals at home during the COVID-19-induced nation-wide school School feeding closures. The government intends to implement the measure within the same week of the announcement and will not only cover the next few weeks but also plans to cover the coming few months 125126 Public works • Water services are provided free of charge for low income families (strata 1 and 2). 127 Also, financial relief measures will be provided to individuals and families (and all-sized enterprises) that are not able to pay their financial obligations. This relief will be active for around two months. The measure includes the possibility to freeze all credit payments, including mortgages, car loans, credit cards, etc. Utility waivers • The district government will issue a decree that would allow the exemption of the payment of public services for a month for the houses and apartments of Bogotá. The measure would apply to services utilized between March 20 and April 20. 128 • In addition, large financial institutions such as Bancolombia, Grupo Aval and Davivienda froze for three months all credit payments 125 https://id.presidencia.gov.co/Paginas/prensa/2020/Ministra-de-Educacion-anuncia-que-los-estudiantes-beneficiarios-del-PAE-recibiran-alimentos-en-sus-casas-200324.aspx 126 https://cdn.wfp.org/2020/school-feeding-map/ 127 https://www.colombia.com/actualidad/nacionales/ivan-duque-anuncia-medidas-economicas-a-causa-del-covid-19-264409 128 https://www.dinero.com/pais/articulo/coronavirus-por-que-el-distrito-no-cobrara-un-mes-de-servicios-publicos/283207 130 including mortgages and consumption credits for individuals, and microcredits for SMEs. Paid sick leave Health insurance • Anticipation of cash payment to 1.7M beneficiaries of Colombia Adulto Mayor program to support consumption (This is the old-age subsidy program for the poor and extreme poor over 60+ years old population). Pensions This includes 3 monthly payments for March, April, and May (total of COP 70,000) advanced to March 25 and April 6. • Unemployment Payments and paid social security (health and pensions payments) for formal workers that lost their jobs due to the COVID-19. The Ministry of Labor, through the Cajas de Compensaciones, will provide three monthly unemployment payments Social Unemployment benefits for those formal workers that lost their jobs due to the COVID-19. Insurance Over the three months, the beneficiaries will receive up to 2 monthly minimum wages in total (COP 1’961.314) and paid social security mandatory contributions to the health and pensions systems. 129 • Advances from the Unemployment Mandatory Savings (Cesantías). The Ministry of Labor issued a decree allowing workers affected by the COVID-19 to request an advance from their Unemployment Mandatory Saving (Cesantías) to cover any labor income gap caused Social security contributions by the COVID-19. (admin adaptation) • A two-month suspension of pension contributions by both employees and employers. Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 129 https://coronaviruscolombia.gov.co/Covid19/acciones-25-marzo.html 131 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Congo, Dem. Rep ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions Social In-kind transfers Assistance Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works • the State is providing free water and electricity services to all Utility waivers households for two months 130 Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions 130 https://zoom-eco.net/a-la-une/rdc-letat-rend-gratuite-la-fourniture-deau-et-delectricite-aux-menages-durant-deux-mois/ 132 Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 133 ( ack to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Congo ● ● Cash-based transfers • 100, 000 families affected by COVID-19 to receive around 50 000 Cash transfers CFA each (around 5 billion CFA). (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers Social • 16, 000 people chiefly elderly, children and student looked down to Assistance receive food and hygiene packages. Food, vouchers, others • For the entire 12 administrative regions of the country, communication packages on covid-19 and hygiene materials have been distributed (the cost is over 200 million CFA) School feeding Public works Utility waivers Social Paid sick leave Insurance Health insurance 134 Pensions Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 135 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Cook Islands ● ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • For each child (age 0-16), currently already on the child benefit, an additional $100 on top of the current $50 will be allocated for every fortnight during closure of school outside of the school holidays. Application process not required. For each child, not currently on the Cash transfers child benefit, an allocation of $100 will be allocated for every fortnight (conditional and unconditional) during closure of school outside of the school holidays. Application process required. 131 (vertical expansion) Social Assistance • One-off Payment to be paid on top of the current welfare payment next fortnight in the amount $400.00 per beneficiary. This one-off support is to assist the most vulnerable as they are not only at health One-off cash transfers risk from the COVID19 but also likely to be exposed to its economic impact. The cash is only available to those who are currently on the welfare list of infirm, destitute and pensioners. 132 Childcare support 131 https://www.intaff.gov.ck/covid19-response-package/family-elderly-children/school-closure-support/) 132 https://www.intaff.gov.ck/covid19-response-package/family-elderly-children/one-off-support-to-our-existing-beneficiaries-on-welfare-support/ 136 Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works Utility waivers • This support will only cover self-isolation as defined under the public health guidelines, where the employee is: (i) not sick, cannot perform work remotely and has been advised by the Ministry of Health to self- isolate; (ii) not sick but has to care for dependents who are required to Paid sick leave self-isolate or who are sick with COVID-19. In cases where the affected employee is not sick and can perform work remotely whilst in Social mandatory isolation, they will continue to be paid as per their usual Insurance rate of pay in agreement with their employer. 133 Health insurance Pensions Unemployment benefits Social security contributions • To assist businesses in upskilling their employees to improve their productivity for recovery phase. The training subsidy is based on minimum wage for 35hrs/weekly over an additional period of 3 months, available only to those businesses qualified for the wage subsidy. Employees have to be enrolled in an official training by the 1 July 2020 and to commence by 30 July 2020. If training has occurred prior to these dates, the payment will only be available from 1 July Labor Activation measures 2020. All training courses must be endorsed or provided by an Markets approved training entity and must run for a period of at least two months, at a minimum of 10 hours per week. Courses may include those provided through the Cook Islands Tertiary Training Institute, University of the South Pacific, and other courses offered by recognized official organizations, such as those offered by online institutions. 134 133 https://www.intaff.gov.ck/covid19-response-package/businesses/self-isolation-and-quarantine-cover/ 134 https://www.intaff.gov.ck/covid19-response-package/businesses/training-subsidy/ 137 Labor market regulations Reduced work time Wage subsidies • Wage subsidy is based on minimum wage for 35hrs/weekly over a period of 3 months: - $266 per week for a full-time employee working 20 hours per week or more; - $133 per week for a part-time employee working between 5 and 19 hours per week. 135 135 https://www.intaff.gov.ck/covid19-response-package/businesses/wage-subsidy/ 138 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Costa Rica ● ● ● ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • The implementation of the conditional cash transfer program Avancemos will keep being active with transfers depending on grade levels ($40-$62). Similarly, the Crecemos program, which delivers an average of $35 scholarship per student, will not be interrupted. Social Cash transfers • Emergency benefit (one-off 125k colones – USD 223K) for 33K poor Assistance (conditional and unconditional) families in the social registry (SINIRUBE) who do not receive any social transfers 136 • Monthly subsidy of 200K colones (USD 352) for three months to 375,000 families economically affected by COVID-19 One-off cash transfers 136 https://www.facebook.com/InstitutoMixtodeAyudaSocial/posts/4444580622234748 139 • Social services for social transfer beneficiaries – nurseries open for those workers that need to work even during the containment Childcare support measures/partial lockdown 137 • Expansion of 10K non-contributory social pension 138 Social pensions In-kind transfers • Special food packages and sanitary items are delivered for families in Food, vouchers, others extreme poverty. 139 • Government switched to take home rations, after unsuccessfully piloting to keep school canteens open amid school. Food baskets School feeding include perishables and fresh foods sourced from smallholder farmers. Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave Health insurance • About 70% of pensioners will receive their pension in advance of a week early. 140 Pensions • Authorization for complementary pension operators to provide partial funds to employees affected by COVID-19. Social Insurance • As compensation for the reduction in working hours and pay (legislation passed as response to the Covid-19 crisis), for dismissal and for fall in informal worker income, the government has put forward the Bono Unemployment benefits Proteger. Noitice. Two levels of benefit: - (i) 125k colones (USD 223) – unemployed, contract suspended, formal workers with more than 50% cut in working hours and pay and informal workers 137 https://www.presidencia.go.cr/comunicados/2020/04/red-nacional-de-cuido-y-desarrollo-infantil-mantiene-operaciones/ 138 https://semanariouniversidad.com/pais/mas-de-126-000-personas-recibiran-beneficios-de-inyeccion-millonaria-a-regimen-no-contributivo-de-la-caja/ 139 https://www.presidencia.go.cr/comunicados/2020/03/gobierno-declara-estado-de-emergencia-nacional-impide-llegada-de-extranjeros-y-se-suspende-lecciones-en-todos- los-centros-educativos-del-pais/ 140 https://www.presidencia.go.cr/comunicados/2020/03/gobierno-declara-estado-de-emergencia-nacional-impide-llegada-de-extranjeros-y-se-suspende-lecciones-en-todos- los-centros-educativos-del-pais/ 140 - (ii) 62,500 colones (USD 112) – less than 50% reduction in working hours and pay. • 3-month deferral for social security contribution and some taxes Social security contributions (including self-employed workers) Activation measures • To compensate (formal) workers having experienced reductions in working hours or contract suspensions, the government approved Labor Labor market regulations changes in the criteria to access the fund for severance payments Markets (FCL). Reduced work time Wage subsidies 141 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Croatia ● ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Social Childcare support Assistance Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave Health insurance Pensions Social Insurance Unemployment benefits • Government of Croatia will pay pension contributions for both public Social security contributions DB scheme and funded DC individual accounts for the next 3 months (with possibility of extension for another three months) parallel with 142 net wage subsidy of HRK 4000 per employee in a sector/establishment that qualifies for the support. Activation measures Labor market regulations Reduced work time Wage subsidies • Payment of HRK 4,000 (~USD 570) net per worker to support entrepreneurs who are facing difficulties preserving jobs or paying workers’ salaries. Additionally, the Government will cover the health Labor and pension benefit costs of these workers, or HRK 1,460 per Markets employee. The government has also instituted full or partial exemption from income tax, profit tax and health and pension benefits for all coronavirus-stricken entrepreneurs, i.e for entrepreneurs who have seen a year-over-year decline in revenue of 20-50%. So far, the benefit has been requested by 66,000 entrepreneurs for more than 400,000 employees. 141 141 https://vlada.gov.hr/vijesti/vlada-na-sjednici-donijela-mjere-za-pomoc-gospodarstvu/29137 143 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Cuba ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social Social pensions Assistance In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time 144 Wage subsidies • Wage support for vulnerable people: Older adults and people with some pathology, who are more vulnerable to falling ill with Covid-19, will receive one hundred percent of their salary during the first month they remain at home, and from the second month on, sixty percent of their salary. 142 142 http://www.radioreloj.cu/es/destacadas/trabajadores-cubanos-protegidos-ante-el-nuevo-coronavirus/ 145 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Curaçao (Netherlands) ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers Social • Emergency food and hygiene package of ANG 50, to be provided Assistance weekly for the duration of 1 month to 550 families (intended) based on established criteria. Implementing organization: Food Bank. Food, vouchers, others • Emergency hygiene package of ANG 16, - with hygienic items in connection with Coronavirus, to be provided monthly to 7,200 welfare recipients for one month. Implementing organization: Kas di Bario" 143 School feeding Public works Utility waivers Social Paid sick leave Insurance Health insurance 143 https://www.curacaochronicle.com/post/main/update-covid-19-solidarity-package-emergency-measures-for-mitigating-the-effects-of-the-crisis/ 146 Pensions Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 147 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Cyprus ● ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social Social pensions Assistance In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works Utility waivers • Granting of a “Special Leave” to parents who are employed in the private sector for the care of children up to 15 years old (including the Paid sick leave Social third grade of gymnasium) due to the suspension of classes in schools, Insurance both public and private, in nurseries and kindergartens 144. Health insurance Pensions 144 https://www.pio.gov.cy/en/press-releases-article.html?id=12671#flat 148 • Payment of Special Unemployment Benefit for workers from Unemployment benefits suspended businesses 145 Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies • Wage subsidies to small businesses (up to 5 people) 146 145 https://www.pio.gov.cy/en/press-releases-article.html?id=12971#flat 146 https://www.pio.gov.cy/en/press-releases-article.html?id=12671#flat 149 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Czechia ● ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Social Childcare support Assistance Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor • The government approved a proposal for legislative changes in the Markets Labor market regulations field of employment. It will now be possible for a job seeker to register 150 at the Labor Office online and from anywhere. Persons registered with the Labor Office will now have up to 3 days to prove a medical certificate in case of illness. 147 Reduced work time Wage subsidies • On Tuesday, March 31, 2020, the government approved a proposal to modify the Antivirus program. Applying for wages and salaries will be easy. The Antivirus employment protection program is designed to help businesses protect their jobs. The state will use the Labor Office of the Czech Republic to compensate companies for the funds paid out. This measure will help employers better manage the current situation and will not have to resort to layoffs. Employers whose economic activity will be at risk due to the spread of the disease will be granted a contribution to pay, in whole or in part, wage compensation due to the employee due to an obstacle on the part of the employee (quarantine) closure) if it is shown that the obstacle to work is due to COVID-19. The contribution will be provided by the Labor Office of the Czech Republic. The amount of compensation paid to employers is derived from the average super-gross wage, including mandatory contributions (CZK 48,400) and depends on the reasons why they had to put employees at a barrier to work. Employers will be able to apply to the Labor Office for a contribution in two modes. Mode A - type of obstacle: in the case of quarantine, the employee is paid 60% of the average reduced earnings; in the event of closure of the operation by a government order, the employee receives 100% wage compensation; Mode B - type of obstacle: Obstacles to work on the part of the employer due to quarantine or childcare of a significant part of employees (30% or more) - the employee receives 100% of average wage compensation Restricting the availability of inputs (raw materials, products, services) necessary for the activity - the employee receives a wage compensation of 80% of the average earnings 147 https://www.mpsv.cz/ 151 Reduction of demand for services, products and other products of the company - employee receives wage compensation 60% of average earnings. 148 148 https://www.mpsv.cz/web/cz/antivirus 152 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Denmark ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Social Childcare support Assistance Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time 153 Wage subsidies • The Danish government would cover 75% of employees’ salaries if firms committed not to lay off workers. This program will last for three months, or until 9 June 2020. The subsidy will cover a maximum of 23,000 Danish krone/month ($3,418). 149 149 https://www.euractiv.com/section/coronavirus/news/danish-corona-hit-firms-get-state-aid-to-pay-75-of-salaries/ 154 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Dominica ● Cash-based transfers • (EC)$8 million approved from the Dominica Social Security to help people who would have lost their jobs (from the Redundancy Fund and the Employment Injury branch of the DSS). Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) • Plus, a minimum of $9.5 million from the government for relief payments to those who are financially challenged. More details expected new week. Social Assistance One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works Utility waivers Social Paid sick leave Insurance Health insurance 155 Pensions Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 156 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Dominican Republic ● ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • Expansion of the Comer Es Primero cash transfer programme, as follows: Vertical expansion of conditional transfers of the CEP - 100% increase in the amount transferred to families. Horizontal expansion - inclusion of 100,000 families in extreme poverty, moderate poverty and vulnerable sectors on the verge of becoming poor due to the shock of COVID 19. This expansion will deliver the same increased benefits that will be delivered to families that already participate in the program. These inclusions are Social Cash transfers temporary. Assistance (conditional and unconditional) Horizontal expansion - inclusion of formalized own-account workers who are listed in the Social Security Treasury (TSS) and who are at risk of falling into poverty due to the impact of the shock of the COVID 19. • Government has rolled out a ‘Stay at Home’ program (Quédate en Casa) with different elements, including (i) top-up to safety net of 5,000 pesos (US$92) for two months to 811,000 beneficiary families that have the Solidarity payment card to purchase food and basic necessities; (ii) horizontal expansion at the same amount 5,000 pesos 157 (US$92) to 690,000 nonpoor and vulnerable non-beneficiary families in the SIUBEN social registry. The payments are expected from April 1 to May 30; a special transfer totaling 7,000 pesos (US129) to over 350,000 households where the household head is vulnerable to COVID19.150 One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers • Economic Kitchens (Comedores Económicos) is serving more than 100,000 servings of cooked food every day, through its mobile Food, vouchers, others kitchens across the country. More than 22,000 basic food kits are also being distributed to children 0-5.151 • The National Institute of Student Welfare (Instituto Nacional de Bienestar Estudiantil) is distributing 1.8 million food kits to parents and tutors of students enrolled in the different modalities of the School School feeding Lunch Program (Programa de Almuerzo Escolar), replacing the cooked rations that receive daily.152 Public works Utility waivers • Paid leave for employees who are over 60 years of age and have a special Paid sick leave health condition. Social Insurance Health insurance Pensions Unemployment benefits Social security contributions 150 https://hoy.com.do/lea-aqui-el-discuros-completo-de-danilo-medina/amp/ 151 https://hoy.com.do/lea-aqui-el-discuros-completo-de-danilo-medina/amp/ 152 http://inabie.gob.do/index.php/new/244-un-millon-800-mil-raciones-seran-repartidas-en-escuelas 158 Activation measures Labor market regulations Reduced work time Wage subsidies • The government is covering up to 8,500 pesos (US $ 157) of the salary Labor of formal employees in economic sectors that have temporarily Markets stopped operations. For those companies that have not yet suspended operations, the Economic Commission will work directly with them to provide coverage of a percentage of the salary, which can reach 8,500 pesos (US$157) per month, to keep workers on their payroll, thus facilitating job stability and household income. These measures, like the “Stay at Home” program, will be valid for two months. 159 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Ecuador ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • New cash transfer of $60 has been introduced for informal workers Cash transfers earning less than $400 per month 153. (new) (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Social Childcare support Assistance Social pensions In-kind transfers • Through the digital platform Giving a Hand, it will be possible to Food, vouchers, others choose kits of 5, 10 and 20 dollars, which will allow donations for people who need it most. School feeding Public works Utility waivers Social Paid sick leave Insurance Health insurance 153 https://www.eluniverso.com/noticias/2020/03/21/nota/7790391/coronavirus-bono-contingencia-60-dolares-trabajadores-informales 160 • The social security institute will postpone the payment of Pensions contributions for April, May and June 90 days for voluntary affiliates and non-dependencies. Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 161 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Egypt ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • Ministry of Social Solidarity is planning to add 60,000 families to Takaful and Karama programs and another 100 00 households to be added in FY 21 budget increasing it from EGP 18.5 billion to EGP 19.3 billion and to reach a total of 3.6 million households (including around 16 million beneficiaries). • Another 200K households (approx. 1 million beneficiaries) will also be added to receive a one-time-off cash payment of EGP 450-500 EGP for 3 months in addition to potential in-kind benefits with priority given to elderly, orphans, disabled and female-headed households. The Cash transfers Social households will be selected from MoSS Social Registry that includes (conditional and unconditional) Assistance around 30 million registered beneficiaries. Payment will done via post office for first payment and ATM card will be collected for 2nd and 3rd payments. • Moreover, increased payments are envisioned for women leaders in rural areas (EGP 900 per month instead of EGP 350). • A one-off monetary compensation (EGP 500 for 3 months will be One-off cash transfers offered to informal workers registered at the database of Ministry of 162 Labor and Manpower Payment will be done through post offices and banks Registration is still opened and is expected to cover 1.5 million individuals working in construction, ports, agriculture, fishing, plumber, electrician, etc. The first payment was processed in April 2020 via Post Offices (4,000 branches) and Agriculture Bank of Egypt (1,100 branches) as well as 600 schools used as payment site – a total of 5,700 outlets. Beneficiaries receive a free ATM card with their first payment in order to cash their 2nd and 3rd payment via post offices and/or banks. Accepted beneficiaries are notified via SMS regarding the location and time to visit to collect their first payment and ATM card, to avoid overcrowding and ensure the safety of beneficiaries. Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave Health insurance • Pensions have been increased by 14 percent in the budget of FY 21. (new) • To facilitate payments, pension payments are scattered over different Social Pensions days (depending on the level of your payment) and schools are also Insurance being used as payment sites. (admin/adaptation) • Mobile payments will be piloted in Luxor and Port-Said for the transfer of pension. (admin/adaptation) Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time 163 Wage subsidies • Egypt activated the Employees Emergency Fund that provide financial aids and subsidies to employees who had not been receiving salaries from companies facing the risk of closure due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The fund could be equivalent to 100% of basic insurance salary with a minimum of 600 EGP per month. By end of April 2020, The Ministry of Manpower issued payments (EGP 57 million) for 48,000 workers in 205 establishment non-performing companies in tourism sector 164 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act El Salvador ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • The government has pledged to give $300 to some 1.5 million households (75%) who work in the informal economy such as house cleaners and street vendors who lack a financial safety net. The Cash transfers government targeted households using electricity usage: any (conditional and unconditional) household with monthly consumption of 0-250 kilowatts/ per hour got the transfers. This criterion spurred some protests from people Social who demand to be included in the new scheme. 154 Assistance One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works 154 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-elsalvador-trfn/lockdown-broken-in-el-salvador-as-crowds-gather-for-government-aid-idUSKBN21H3IB 165 • The government has granted a waiver for utility bills payments for individuals and legal entities directly affected by curfew enacted because of COVID-19 for three months. Utilities include electricity, water, telephone, cable, and internet. 155 Also, mortgage payments, Utility waivers personal loans, credit card payments, business loans were frozen for three months for individuals and legal entities directly affected by COVID-19. • The government has mandated private companies to ensure quarantine of particular worker categories, including those older than 60, pregnant women or those with preexisting conditions. These workers would receive a paid sick leave for 30 days. 156 Also, private companies (except those in the food, medical and other key sectors) Paid sick leave that decide to send all of their workers home on paid leave will be eligible for further government support. 157 Social Insurance • Leave with disability pay for quarantined workers, for the time required by health personnel Health insurance Pensions Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 155 https://twitter.com/PresidenciaSV/status/1240409234854088705 156 https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/haiti/article241249651.html 157 https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/haiti/article241249651.html 166 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Equatorial Guinea ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers Social • Decree 43/2020, The government will make contributions to finance Assistance the Public Social Guarantees Program against the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Public Social Guaranties Program will Food, vouchers, others guarantee: (I) basic food and basic necessities for identified households, (II) a basic personal and household hygiene kit for identified groups 158 159 School feeding Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave 158 https://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticia.php?id=15388 159 https://www.cabri-sbo.org/uploads/files/Covid19BudgetDocuments/UNOFFICIAL-TRANSLATION-DECREE-43-2020.pdf 167 Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 168 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Estonia ● ● ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Social Childcare support Assistance Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave Health insurance Pensions Social Insurance Unemployment benefits • The economic stimulus package includes temporary suspension of Social security contributions second pillar pension scheme payments 169 • The government offers online job search counselling and Activation measures intermediation 160 Labor market regulations Reduced work time Labor Wage subsidies • The Estonian Unemployment Insurance Fund will compensate 70% of Markets the average wages from the last 12 months but no more than Euro 1,000. The compensation is paid to those workers with no work to carry out, or whose wages were already cut because of the lack of workload. The cost of the decreased wages compensation measure is Euro 250M 161. 160 https://www.tootukassa.ee/eng/content/estonian-unemployment-insurance-fund-stop-serving-customers-all-office 161 https://www.sm.ee/en/news/government-approved-measure-supporting-employers-and-workers-difficulties-because-corona-virus 170 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Eswatini ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social Social pensions Assistance In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works • The increase in the price of electricity has been suspended for two Utility waivers months Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures 171 Labor market regulations Labor Reduced work time Markets Wage subsidies 172 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Ethiopia ● ● ● ● ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions Social In-kind transfers Assistance • Amhara Regional State: started providing flour, oil and sugar to "the poorest of the poor" in city of Bahir Dar 162 Food, vouchers, others • City of Adama (Oromia): started providing bread and water for those who need assistance during the stay at home order 163 162 https://twitter.com/Ethiopialiveupd/status/1246746208854519808 163 https://www.facebook.com/adamaastu/?__tn__=%2Cd%2CP-R&eid=ARAmyt6NH5xmSzfEfVZOGhvdJvfRuZl4Kxt9zc0fUVdT83xUiS55PZrsC9VHU2-XWhl6t7UGurN-KOK_ 173 • Addis Ababa City Administration: Allocated 600 million ETB for purchasing stockpile of food/other essential goods and distribute same to 800 retail shops 164. School feeding • Beneficiaries of the Urban Productive Safety Net Project (UPSNP) will receive advance 3 months payment while on leave from their public works obligations - Beneficiaries of the UPSNP will be able to withdraw 50% of their savings to cover expenses arising out of the COVID-19 emergency - Low-income citizens who are currently not benefitting from UPSNP will be covered by the Project and will receive 3 months advance payment - Citizens residing in 16 cities identified to be at high risk of COVID- 19 exposure and harm and who need assistance will receive 3 Public works months payment • Ethiopia Rural PSNP is adapting the following adjustments: - The public works requirement is waived since beginning of April - The program will scale up on horizontal and vertical for 3 to 6 months starting July. The estimated scale-up caseload is 1,000,000 people. Estimated cost $50-70 million. - It is likely that benefits will include a cash/ food mix. The cash benefit value will increase by about 22% for scale-up. • National Expansion of free public transport: government buses to provide free transportation service to the public in order to reduce overcrowding in the public transport system. 165 Utility waivers • Tigray State: a moratorium on evictions and reduction of rents by half. 166 164 https://www.facebook.com/MayorofAddis/?__tn__=kC- R&eid=ARAHlQ19jivML1AMAsZiU0PtOzTjjYdvNrBYBD0Jf6wRGAU0RdB1_Nst6cDdiJXyCYKnFOOK6MEBmfF1&hc_ref=ARS2qs4MJZpGY3xygiBlXVVylrr41ve96kDwWAlXHrGQURJjjP DplzQT2YeBdY5CJZk&fref=nf 165 https://twitter.com/PMEthiopia/status/1239483664926457856 166 https://addisfortune.news/news-alert/tigray-state-orders-cafes-restaurants-closure/ 174 • Harari State: government employees who are at higher risk of COVID- 19 (elderly, pregnant women, those with underlying conditions) to stay Paid sick leave home while receiving their salaries 167 Social Insurance Health insurance Pensions Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures • Ethiopia prohibited companies from laying off workers and terminating employment in measures introduced as part of a state of Labor Labor market regulations emergency to stop the spread of the coronavirus. 168 Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 167 https://twitter.com/Ethiopialiveupd/status/1243116327461629952 168 https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-11/ethiopia-prohibits-company-layoffs-under-state-of-emergency 175 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Fiji ● ● ● ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) • Informal sector in the lockdown areas entitled to one-off Government relief payment of FJ$150 (US$66) where holding a street trader or One-off cash transfers hawker license • Fijians in the informal sector who tested positive for the virus to be paid a one-off sum of FJ$1,000 (US$443) 169 Social Childcare support Assistance Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works • Banks and hire purchase companies to offer six month deferral of loan Utility waivers repayments for Fijians who have lost their jobs or had their hours reduced. Also available to businesses 169 https://home.kpmg/xx/en/home/insights/2020/04/fiji-government-and-institution-measures-in-response-to-covid.html 176 • Banks to waive all charges on minimum balances in customer’s accounts and remove minimum purchasing requirement for electronic transactions • Government to fund 21 days COVID- 19 leave for Fijian employees Paid sick leave earning less than FJ$30,000 who have tested positive for the virus 170 Health insurance Pensions • Fijian workers in the hospitality sector who have lost their jobs or have had their hours cut since 1 February 2020 able to access an initial Social $1,000 from their FNPF accounts, with additional funds to be Insurance considered Unemployment benefits • Employees affected by the nationwide stipulated physical distancing requirements, along with employees in the Lautoka confined area who have been placed on leave without pay or had their hours cut, able to access an initial $500 from their FNPF accounts • Effective from 1 April 2020 to 31 December 2020 reduction in Social security contributions employee and employer FNPF contribution from 8 percent and 10 percent to 5 percent respectively Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 170 https://home.kpmg/xx/en/home/insights/2020/04/fiji-government-and-institution-measures-in-response-to-covid.html 177 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Finland ● ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social Social pensions Assistance In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works Utility waivers • Kela (the national Social Insurance institution) can pay a sickness allowance to: - employees who have been ordered to stay away from work in order to prevent the spread of a communicable disease such as Social the novel coronavirus. Paid sick leave Insurance - provider of a child under the age of 16 who is placed in quarantine, making it impossible for the provider to continue working while the quarantine is in effect. - There is no waiting period to qualify for such sickness allowance, and the allowance provides full compensation for the loss of 178 income suffered during a period of absence from work, isolation or quarantine. - For employees, the sickness allowance is determined on the basis of the salary they would have earned if able to continue working. For self-employed persons, the allowance is determined on the basis of their annual earnings under the Self-Employed Persons’ (YEL) or Farmers’ (MYEL) Pensions Acts at the beginning of the absence. - Payment of the allowance requires the affected person to present to Kela a decision from the physician in charge of infectious disease response for the municipality or hospital district which indicates that the affected person has been barred from work or placed in isolation or quarantine. - Persons who have been placed in isolation or quarantine in an EU country can be paid a daily allowance. The placement in isolation or quarantine must be certified by a physician authorized to issue an isolation or quarantine order in the relevant country. - The allowance provides compensation for loss of income and is therefore payable only for days in which the affected person cannot work due to placement in isolation or quarantine. The allowance is not available for example if it coincides with a leave of absence or if telecommuting would be an option. Proof of the loss of income must be presented in the form of documentation from the employer. 171 Health insurance Pensions • Workers laid off can claim income-linked benefits, provided they are a member of an unemployment fund through their trade union or independently. Unemployment benefits • In addition, the government will eliminate the waiting period before people can claim unemployment benefits, and allow freelancers and https://www.kela.fi/web/en/news-archive/-/asset_publisher/lN08GY2nIrZo/content/sickness-allowance-on-account-of-an-infectious-disease-provides-loss-of-income- 171 compensation-for-persons-placed-in-quarantine 179 sole traders to claim unemployment benefits without shutting down their businesses 172. • Fiscal measures include lower pension contributions through the remainder of 2020. Pension funds may grant, upon application, a Social security contributions postponement up to 3 months for pension premiums paid by employers and self-employed individuals. Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 172 https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/finland_announces_15bn_support_package_to_prop_up_economy/11267534 180 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act France ● ● Cash-based transfers • Guarantee payment of benefits by the Family Allowance Funds if the quarterly declaration of resources is not possible. (admin adaptation). • An "emergency aid" of 150 euros per family receiving active solidarity income (RSA) or specific solidarity allowance (ASS), to which will be Cash transfers added 100 euros per child will be paid on May 15. Families who do not (conditional and unconditional) benefit from the RSA or SSA, but who receive housing assistance, will Social receive 100 euros per child. Their payment "will be automatic, without Assistance any action being necessary" and will concern "more than four million households"173 (vertical expansion) • A transfer of Euro 1,500 will be provided to the self-employed and other SMEs as part of the solidarity fund 174 (new) One-off cash transfers • A bonus for all civil servants who pursue their public service mission, despite confinement, up to 1,000 euros in tax-free bonuses are provided. 173 https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2020/04/15/coronavirus-emmanuel-macron-souhaite-un-moratoire-sur-la-dette-des-pays-africains_6036639_823448.html 174 https://www.gouvernement.fr/info-coronavirus 181 • At the national level, on April 15th, the Government has announced a one-off payment of 100 euros per child for vulnerable families to mitigate the additional financial burden for families because of coronavirus, including the unavailability of nearly free school meals for children. Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others • Additionally in France where school feeding programmes are managed at the sub-national level, several modalities have been implemented in different areas of the country. The municipalities of Marseille, Paris or Brest, as well as the county of Haute-Gavonne had announced cash School feeding transfers or food stamps to mitigate the unavailability of school meals. In the county of Meurthe-et-Moselle, the local authorities have decided to deliver school meals to the home of the most vulnerable children enrolled in middle schools 175 Public works Utility waivers • People placed in isolation will benefit from “sick leave and daily benefits” of up to 20 days without “waiting period”. The measure also Paid sick leave applies to parents whose children are subject to isolation and who cannot, therefore, go to work. Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance • Special unemployment benefits for employees who stop working. The company compensates 70% of gross wages (about 84% of net). Minimum wage earners or less are compensated 100%. The company Unemployment benefits will be fully reimbursed by the state for those earning up to 6,927 euros gross monthly— that is, 4.5x minimum wage 176. 175 https://cdn.wfp.org/2020/school-feeding-map/index.html 176 https://www.gouvernement.fr/sites/default/files/contenu/piece-jointe/2020/03/brochure_fiches_pratiques_sur_les_mesures_de_soutien.pdf 182 Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 183 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Gabon ● ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions Social In-kind transfers Assistance Food, vouchers, others • Granting of food aid to people in distress and emergency situations School feeding Public works • Payment of water and electricity bills for the most vulnerable and economically weak people 177 Utility waivers • Suspension during the time of confinement of rent payments for people with no income 178 Paid sick leave Social Health insurance Insurance Pensions 177 https://www.minefcovid19.ga/# 178 https://home.kpmg/xx/en/home/insights/2020/04/gabon-government-and-institution-measures-in-response-to-covid.html 184 Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Labor Activation measures Markets Labor market regulations Reduced work time Wage subsidies 185 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Gambia, The ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social Social pensions Assistance In-kind transfers • Over GMD734 million (US$14.7m) are allocated to support 84% of Food, vouchers, others households countrywide. Such support includes rice, oil and sugar 179. School feeding Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures 179 http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/president-adama-barrows-4th-address-to-the-nation-on-the-national-response-to-covid-19 186 Labor market regulations Labor Reduced work time Markets Wage subsidies 187 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Georgia ● ● ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • Government postpone recertification procedures of TSA beneficiaries, simplified the TSA application and enrollment procedures. (admin adaptation) • On May 4th, the Government signed the resolution introducing the three following temporary cash transfers (monthly benefits): - Families with a PMT rating score of 65,000 - 100,000 will receive a flat benefit of 100 GEL for up to 6 months. This will benefit Social about 70,000 families and 45 million GEL (about Cash transfers $14.13m/€13.10m) is allocated for it. Assistance (conditional and unconditional) - Families with a PMT rating score of 0 - 100,000 who have three and more children under the age 16will receive a top-up benefit of 100 GEL for Targeted Social Assistance for up to 6 months. This will benefit about 21,000 families. The budget for this assistance is 13 million GEL (about $4.08m/€3.78m). - Persons with severe disabilities and children with disabilities will receive a a direct transfer of 100 GEL for up to 6 months. About 40,000 citizens will benefit and 25 million GEL (about $7.85m/€7.28m) will be spent on this assistance 180. 180 https://agenda.ge/en/news/2020/1273 188 • People employed in the informal sector or the self-employed will receive a one-time assistance of 300 GEL (about $94.19/€87.34) if One-off cash transfers they can substantiate claims of job loss – the budget for this is 75 million GEL (about $23.55m/€21.84m) 181. Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others • Food distribution is supported by local governments (municipalities) School feeding Public works • Out of pocket co-payments for COVID-related expenditures are fully subsidized by the government for all. • The government announced to subsidize utility fees for three months Utility waivers (March, April, May) which includes electricity bills, sanitary service, gas and water bills for households which consume less than 200 kWh of electricity and 200 cubic meters of natural gas per month. Paid sick leave Health insurance Pensions • People who lost their jobs because of the coronavirus crisis or are on Social unpaid leave will receive 1,200 GEL (about $376.77/€349.37) over the Insurance course of six months, which is 200 GEL (about $62.79/€58.23) per Unemployment benefits month. This assistance will apply to 350,000 citizens of Georgia. A total of 460 million GEL (about $144.43m/€133.92m) is allocated from the budget 182 Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time 181 https://agenda.ge/en/news/2020/1273 182 https://agenda.ge/en/news/2020/1273 189 Wage subsidies • Over the course of six months, salaries up to 750 GEL (about $235.48/€218.35) will be fully exempt from income tax - the budget for which is 250 million GEL (about $78.49m/€72.78m). 190 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Germany ● ● ● ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • Freelancers such as artists and nurses are to receive direct grants of Cash transfers up to Euro 15,000 over 3 months. A total of Euro 50B is planned for (conditional and unconditional) this purpose 183. One-off cash transfers • Parents who lose income due to COVID-19 can get easier access to child benefits. In addition, simplified process for a child grant Social (Kinderzuschlag) is put in place, with one-month income proof instead Childcare support Assistance of 6 months. Payment amount is up to Euro 185/child/month until September. Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works Utility waivers 183 https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/soziales/coronavirus-bundesregierung-beschliesst-umfangreiches-rettungspaket-a-2e96dfed-b307-4a47-a62b-ca81cf7be4a9 191 • Where the Infection Protection Act applies, for the first six weeks the amount provided as sick leave corresponds to the net salary, after Paid sick leave which the amount equals to sick leave benefits. 184 Health insurance Social Pensions • Pensions increase guaranteed by Merkel 185 Insurance Unemployment benefits • Social insurance contributions that employers must normally pay for their workforce will be fully reimbursed by the Federal Employment Social security contributions Agency. 186 Activation measures Labor market regulations • Further extensions to Kurzarbeit regulations (short-time work) allow companies to keep employees instead of laying them off. Employees work a reduced number of hours and get 60% of salary from the employer for up to 12 months (and the government pays their public Reduced work time social insurance contributions). Workers with children get 67% of the salary 187. (The government expects that, for economic reasons alone, Labor 2.15 million employees will benefit from such arrangements in Markets 2020) 188. Wage subsidies • Further extensions to Kurzarbeit regulations (short-time work) allow companies to keep employees instead of laying them off. Employees work a reduced number of hours and get 60% of salary from the employer for up to 12 months (and the government pays their public social insurance contributions). Workers with children get 67% of the salary . (The Federal Government expects that, for economic reasons alone, 2.15 million employees will benefit from such arrangements in 2020) . 184 https://www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de/en/press/2020/coronavirus.html 185 https://www.bccourier.com/merkel-guarantees-an-increase-in-pensions/ 186 https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-en/issues/kabinett-kurzarbeitergeld-1729898. 187 https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/soziales/coronavirus-bundesregierung-beschliesst-umfangreiches-rettungspaket-a-2e96dfed-b307-4a47-a62b-ca81cf7be4a9 188 https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/soziales/corona-krise-bundesregierung-erwartet-mehr-als-zwei-millionen-kurzarbeiter-a-5257c27d-33cc-4679-8c2d-af23f271d177 192 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Ghana ● ● ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers • The government announced hotlines for the needy communities and Social households to reach them for their food items during the Covid-19 lock Assistance down This act has really helped them to start up to provide food for Food, vouchers, others up to four hundred thousand (400, 000) individuals and homes in the affected areas of restrictions. Total cost is 280 million cedis. School feeding Public works • Beginning on Friday March 20, 2020, all mobile money transfers of Utility waivers GH¢100 and below will be free of charge from service providers for the next 3 months. 189 189 https://www.graphic.com.gh/business/business-news/coronavirus-it-is-now-free-to-send-gh-100-and-below-via-mobile-money.html 193 • Ministry of Finance announced tax waiver for health workers and water sanitation bills to cost GHS 441 million cedis. GHS 200 million cedis to cater for bills on water and sanitation and an additional GHS 241 million cedis to cover as a tax waiver for health personnel. Paid sick leave Health insurance • Ghana’s SSNIT announces Ghanian Cedis 500,000 as donation for Social Pensions COVID relief efforts. This money comes out of their reserves. Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 194 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Gibraltar (UK) ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social Social pensions Assistance In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave Health insurance Pensions Social Unemployment benefits Insurance • Employers in all sectors, during the second quarter of 2020, will be allowed to defer their payments of “pay as you earn” and social Social security contributions insurance (PAYE and SI) contributions by eight weeks from the due date 195 • The ayment of salaries to employees by affected businesses in the hospitality, leisure, distributive, and catering sectors will not be subject to PAYE or employee or employer social insurance contributions for the month of April 2020 Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies • 196 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Greece ● ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • A transfer of Euro 800 to employees in companies/businesses closed because of COVID (also self-employed workers); this also includes payment of their social security contributions 190. • Beneficiaries of the Social Solidary Income (SSI) Guaranteed Minimum Cash transfers Income program will not be required to submit a new application upon (conditional and unconditional) expiration of the benefit recertification period, unless they chose to do so. Three consecutive extensions have been granted for the approved Social benefits that have been expiring since February. The same extensions Assistance are also granted for the housing benefit. • A special financial support of Euro 534 was introduced for employees in businesses whose operation has been suspended under a State decision. The amount is tax-free, cannot be seized and cannot be One-off cash transfers offset against any debt. 191 • One-off income support was granted to households with minor dependents that are GMI/SSI-beneficiaries: Euro 100 for the first child + Euro 50 for all other children and up to max Euro 300 for each 190 https://www.minfin.gr/web/guest/deltia-typou/-/asset_publisher/4kjvD0lBldee/content/d-t-topothetese-tou-ypourgou-oikonomikon-k-chrestou-staikoura-gia-te-deutere- desme-metron-antimetopises-ton-epiptoseon-tou-koronoiou? 191 Art. 10, LA 01.05.2020 and JMD 17788/346/8.5.2020 FEK 1779/Β/10.5.2020. 197 beneficiary (single-parent or co-parent families). The decision was published in the government gazette on May 4, 2020 and the benefit is intended to be paid out in May. • Financial assistance of Euro 400 was introduced for 155,000 long- term unemployed individuals, registered with the Hellenic Manpower Employment Organization (OAED) from April 1, 2019, maintaining their status until April 16, 2020 and not receiving any other benefit from the State. 192 • Financial aid of Euro 600 to specific professionals i.e. economists / accountants, engineers, lawyers, doctors, teachers and researchers. • Employees in the wider national healthcare system as well as civil protection staff, who are in the frontline of the fight against the epidemic received the Easter bonus - a benefit that had been abolished in the public sector during the economic crisis. Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works • The Public Power Corporation (PPC) announced discounts on its tariffs, including the abolition of a flat rate charge for all consumers, an additional 8% for vulnerable customers and for consumption of over 2,000 kW as well as a Euro 5 discount for all e-bill customers, old and Utility waivers new. The measure will apply from March 26, 2020 for three months. • Tenants whose employment contract is suspended are allowed to pay only 60% of their monthly rent on main residence in March and April. The measure is extended until May for employees whose contract is still under suspension. Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance • Unemployment benefit payments will be extended by 2 months for Unemployment benefits those whose entitlement ends on 31 March. 193 192 JMD 15687/282/2020 FEK 1468/Β/16.4.2020. 193 Art. 7, LA - 20.03.2020 as amended by art. 24, LA - 30.03.2020. 198 Social security contributions Activation measures Labor market regulations • Temporary rotational work scheme was introduced (for up to six months – i.e. until September 2020): businesses that have been financially affected may unilaterally designate staff as safety personnel for the operation of their business. Each employee may work for a minimum of 2 weeks within a reference period of 1 month, continuously or intermittently. The measure shall apply to at least 50% Labor of staff. Employer is required to maintain the same headcount at the Markets Reduced work time time of entering such operation. 194 • Eligibility for special leave or part-time work without deduction from pay: all working in public sector parents of children enrolled in educational units whose operation has been suspended under a state decision. 195 • Eligibility for special purpose paid leave: all working in private sector parents of children enrolled in educational units whose operation has been suspended under a state decision. 196 Wage subsidies 194 Art. 9, LA - 20.03.2020 FEK 68/Α/20.03.2020. 195 Art. 5, par.3, LA - 11.03.2020. 196 Art. 4 par.3, LA - 11.03.2020, MD 17239/Δ1.5936, JMD 17787/520 FEK 1778/B/10.05.2020. 199 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Grenada ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • The SEED CCT adjusted payment delivery, including initiating payment Cash transfers delivery to beneficiaries aged 60 and over at their homes in March; (conditional and unconditional) and introducing additional payment points for all beneficiaries in each Parish (district) in April. One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social Social pensions Assistance In-kind transfers • Delivery of care packages of basic food items to affected and vulnerable persons and households in different constituencies. The Food, vouchers, others support is managed by the Prime Minister’s Office through Constituency Offices. Some care packages have also been made available due to private sector donations. School feeding Public works Utility waivers Social Paid sick leave Insurance Health insurance 200 Pensions • An EC$10 million (US$3.7 million) unemployment benefits package to Unemployment benefits be rolled out by the National Insurance Scheme 197 Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 197 https://www.nowgrenada.com/2020/04/fiscal-responsibility-key-to-governments-ability-to-provide-covid-19-stimulus-package/ 201 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Guatemala ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • Bono Social “Conditional Cash Transfer”. Government is waiving conditionality and making more agile payments. (admin adaptation) • The government introduced an emergency cash transfer “Bono Cash transfers Familia” 198 to reach 2 million beneficiaries during 3 months (1000 (conditional and unconditional) quetzals or US$130 per month/beneficiary) Targeting is based on electricity consumption (<200whz) for areas with electricity (90% of Social beneficiaries). In areas with limited access to electricity, targeting is Assistance based on socio-economic characteristics (10% of beneficiaries). (new) One-off cash transfers Childcare support • Expansion of the non-contributory program “Adulto Mayor” (100 million quetzals or 13 million dollars). Implemented by Ministry of Social pensions Labor. 199 In-kind transfers 198 Decree 13-2020 April 8 2020 and AG 57 2020 April 16 2020 199 Decree 12-2020 April 1 2020 202 • Food transfers and vouchers for food, medicine and inputs to prevent COVID-19. Program for vulnerable families, including elderly, elderly in nursery homes. Program jointly implemented by Ministry of Social Food, vouchers, others Development and Ministry of Agriculture (700 million quetzals or US$ 91million) 200 • Parent associations, which already received for the school meals School feeding program to organize take-home rations for pick up at school level. 201 Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor market regulations Reduced work time Labor Wage subsidies • Wage subsidy to formal workers in private sector whose contract has Markets been suspended with the approval of the Ministry of Labor (75 quetzals or 9.7 dollars per day). Total 2000 million of quetzals (US$260 million). Executed by National Mortgage Corporation Bank. 202 200 Decree 12-2020 April 1 2020 201 https://cdn.wfp.org/2020/school-feeding-map/ 202 Decree 13-2020 April 8 2020 203 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Guernsey (UK) ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • The States of Guernsey (UK) has set up a Hardship Fund to provide emergency support for people in immediate financial need who may not otherwise qualify for unemployment benefit, sickness benefit or income support. Payments are for essential items such as food, Cash transfers toiletries, cleaning products, etc. The Hardship Fund does not cover (conditional and unconditional) rent or mortgage interest payments. The weekly rates payable are: - £100 for the first adult in the household Social - £80 for the second adult in the household Assistance - £55 per child in the household 203 One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works Utility waivers 203 https://covid19.gov.gg/guidance/benefits 204 • The government will pay up to 163 euro/week to workers who are Paid sick leave unable to work due to illness 204 Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance • The government will pay up to 163 euro/week to unemployed people Unemployment benefits who are looking for work with an employer 205. Social security contributions Activation measures Labor market regulations Reduced work time Wage subsidies • The government is launching Coronavirus Payroll Co-Funding Scheme which will pay employees an amount equivalent to Guernsey (UK)’s Labor minimum wage. This is currently set at £8.50 per hour (£8.05 for 16- Markets and 17-year olds). For a 35-hour week this figure would equate to a gross figure of £298. The States of Guernsey (UK) will meet 80% of this figure (i.e. £238 per week based on a 35 hour week). Employers must make up the remaining 20% (equivalent to £60 per week). Employers are encouraged to ‘top-up’ these amounts further if they are able to do so. The support is available for an initial period of up to three months (13 weeks). This will cover the period to late June 206. 204 https://covid19.gov.gg/guidance/benefits 205 https://covid19.gov.gg/guidance/benefits 206 https://home.kpmg/xx/en/home/insights/2020/04/Guernsey (UK)-government-and-institution-measures-in-response-to-covid.html 205 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Guinea ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • ANIES also has introduced a new cash transfers program of 250.000GNF per month for 240,000 households (1.6 million people) in Cash transfers various parts of Guinea including Conakry. The program take place (conditional and unconditional) from June to December 2020. (new) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social Social pensions Assistance In-kind transfers • The country new Social Protection agency, the Agence Nationale d’Inclusion Economique et Sociale (ANIES) will distribute sanitation kits to 130,900 households (more than 850,000 people) in 102 sub- Food, vouchers, others prefectures (1,920 districts) and the special zone of Conakry. This phase will take place from April 2020. School feeding Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave 206 Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 207 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Guinea-Bissau ● ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers Social • 20,000 bags of rice and 10,000 bags of sugar were distributed across Assistance Food, vouchers, others the country, costing CFAF 525 million (US$ 0.9 million or 0.06 percent of GDP) 207 School feeding Public works • To promote the use of electronic payment tools the Western Africa Central Bank (BCEAO) is providing more flexible measures to open a Utility waivers mobile money and making transfers between people backed by electronic money free. Paid sick leave 207 https://www.imf.org/en/Topics/imf-and-covid19/Policy-Responses-to-COVID-19 208 Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 209 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Haiti ● ● ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) • The government announced a one-off cash transfer to 1.5 million One-off cash transfers vulnerable families. Social Childcare support Assistance Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others • In-kind transfers to 1 million families announced on March 27th. School feeding Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time 210 Wage subsidies • Wage subsidies for 60,000 workers were announced for the textile industry as well as compensation for 100,000 teachers. 211 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Honduras ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions Social In-kind transfers Assistance • The state-run Honduras Solidaria program will provide food Food, vouchers, others commodities and hygiene products to 800,000 families (an estimated 3.2 million individuals) every two weeks for the next 30 days. School feeding Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Labor Activation measures Markets Labor market regulations 212 Reduced work time Wage subsidies 213 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Hong Kong (China) ● ● Cash-based transfers • An extra 1-month allowance is planned for the Comprehensive Social Cash transfers Security Assistance (CSSA) payment, Old Age Allowance, Old Age (conditional and unconditional) Living Allowance, or Disability Allowance. Similar arrangements will apply to the Work Incentive Transport Subsidy. • A one-off transfer of HK$ 10,000 (US$ 1,280) is planned for permanent residents over the age of 18. This measure, which involves a cost of about HK$71 billion, is expected to benefit about 7 million One-off cash transfers people. A Community Care Fund has been designated to extend this Social assistance to more recent immigrants who are low income and have Assistance not yet achieved permanent residency status. Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works • The government will cover one month of rent for lower-income Utility waivers tenants living in public rental units. Social Paid sick leave Insurance Health insurance 214 Pensions Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Labor Activation measures Markets Labor market regulations Reduced work time Wage subsidies 215 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Hungary ● ● ● ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social Social pensions Assistance In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works • Loan repayment moratorium (both principal and interest) for both Utility waivers private individuals and companies until the end of the year. • Expiring benefits for persons currently on maternity leave will be Paid sick leave extended until the end of state of emergency. Health insurance • An extra week of pension will be paid out every February during 2021- Social Pensions 24. Insurance Unemployment benefits • Sectors particularly affected by the crisis (tourism, hospitality, Social security contributions entertainment, sport, cultural services, personal transportation/taxi companies) are exempting employers from paying social security 216 contributions. Employees’ contributions are significantly reduced until 30 June; also, the health insurance premium is reduced to the statutory minimum. Activation measures • A plan is under discussion to relax labor regulations and facilitate Labor Labor market regulations collective negotiations in order to allow for easier altering of work Markets schedule and to allow for remote work. Reduced work time Wage subsidies 217 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Iceland ● ● ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers • Tentative plans are underway to stimulate private consumption via (conditional and unconditional) tax reduction or increased benefits. • Families with children under the age of 18 will receive a one-time child One-off cash transfers benefit payment on June 1, 2020 of ISK 20,000 (US$ 140) or ISK 40,000 (US$ 285) per child, depending on their income. Social Childcare support Assistance Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave Health insurance • During the next 15 months, individuals may withdraw a monthly sum Social from their voluntary pension savings to a maximum of ISK 800,000 Pensions Insurance (US$5,680). • • As part of an ISK 230 billion (US$ 1.6 billion) package of COVID-19 Unemployment benefits economic support, part-time employees, the self-employed, and 218 freelance workers will be allowed to claim up to 75% of unemployment benefits in order to avoid job losses. This will effectively allow for workers at risk of job losses to reduce their hours to 25% of previous levels and access government support of up to ISK 700,000 (US$ 4,975) per month. 208 • Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 208 https://www.icelandreview.com/politics/icelandic-government-presents-economic-response-package-to-covid-19-crisis/ 219 (back to the top) its ave ions t men enef i d le rt ibut ppo just b a s ontr y &P e su sure ime n ad i l i t s b ity c sfer ent t d i sa ranc lic W ers mea latio ork s y orks iver b si d oym Tran f ecur an s n su dw & egu ion a s e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act India ● ● ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • Rs1000 (US$ 13) to all beneficiaries under the National Social Assistance Program (NSAP) for elderly, widows and disabled receiving social pensions (35M beneficiaries). • Rs500 (US$ 6.50) per month between April and June to all female Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) (financial inclusion) account holders, reaching an estimated 200 million women. • 87 million farmers who are beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Cash transfers Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) program will receive a top up of Rs2000 Social (conditional and unconditional) (US$ 26.50) for 3 months. Assistance • The state of Uttar Pradesh will provide compensation to poor workers via online payments if they lose their job due to the pandemic. Vegetable vendors, construction workers, rickshaw pullers, autorickshaw drivers, and temporary staff at shops will be targeted by this measure. • The state of Uttar Pradesh transferred Rs 611 (US$ 80M) in cash transfers directly to 27.5 million workers of the NGRES. One-off cash transfers Childcare support 220 • Rs 4000- 5000 (US$ 53-66) pension will be paid to 850,000 Social pensions beneficiaries by April 7, 2020. In-kind transfers • The Public Distribution System (PDS) allocations for all Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) priority households will be increased for three months (1kg pulses per household, 5kg wheat or rice per individual). • The state of Gujarat expanded free grains to households which are Above the Poverty Line (APL) which are officially not covered in the National Food Security Act. APL households have been promised 10kgs of wheat, 3kgs of rice, 1kg of sugar and 1kg of pulses. Food, vouchers, others • Free cylinders will be provided for three months to poor Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) beneficiaries (83M households). • Delhi is providing two in-kind measures: free rations, with 50% more quantity than normal entitlements, to 7.2M beneficiaries; and lunch and dinner served free to every person at all Delhi Government night shelters. • The Kerala state government will deliver food ingredients for mid-day meals to over 300,000 children studying in 33,115 anganwadis (rural child care center) closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the School feeding moment, they are delivering such food items necessary for ten days. Before the end of such period, the materials required for the next ten days will be packed and delivered. The materials are being packed and distributed by the teachers themselves. • Wages under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Public works Guarantee (NREGS) will be increased from Rs180 (US$ 2.38) to Rs202 (US$ 2.67). Utility waivers Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Insurance • India’s Employer’s Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) will allow Pensions workers to withdraw up to 75 percent non-refundable advance or 3 months’ salary from their provident fund account, whichever is lower. 221 • India’s national pension system (NPS) allows partial withdrawals towards treatment for COVID related illness for subscribers and their spouses and children. The current rules of early withdrawal do not apply to APY (informal sector) subscribers and therefore are applicable only for about 10 million people. Unemployment benefits • GOI will pay Employee Provident Fund contributions for employees and employers for the next 3 months. This is targeted to firms with up Social security contributions to 100 workers and where 90% of workers earn less than Rs15,000 (US$199) per month. This is expected to cover 1.8 million employees and 400,000 firms. Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 222 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Indonesia ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • Indonesia’s flagship CCT program, Program Keluarga Harapan (PKH), will expand the program coverage from 9.2 to 10 million beneficiary families (or 15 percent of the population) and double the benefit level for 3 months (April, May, and June). The PKH program budget has been increased by nearly 29% to reach IDR 37.4 trillion (US$2.5 billion). Furthermore, benefit payments have become monthly instead of quarterly. • A new unconditional cash transfer program (BST) is introduced Social for eligible residents outside the Greater Jakarta region who have Cash transfers already registered in the social registry but are not recipients of PKH Assistance (conditional and unconditional) or the Food Assistance Program. Approximately 9 million households will each receive IDR 600,000 (US$ 40) per month for 3 months, starting in April. • The second new unconditional cash transfer program (BLT Dana Desa) is introduced for village residents, who have been negative affected but have not registered in the social registry and are not recipients of PKH/Food Assistance Program/BST. This program is funded via Village Fund and will cover approximately 11-12 million 223 households with the benefit of IDR 600,000 per household per month for 3 months, starting in April. • One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers • The food assistance program, Sembako (previously called BPNT), will be expanded from 15.2 million to 20 million low-income households, bringing the coverage of the program to just short of 30 percent of the population. The benefit level will increase by 33% for a period of nine months. The total program budget is increased by about 55%, reaching IDR 43.6 Trillion (US$2.93 billion). • A new in-kind food assistance program was introduced for Greater Jakarta (Jabodetabek) residents by the Central Government. Starting in April, approximately 1.8 million households will receive food Food, vouchers, others assistance worth of IDR 600,000 (US$ 40) per household per month for 3 months. In addition, several local governments also provide in- kind food assistance and/or cash assistance to selected residents that do not receive assistance from the Central Government. For example, the Government of Jakarta provides in-kind food assistance to another 1.1 million households and the West Java Government has provided in-kind food assistance worth IDR 350,000 and cash assistance of IDR 150,000 per household for 12,000 households School feeding • The Government has allocated IDR 16.9 Trillion (US$ 1.1 trillion) for cash for work programs implemented by various Ministries: - Ministry of Public Works and Housing allocates IDR 10.2 Trillion (US 679 million) for Cash for Work. The program targets Public works 530,000 workers across Indonesia. - Village Fund will be also be allocated for village-level Cash for Work programs targeting unemployed, poor, and other vulnerable residents of the village. The program targets 59,000 workers. 224 - Other Ministries (Transport, Agriculture, Marine and Fisheries, and Environment and Forestry) will also link their programs with cash for work. • Between April and June, the government is offering electricity and mortgage payments waivers, as follows: - Electricity - IDR 3.5 Trillion (US$ 234 million) to finance the electricity bill for 24 million households, or approximately 40 percent of the population, with a 450 Volt-Ampere (VA) connection. Those Utility waivers with a 900VA connection (another 7 million households) will receive a 50 percent discount. - Mortgage - IDR 1.5 Trillion (US 100.45 million) to support up to 175,000 low-income households requesting a mortgage through both an interest rate subsidy and down-payment subsidy. Paid sick leave • IDR 3 Trillion (US$ 200 million) to finance contributions to the national Health insurance Social health insurance scheme for 30 million non-salaried workers. Insurance Pensions Unemployment benefits Social security contributions • Kartu Pra-Kerja, a program that provides subsidized vouchers for unemployed workers for skilling and re-skilling has doubled in its allocated budget from IDR 10 to 20 Trillion (US$ 668 billion to US$ 1.3 trillion) and will be launched in April. The program will be accessible to an estimated 5.6 million informal workers and small and micro Activation measures enterprises who have been affected by COVID-19. Labor Markets • Indonesia National Police will have a program similar to Kartu Pra Kerja, called Safety Program, specifically targeting bus, truck, and taxi drivers. The allocation for this program is IDR 360 Billion (US$ 24 million) for 197,000 beneficiaries. Labor market regulations Reduced work time Wage subsidies 225 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Iran ● ● Cash-based transfers • Iran is planning to support around 3 million lower-income families with no permanent jobs with cash transfers up to 6 million rails (US$ 400) in 4 stages. Cash transfers • The government has also announced loans and amenities to the 4 (conditional and unconditional) million low-income families whose livelihoods have been affected by the outbreak of Covid-19 (US$ 500 million); cash transfers to Social households (US$ 1.3 billion); and loans to 23 million households which Assistance receive cash subsidies. One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave Social Health insurance Insurance Pensions 226 • As part of a wider package of support announced by the President, Iran will provide unemployment insurance to those who have lost their Unemployment benefits jobs because of Covid-19; a waiver of all health expenditures if incurred due to COVID-19; and approximately US$ 1.15 billion in fiscal support to the unemployment insurance fund. Social security contributions Labor Activation measures Markets Labor market regulations Reduced work time Wage subsidies 227 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Iraq ● ● Cash-based transfers • The Supreme Committee for National Health and Safety, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MoLSA), launched an assistance package of 30,000 IQD (US$ 253) per person. Cash transfers This program, called Minha, aims to support the most vulnerable (conditional and unconditional) people who have been impacted by the COVID-19 curfew and lockdown measures. In order to be eligible, Iraqis had to self-register by April 16th using a newly launched website. By the deadline, approximately 2.5 million people self-registered. One-off cash transfers Social Childcare support Assistance Social pensions In-kind transfers • The Iraqi Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs launched on April 7, 2020 a program named “1,000,000 Food Baskets for the Poor” to alleviate the effects of COVID-19. The aid is targeting poor households Food, vouchers, others registered in the main Cash Transfer Program database. The estimated cost of each basket is about US$ 15 and 708,360 beneficiaries have received the food basket as of April 13th. School feeding Public works 228 Utility waivers Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Labor Activation measures Markets Labor market regulations Reduced work time Wage subsidies 229 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Ireland ● ● ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • A benefit of €350 (US$ 385) per week will be paid to the unemployed (self-employed or employees) for the duration of the crisis. It is Cash transfers designed to provide income security for a period during which the (conditional and unconditional) unemployed can apply for a full Jobseekers payment. Non-EU/EEA migrant workers are also eligible for this program. One-off cash transfers Social Childcare support Assistance Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others • Students in Ireland are being sent home packages with fresh foods, School feeding including bread, eggs, fruit, and yogurt. Public works Utility waivers • Eligible people will be paid €305 (US$ 336) per week (as compared Paid sick leave with the normal Illness Benefit rate of €203,or US$ 223). This is Social available to employees and the self-employed. Insurance Health insurance Pensions Unemployment benefits 230 Social security contributions Activation measures Labor market regulations • The government is providing income support payments for those who have been temporarily placed on a shorter working week. The payment is made in respect of regular salary for the days that Labor employees are no longer working. For example, if a working week has Reduced work time been reduced from a 5 to 3 days, the worker can receive support for Markets the other 2 days. Short Time Work Support is paid for a maximum of 234 days. The entitlement will depend on the number of social insurance contributions employees have. • The Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme provides a subsidy Wage subsidies up to 85% depending on employees’ previous average net weekly pay. 209 209 https://www.gov.ie/en/service/578596-covid-19-wage-subsidy/ 231 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Israel ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social Social pensions Assistance In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works Utility waivers • The Histadrut (General Organization of Workers) and the government have agreed on paid leave for workers in the public sector. It is an agreed pooling system of vacation leave to share with workers who need to stay away from work. It stipulates that a non-essential Social designated employee that is not required to work during the crisis Paid sick leave Insurance period will take a mandatory vacation at the expense of the workers’ accumulated vacation days. Employers in the public sector and the Histadrut will set up a joint vacation days fund for emergencies, which will work to prevent damages to workers' wages that do not have the sufficient accumulated vacation time. 232 Health insurance Pensions Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Labor Activation measures Markets Labor market regulations Reduced work time Wage subsidies 233 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Italy ● ● ● ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • The Decreto di Rilancio - “Relaunch decree” - a stimulus package of €55B signed on May 19, 2020– suspends all conditionalities related to the Guaranteed Minimum Income program, or Reddito di Cittadinanza (RdC), for two additional months, until July 2020, with the exception of accepting an adequate job offer in the municipality of residence. The rationale is the minimization of movement of beneficiaries to social services or to public employment services, where they are expected to sign a social inclusion pact or a labor pact. A separate note stressed the importance of ensuring continuity of social services Social during the emergency, with a focus on protecting social workers and Cash transfers Assistance beneficiaries from contagion, promoting the use of telephone and (conditional and unconditional) technology to maintain contact with families, and paying special attention to situation of vulnerability for women and minors. Existing resources aimed at strengthening services for RdC can be reoriented towards activities most needed in response to the pandemic. • The Relaunch decree announced a temporary means tested cash transfer, Reddito di Emergenza, Emergency Income, for those vulnerable households not protected by any other social assistance measure. The benefit lasts for two months and the amount varies between €400 to €800 per month, depending on the equivalence scale. Applications are open till the end of June and payments will be 234 disbursed during the months of July and August. The total available budget for the measure amounts to €954.6 million. • Workers with income less than €40,000 (US$ 44,000) per year are entitled to a nontaxable, one-off benefit of €100 (US$ 110) for March 2020 if their job required the worker to go to the regular workplace. Workers who carried out their job remotely are not entitled to the bonus. One-off cash transfers • The Relaunch Decree extends the one-off €600 (US$ 660) bonus to self-employed and professional workers, including agricultural, tourism, cultural sector workers by one additional month for April 2020. In May the bonus increases to €1,000 for those self- professional workers who can demonstrate a 30% reduction in income during March-April with respect to the same period of last year. • The Relaunch decree includes specific support families and workers. It offers funds to private-sector workers to pay for babysitters via a childcare voucher of up to €1200 (US$ 1320) for workers with children Childcare support below the age of 12 who decide not to take parental leave. The voucher can reach up to €2,000 (US$ 2,200) for workers in the health sector sector. Vouchers can also be used towards summer camps. Social pensions In-kind transfers • On March 29, the National Civil Protection transferred €400 million (US$ 440 million) to 7,904 municipalities to purchase food vouchers and/or basic food necessities based on population and income criteria. Food, vouchers, others Mayors are free to decide how to purchase products and how to select beneficiaries. Priority should be given to households that are not beneficiaries of other social assistance programs. School feeding Public works Utility waivers • Parents of children younger than 12 are allowed to take leave for up to 30 (combined) days starting from 5 March 2020 until July 2020 while Paid sick leave Social receiving 50% of the salary paid by the state. Absence from quarantine Insurance would be considered as sick leave, with the costs paid by the state. Health insurance Pensions 235 • Unemployment benefits expiring between March 1 and April 30, 2020 Unemployment benefits are automatically renewed for two months, as long as beneficiaries do not receive any other benefit. Social security contributions • The Relaunch decree introduces incentives for agricultural work: beneficiaries of social assistance measures, including of the GMI Reddito di Cittadinanza, can sign short term work contracts in Activation measures agriculture up to 30 days, renewable for additional 30 days, and up to Euro 2,000 in 2020. The amount will not be included in the income calculations for the GMI. • Until August 17, 2020 suspension of all firing procedures initiated after 23 February. Labor Labor market regulations • Parents of children younger than 14 working in the private sector have Markets the right to work from home if the other parent is working and nobody in the family benefits from social assistance measures. Reduced work time • To discourage layoffs during the crisis, employees of companies that have interrupted their activities will be entitled to receive a benefit in the amount of 80% of the salary paid by the state. The measure would Wage subsidies be valid for up to nine weeks – and no longer than August 2020. For those firms that exhausted the nine weeks, four more weeks will be available from September 1 until October 31, 2020. 236 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Jamaica ● ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • Programme of Advancement through Health and Education (PATH) payments will be paid earlier than scheduled. 210 • PATH families with children enrolled in primary and secondary schools are receiving a top-up of J$150 per day while children in ECD are receiving J$100 per day for school feeding while school is closed. A total or 23 school days were paid for this benefit in May. Social Cash transfers Assistance • Under Government’s COVID Allocation of Resources for Employees (conditional and unconditional) (CARE) Program, a direct transfer will be made to workers who lost their jobs (details to be announced). Supporting Employees with Transfer of Cash (SET Cash ) – which will provide temporary cash transfer to individuals where it can be verified that they lost their employment since March 10, (the date of the first COVID19 case in Jamaica). Individuals who apply and qualify will receive J$9,000 (US$63) per fortnight, paid monthly from the month of their application through to June 2020. 211 210 http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20200316/education-ministry-providing-food-path-students-amid-school-closure 211 https://jis.gov.jm/media/2020/04/CARE-Brochure-Ministry-of-Finance-2020.pdf 237 • Persons enrolled in PATH will receive a ‘COVID-19 PATH grant’ which will add another payment for the April-June payment period under the CARE program. PATH beneficiaries will therefore receive three payments instead of two payments for this payment period. • A ‘COVID General Grant’ under the CARE program will provide one- time grants to different categories of small businesses and self- employed persons, including (i) J$25,000 (US$174) to barbers, hairdressers, beauty therapists, cosmetologists, market vendors, taxi and bus operators (who are registered with a Municipal or Transport Authority by April 30, 2020; (ii) J$40,000 (US$279) to bar and night club operators registered with a Municipal Authority by April 30, 2020; and (iii) J$40,000 (US$279) to craft vendors, and transport operators One-off cash transfers registered with the Tourism Product Development Company by April 30, 2020. • The CARE program’s Compassionate Grant of J$10,000 (US$70) is available to anyone in need (e.g. tertiary students, unemployed, informally employed, elderly, pensioners, etc.) who completes the required application form, is not formally employed, has not received, and does not intend to apply • for any other cash benefit under the CARE Programme, with the exception of the Covid-19 PATH Grant. Persons must possess a valid taxpayer registration number and not be in formal employment. AS of May 6, 2020 - 250,000 applicants were eligible and scheduled to receive payment. 212 Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers • The Ministry of Labor and Social Security through its Central Foods Warehouse is delivering relief packages (food and other relief items) to Food, vouchers, others persons in quarantine, elderly, parents of children with disabilities enrolled in the Early Stimulation Program, 212 http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20200506/250000-compassionate-grants-be-paid-weekend 238 • The Ministry of Education will be providing nutritional support through Nutrition Products Limited to students as part of the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH) – a flagship cash transfer scheme. This applies to the period that they will be out of school over the next two weeks. Specifically: School feeding • snacks comprising baked products, fruit juices, milk, and water will be distributed for students on PATH at the primary and secondary levels. Certain schools will be used as distribution points for two weeks, and later the private sector (food suppliers, supermarkets) will be used to distribute food packages at specific drop off points in each community. 213. Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave Health insurance Social • National Insurance Scheme (NIS) pensioners will receive their Pensions Insurance fortnightly payments in one payment. Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor market regulations Reduced work time • The Government’s CARE program includes a Business Employee Support and Transfer of Cash (BEST Cash) – which will provide temporary cash transfer of J$9,000 (US$63) per fortnight from April Labor -June to businesses operating in the tourism industry for each Markets employee they keep employed who are at or under the income tax Wage subsidies threshold of J$1.5 million (US$ 10,465) per year To be eligible, businesses must be registered with the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCO) and Tax Administration Jamaica (TAJ) as having at least 1 employee, and file payroll returns for April, May, and June evidencing the number of persons employed. Payments will be made monthly directly to the business’ bank account. 214 213 http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20200316/education-ministry-providing-food-path-students-amid-school-closure 214 https://jis.gov.jm/media/2020/04/CARE-Brochure-Ministry-of-Finance-2020.pdf 239 The CARE program will also provide a one-time COVID Small Business Grant of J$100,000 (US$697) to all small businesses with average sales of J$50 million (US$34,8819) or less per annum for the 3-year period 2017-2019 ; who filed taxes in the 2019/20 financial year; and filed payroll returns indicating that they have employees. 240 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Japan ● ● ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers • Japan’s planned spending package of up to 20 trillion yen (US$ 190 (conditional and unconditional) billion) is likely to include cash transfers to households. • Japan will give US$ 930 to every citizen, though it is unclear yet if it is One-off cash transfers for adults only or also includes children. The cost is expected to be around 2% of GDP. Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers Social Food, vouchers, others Assistance • The city of Osaka will offer free lunches for all students at government-run elementary and junior high schools (from April). The program would save parents between 50,000 yen (US$ 470) and 60,000 yen per child each year. The city estimates the annual cost of School feeding covering all 165,000 students at 7.7 billion yen (US$ 72 million), with funding for fiscal 2020 starting April coming from a reserve fund. The city plans to continue the program beyond the next fiscal year and discuss details such as how to secure funding for fiscal 2021 and beyond. Public works 241 Utility waivers • A planned subsidy will reimburse two-thirds of the leave allowance for an SME employer, or half for a large enterprise. The subsidy is capped Social Paid sick leave at JPY8,335 (US$ 78) a day per employee on leave as of late February Insurance 2020. Health insurance Pensions Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Labor Activation measures Markets Labor market regulations Reduced work time Wage subsidies 242 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Jordan ● ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • The Jordanian National Aid Fund (NAF) announced the following measures: Due to the curfew, the government will deliver cash to the houses of all the current beneficiaries of the National Aid Fund (NAF) monthly cash transfer and quarterly Takaful programs for March 2020 [around 145,000 households]. Social NAF started the registration of the Bread Subsidy Cash Compensation Cash transfers Program, which targets up to 80% of the population with a small Assistance (conditional and unconditional) amount of money annually. Payments will occur over April-November 2020. Registration is using the same form for the Takaful Program. • The government announced a program to provide cash support to poor and vulnerable households affected by COVID-19. The Program will provide: (i) temporary (6 month) CTs to 200,000 vulnerable households; and temporary (6 month) benefit top-ups for NAF beneficiaries whose benefits are below a certain threshold. The number of households benefiting from the Program will be about 293,000. 243 The Program will add about 210,000 household to the existing caseload of NAF (146,000). The set benefit for this program is JOD136 (US$ 193) for households of 3 members and more and JOD 70 (US$ 99) for households of two members. One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers • In-kind distribution of bread (universal) will occur at reduced subsidized price (JD1 per 3 kg, instead of JD1.5 – US$ 1.41 vs US$ 2.11). The Ministry of Local Affairs is coordinating distribution from local bakeries. Bread is delivered door to door by buses that patrol localities, escorted by police officers to deter crowding. NAF beneficiaries will receive the bread for free with the support from municipalities. • The Social Security Corporation (SSC) started providing in-kind Food, vouchers, others support to about 100,000 vulnerable families (other reports indicate 35,000-50,000) that include an individual over the age of 70 and casual workers. Food parcels have a monetary value of JD40-50 (US$ 56-70). The program may be extended to persons with chronic illnesses. SSC is also studying to expanding the list to include families whose breadwinners have lost their work, especially those working in the informal sector, in case the government decided to extend the suspension. School feeding Public works Utility waivers • MOL announced a two-week paid leave for all public sector workers. Paid sick leave This will not be deducted from the normal allocation of sick leave. Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits • Companies will have the option of stop contributing for the Old Age Social security contributions Program (keeping only disability and health insurance). In the case where firms will choose to do so (they can do it for all or some 244 employees only), they will only pay 5.25% as contribution rate, instead of 21.75%. However, this is only valid from March-June 2020. All employees will still be covered with Disability, Death, Unemployment, and Maternity insurance (regardless of the choice). Those employees who would be affected by this employer’s choice, will still be able to contribute voluntarily during this period. Firms will also be given the choice to pay such contributions amounts in instalments until the end of year 2023. • Half of the Maternity Insurance Contributions in 2020 will be used to support vulnerable groups, mainly old age and sick people. The allocated amounts will be used for cash transfers and in-kind aids. Companies that owe contributions to SSC from the past (arrears amount to JD 340 million or US$ 479.5 million) will be legally allowed to make such payments into the future. Labor Activation measures Markets Labor market regulations Reduced work time Wage subsidies 245 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Kazakhstan ● ● Cash-based transfers • Monthly payments of US$ 100 for up to 1.5 million people will be made Cash transfers to those who have lost income as a result of COVID-19. The amount of (conditional and unconditional) will be equivalent to minimum wage (45,000 tenge or US$ 110). One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social Social pensions Assistance In-kind transfers • In-kind support in the form of free grocery packages is planned for Food, vouchers, others large families with children, persons with disability and other vulnerable families. School feeding Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures 246 Labor market regulations Labor Reduced work time Markets Wage subsidies 247 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Kenya ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • The National Treasury appropriated an additional Ksh10B (equivalent to US$ 100M) for supporting the elderly, orphans and other vulnerable members with cash transfers. Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) • 1,094,238 Inua Jamii beneficiaries will start receiving Ksh8,000 (US$ 80) each from the state to cushion them against the effects of the coronavirus. At the queue at the payment centers, the beneficiaries will be required to maintain 1.5 meters of social distance. One-off cash transfers Social Childcare support Assistance Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding • As part of the “Kazi Mtaani” initiative, 10,600 youths living in Nairobi’s slums (Mathare, Kibera, Mukuru and Korogocho) have been enlisted for street cleaning, fumigation, disinfection, garbage collection, bush Public works clearance and drainage unclogging services, among others. Kazi Mtaani (Jobs in the Neighborhood) is a public works program reaching 26,000 unemployed youth residing in 27 informal settlements of 248 Nairobi, Mombasa, Kiambu, Nakuru, Kisumu, Kilifi, Kwale and Mandera. Daily wage is about $6/day delivered via Mpesa 215 216 • Fee waivers on person-to-person mobile money transactions on M- Utility waivers PESA were approved. Also, a 100% tax relief for persons earning less than Ks.24,000 (US$ 240) is planned. Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Labor Activation measures Markets Labor market regulations Reduced work time Wage subsidies 215 https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/business/2020/05/govt-creates-26000-jobs-for-kenyans-living-in-slums/ 216 https://www.kenyanews.go.ke/mandera-launches-kazi-mtaani/ 249 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Kosovo ● ● ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • The government will pay early payments of 2 months’ worth of social assistance benefits, amounting to €7.65 million (US$ 8.4 million). Also, early payments of farming grants and subsidies (for 1,702 farmers) are planned. • Payment of an additional sum of €30 (US$ 33) per month to all beneficiaries of social assistance and pension schemes who receive a monthly payment lower than €100 (US$ 110), for April, May and June, Cash transfers provided that they are beneficiaries of only one scheme. Social (conditional and unconditional) Assistance • Payment of monthly assistance in the amount of €130 (US$ 143) to citizens who lose their jobs due to the public health emergency situation, for April, May and June, amounting up to €4 million (US$ 4.4 million). • All verification procedures for social assistance (and pensions) benefits are suspended until further notice (e.g., beneficiaries are not required to visit public offices). One-off cash transfers Childcare support 250 Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works • Rental subsidy up to 50% of the rent value for small and medium Utility waivers enterprises for April and May, a measure amounting to €12 million (US$ 13.2 million) Paid sick leave Health insurance • Early payment of pensions (Euro 35 million, or US$ 38.5 million Social Pensions monthly). Insurance Unemployment benefits • The value of pension contributions for April and May will be paid, Social security contributions amounting to €8 million (US$ 8.8 million). Activation measures Labor market regulations Labor Reduced work time Markets • Expenditures for the monthly salaries in the amount of €170 (US$ 187) Wage subsidies for April and May will be covered, a measure amounting to €41 million (US$ 45.1 million). 251 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Kuwait ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social Social pensions Assistance In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave Health insurance Pensions Social Unemployment benefits Insurance • Postponing the deduction of the replacement part of the retirement pension according to Article 77 of the Law for a period of 6 months. Social security contributions Payment of the retirement pension on the assumption that what the law permits is not disbursed in advance for cases that have benefited from the provision of Article 112 bis of the Social Security Law for a 252 period of 6 months, provided that the legal instrument necessary to implement this decision is specified. Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 253 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Kyrgyz Republic ● ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • Automatic extension of the standard one-year enrollment term for beneficiaries of poverty-targeted cash transfers which were due to finish during the quarantine period. Low-income families with children Cash transfers do not need to report on their income and visit district social (conditional and unconditional) protection offices. • Categorical cash transfers to persons with disabilities (children and adults) will be prolonged automatically if their term finishes in time of quarantine. Social One-off cash transfers Assistance Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers • Provision of food kit/set to supplement cash transfers to low income families with children, children, and adults with disabilities. Food, vouchers, others Bishkek city: Food, medical supplies and financial assistance are provided to low- income families in the form of humanitarian assistance in the fight against coronavirus. 254 2.7 tons of flour, 460 liters of vegetable oil and more than 2 tons of food (pasta, rice, sugar, etc.) were distributed. Municipal Territorial Departments together with economic entities and shopping centers delivered food to 60 large, disabled and low-income families in the territory of the Municipal Territorial Administration. Food was distributed as assistance to people with disabilities in 17, 19, 20, 21 municipal territorial administrations. In the city of Osh: Low-income families in Osh received food, medical supplies and financial assistance. 26.0 tons of flour, 1,100 liters of vegetable oil and more than 2 tons of other food products (pasta, rice, sugar) were distributed School feeding Public works • Deferral of utilities service charges and fees (electricity, water and gas) Utility waivers and a bankruptcy moratorium until Jan 1, 2021. Paid sick leave Health insurance Pensions Social Insurance Unemployment benefits • Supporting the productive sector to maintain their businesses in Social security contributions operation though measures such as deferral of tax, social insurance contribution payments. Labor Activation measures Markets Labor market regulations Reduced work time Wage subsidies 255 (Back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Latvia ● ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social Social pensions Assistance In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works Utility waivers • The state will fund sick leave from the second day of illness for adults who: are ill or injured; are required to isolate; returning from abroad Social Paid sick leave who work in educational, medical, or social care institutions with Insurance contact with clients; taking care of sick children; or those who qualify for a sick leave certificate based on other criteria. 217 Health insurance 217 https://covid19.gov.lv/en/podderzhka-zhitelyam/ekonomika/dlya-rabotnikov/issuance-sick-leave-certificates 256 Pensions • The government has introduced an “allowance for idle time”, which covers unpaid salaries in the period between 14 March-30 June, as well as employees whose economic activity does not exceed Euro 430 Unemployment benefits (US$ 471) per month. Employees receiving the allowance will also receive a supplement of Euro 50 (US$ 55) for each dependent child up to 24 years of age. 218 Social security contributions Activation measures Labor market regulations Labor Reduced work time Markets • Employees of companies in industries most affected by COVID-19 will Wage subsidies receive up to 75% of their salaries (to a maximum rage of Euro 700 (US$ 767) per month. 219 218 https://covid19.gov.lv/en/support-society/economics/entrepreneurs/allowance-idle-time 219 https://home.kpmg/us/en/home/insights/2020/03/tnf-latvia-tax-relief-response-coronavirus.html 257 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Lebanon ● ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • On 26 March 2020, the government announced that it will allocate 75 billion Lebanese pounds (about US$ 5 million) as a social assistance package to those in need, against the backdrop of measures to tackle Cash transfers the spread of COVID-19. The aid package is a treasury advance to the (conditional and unconditional) High Relief Authority to help people suffering from the effects of lockdown measures taken to counter the spread of the emerging Corona virus. One-off cash transfers Social Childcare support Assistance Social pensions In-kind transfers • The government allocated 18 billion LBP (around US$ 12 million) to buy 100,000 food and health rations, the value of which is 180,000 LBP Food, vouchers, others (US$ 119), and the joint committee between the relevant ministries and the army will start distributing them to all regions, by helping municipalities and mukhtars. School feeding Public works Utility waivers • Deferred payment of utility bills planned (details to be announced). 258 • Paid sick leave should be granted to medical employees working in hospitals (nurses, contractors) covering the entire isolation period. Decree 136/1983 on work-related injuries and emergencies will apply to all such workers whom contract COVID-19. This decree stipulates Paid sick leave the responsibilities of the employers in case of occupational injuries Social with corresponding compensation and indemnity, as well as workers’ Insurance entitlements. This decision enters into effect retroactively for all cases starting February 1, 2020. Health insurance Pensions Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Labor Activation measures Markets Labor market regulations Reduced work time Wage subsidies 259 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Lesotho ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions Social In-kind transfers Assistance Food, vouchers, others • In March 2020, the Ministry of Education announced that school feeding will continue for public primary school learners despite school School feeding closures, in order to ensure that children are given one hot meal per day. 220 Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave Social Health insurance Insurance Pensions Unemployment benefits 220 https://ewn.co.za/2020/03/19/lesotho-declares-national-emergency-over-covid-19-outbreak 260 Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 261 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Liberia ● ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers Social • The government is appropriating the amount of US$25 million to Assistance Food, vouchers, others support food distribution to households in designated affected counties for the period of 60 days. • Government switched to take home school meals, an approach used School feeding during Ebola. Public works • The Government is planning to take up the electricity bill of Utility waivers households in the affected counties for the duration of the STAY-AT- HOME. Cost of this measure is US$ 4 million. Paid sick leave Social Health insurance Insurance Pensions Unemployment benefits 262 Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 263 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Libya ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions Social In-kind transfers Assistance • To prevent food prices from increasing, the Minister of Economy has adopted a regulation controlling the prices of 16 food items such as Food, vouchers, others fruits, vegetables and meat. The regulation will be revised every 3 months. School feeding Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures 264 Labor market regulations Labor Reduced work time Markets Wage subsidies 265 (Back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Liechtenstein ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social Social pensions Assistance In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance • As part of a larger economic stimuls package, the government of Unemployment benefits Liechtenstein has allocated 50 million Swiss Francs (US$ 51.8 million) 266 for the financing of short-time work through unemployment insurance to prevent an increase in unemployment. 221 Social security contributions Labor Activation measures Markets Labor market regulations Reduced work time Wage subsidies 221 http://www.liechtensteinusa.org/article/measures-taken-in-liechtenstein-in-response-to-the-coronavirus-pandemic 267 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Lithuania ● ● ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others Social School feeding Assistance Public works • Provide a state guarantee to extend the deferred period from 3 to 6 months for mortgage payments (excluding interest) for those who have lost their jobs. Utility waivers • To allow deferment or payment in instalments of electricity and natural gas bills from UAB Ignitis, and to recommend to municipalities to allow deferment or payment in instalments of utilities and heat energy. Social Paid sick leave Insurance Health insurance 268 Pensions • Allocation of funds for the self-employed who have paid social security Unemployment benefits contributions: to pay EUR 257 (US$ 283) a month for up to 3 months when they are unable to carry out their activities due to quarantine. Social security contributions Activation measures Labor market regulations Labor Reduced work time Markets • The following support for downtime and partial downtime will be made Wage subsidies available: employee allowance no less than a minimum monthly wage (MMW), State funds will account for 60% but no more than one MMW. 269 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Luxembourg ● ● ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) • Grant self-employed people with less than 10 employees a non- refundable and non-taxable support of €2,500. 222 One-off cash transfers • Grant self-employed people (regardless of the number of their employees) a direct aid in the amount of EUR 3,000, 3,500 or 4,000 Social depending on the income level of the person concerned. Assistance Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works Utility waivers • Family leave cannot be denied. Simplified procedures for requests for Social Paid sick leave special leave for family reasons due to school closures with public Insurance financial support. 222 https://meco.gouvernement.lu/dam-assets/dossiers/Tableau-stab-9avril-EN.pdf 270 • The normal mechanism for continuation of remuneration in case of sickness leave is waived and the National Health Fund (CNS) takes over remuneration of sick employees as from the first day of sickness. Health insurance Pensions • Self-employed can take family leave if affiliated to the Mutualité des Unemployment benefits Employeurs, the employers' mutual insurance scheme, as a self- employed person. Social security contributions Activation measures Labor market regulations Reduced work time • Expansion of short-time working scheme ("chômage partiel") to all companies affected by effects of the current crisis, with 80% of Labor employee's salary being reimbursed through the Fonds pour l'emploi, Markets floored at minimum wage and up to a level of 250% of minimum wage. (estimated impact: €500m per month) Simplified, online procedures in Wage subsidies place for companies requesting "chômage partiel" • Avoid redundancies by ensuring that the State takes over the remuneration of employees (permanent contracts, fixed-term contracts, apprenticeships) that are paid 80% of the salary by the employer 271 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Madagascar ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • Unconditional cash transfers of 100,000 Ariary to poor and vulnerable households in Antananarivo and Toamasina city. This transfer will be Cash transfers given out to households for the April and May. The program aims to (conditional and unconditional) target 150,000 households as first phase (to be revised depending on the evolution of the situation). Total project budget is US $10,000,000 . One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions Social In-kind transfers Assistance • In-kind transfers of essential products (basic necessities like rice, sugar, oil, salt) will be provided to people who earn living day by day: laundry workers, rickshaw pullers, prostitutes, university students who live on campus, and old people are also beneficiaries. Food, vouchers, others • In addition, there is a cheap market organized by the State in each "district" (quartier) where people can buy at a low price 3kg of rice and 1l of oil for around 1.5 USD, per family (half of the price). School feeding Public works 272 Utility waivers Paid sick leave Health insurance Pensions Social Unemployment benefits Insurance • Deferral of payment of liabilities for all compagnies. It includes contributions in social security fund. CNaPS complies with this Social security contributions announcement and the contributions due to the 1st term of year, which should be paid until the end of this month, will be rescheduled to the end of July without incurring any penalties for late payment. Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 273 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Malawi ● Cash-based transfers • As part of the government of Malawi’s National COVID-19 Preparedness and Response Plan, the government has proposed measures to accelerate payment of Social Cash Transfer Program (SCTP) benefits, as follows: in April, SCTP payments will be fast- Cash transfers tracked, with a four-month payment covering up to June delivered in (conditional and unconditional) April. • The Government is also proposing to provide top-ups to SCTP Social beneficiaries and increase SCTP coverage in both rural areas (as of Assistance June), and increase SCTP coverage in urban areas from April-June One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave 274 Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Labor Activation measures Markets Labor market regulations Reduced work time Wage subsidies 275 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Maldives ● ● ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social Social pensions Assistance In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works • The government will subsidize 40 percent of electricity bills and 30 Utility waivers percent of water bills for the months of April and May. 223 Paid sick leave Social Health insurance Insurance Pensions 223 https://www.imf.org/en/Topics/imf-and-covid19/Policy-Responses-to-COVID-19#M 276 • Individuals who lose their employment due to COVID-19 will be eligible Unemployment benefits for a three month “special allowance” as part of the government’s stimulus package. 224 Social security contributions Activation measures Labor market regulations Labor Reduced work time Markets • As part of its MVR 2.5 billion (US$ 161.5 million) stimulus package, the government is providing MVR 1.55 billion in emergency loans for Wage subsidies businesses which retain their local workforce and pay full salaries to those with wages below MVR 10,000 (US$ 648). 225 224 https://raajje.mv/74522 225 https://maldives.net.mv/36269/maldives-to-fast-track-100-mln-coronavirus-stimulus-applications-to-open-next-week/ 277 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Malaysia ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • As part of the Bantuan Sara Hidup (BSH) progr related to medical workers. It stipulates that paid sick leave should be granted to medical employees working in hospitals (nurses, contractors) covering the entire isolation period. Decree 136/1983 on work-related injuries and emergencies, w am, the payment of RM200 expected in May 2020 will be anticipated to March 2020. Such payments amount to RM760M and will benefit 3.8M BSH households.  Also, BSH 2020 recipients will receive an additional RM100 as well as RM50 as e-cash, which will Cash transfers be disbursed in May 2020. This will cost RM500M and benefit an Social (conditional and unconditional) additional 5M BSH recipients. Assistance • The government will also provide a special monthly critical worker allowance of RM400 (US$100) for medical doctors and other medical personnel, as well as RM200 (US$50) for immigration and related frontline staff until the end of the outbreak. The allowance for medical personnel was increase to RM600 (US$150) on March 27. • One-off payment of RM600 (US$144) to taxi, tourist and trishaw One-off cash transfers drivers and tourist guides. 278 • The Malaysian government has budgeted RM10 billion to provide one- off cash transfer to depending on income level: RM1600 to 4 million households earning