Social Protection and Jobs Responses to COVID-19: A Real-Time Review of Country Measures “Living paper” version 12 (July 10, 2020) Ugo Gentilini (WB), Mohamed Almenfi (WB), Pamela Dale (UNICEF), Ana Veronica Lopez (WB), and Usama Zafar (WB) This paper benefited enormously from contributions by Miglena Abels, Aysenur Acar, Hanan Ahli, Nazanin Akhgar, Haleem Hassan Kashkol Al-Kazali, Amel Allahoum, Andrew Allieu, Sulaiman Al Maazmi, Noora Al Qassi, 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, Anna Baranova, Mehdi Barouni, Roland Berenger Berehoudougou, Martina Bergthaller, Anush Bezhanyan, Sharon Corinne Benzoni, Mira Bierbaum, Gaston Mariano Blanco, 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, James Damon, Louise Moreira Daniel, Marie-Christina Dankmeyer, Benedicte Leroy De La Briere, Gustavo Demarco, Anastasiya Denisova, 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, Yasuhiro Kawasoe, Ayaba Gilberte Kedote, Qaiser Khan, Johannes Koettl, Julian Alexander Koschorke, Mona Korsgard, Adea Kryeziu, Francesca Lamanna, Maria Laura, Aleksandar Lazovski, Matthieu Lefebvre, Kook Hee Lee, Phillippe George Leite, 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, Anita Mittal, Khalid Ahmed Ali Moheyddeen, Matteo Morgandi, Harry Edmund Moroz, Ingrid Veronica Mujica, 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, Junko Onishi, 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, Rodrigo Quintana, Lourdes M. Rivera, Nina Rosas Raffo, Amanina Binti Abdur Rahman, Zandile Portia Ratshitanga, F. Zehra Rizvi, Ruth Reyes Rodriguez, Luz Stella Rodriguez, Mba Minko Djekombe Rony, Pedro Rosas, Friederike Uta Rother, Solene Rougeaux, Monica Rubio, Mira Saidi, Manuel Salazar, Marijana Šalinović, Glayson dos Sonya Sampson, Gevorg Sargsyan Indhira Santos, Karin Schelzig, Achim Schmillen, Anita Schwarz, Sirma Demir Seker, Karin Seyfert, Maheshwor Shrestha, Ivan Shulga, Nuno Cunha Meira Simoes, Karan Singhal, Benjamin Kakule Sivasima, 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, Caroline Anne Isabelle Tassot, Emil Tesliuc, Mauro Testaverde, Samman Thapa, Stefan Thewissen, Andrei Tretyak, Julieta M. Trias, Fiona Stewart, Gulsana Turusbekova, Emre Uckardesler, Silas Udahemuka, Uladzimir Valetka, Rashiel Velvarde, Fabio Veras, Andrea Vermehren, Dewen Wang, Michael Weber, 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. Special thanks go to Michal Rutkowski for his precious guidance and support, and Claudia Rodriguez-Alas and the ASPIRE team at the World Bank This review present preliminary findings and should be interpreted with caution. For more information, please contact Ugo Gentilini (ugentilini@worldbank.org). 1 Global Covid19 cases continue to rise, but so do social protection responses to the pandemic. Since March, a total of 200 countries/territories, 5 more since our last update in June, have planned or put in place 1,055 social protection measures. The latter includes an additional 31 interventions compared to version 11 of this review (figure 1, left hand graph). Such growth is remarkable. Yet trends in social protection measures appear to flat out, while daily confirmed Covid19 cases are soaring exponentially (right hand graph). Figure 1. Trends in countries’ social protection measures (left) and Covid19 spread (right) 1200 200 250 1200 200 1055 1055 1000 215 1000 Daily confirmed C19 cases ('000) (dark line) 200 number of SP measures (yellow line) Number of SP measures (yellow line) 150 Number of countries (bars) 800 800 150 600 600 100 100 400 400 50 45 50 200 200 103 103 17 0 0 0 0 20-Mar 27-Mar 15-May 22-May 29-May 5-Jun 3-Jul 3-Apr 12-Jun 19-Jun 26-Jun 10-Jul 10-Apr 17-Apr 24-Apr 1-May 8-May 20. 27. 3. 10. 17. 24. 1. 8. 15. 22. 12. 10. Mar Mar April AprilAprilApril May May May May June July Source for C19 cases: Our World in Data database Social assistance accounts for most of the social protection response. A total of 638 measures were recorded, accounting for 60% of the response. Nearly 50% of those safety net measures, and about 30% of global measures, are various forms of cash-based transfers. Besides 298 cash transfer programs in 139 countries (6 of which universal transfers), a robust number (25) of social pension schemes is implemented in 22 countries (table 1). In- kind transfers are also substantial, with 22% of the social assistance portfolio including the distribution of food commodities, vouchers and school feeding programs. Both in-kind transfers and cash have bene growing steadily over time. Finally, 15 public work programs, a modality largely discontinued or amended in the early phases of the pandemic, are now present in 12 countries. Table 1. Social assistance program type N. of measures N. of countries Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) 298 153 Social pensions 25 22 Sub-total (all cash-based measures) 323 138 In-kind food/voucher schemes 117 88 School feeding 27 25 Sub-total (all in-kind measures) 144 96 Utility and financial obligation support (waiver/postponement) 156 94 Public works 15 12 Total 638 176 Cash transfer programs tend to be of short duration and relatively generous in size. Information on duration is available for 71 cash transfer measures ranging from 1 to 12 months, for an average of 3.1 months (figure 2). In terms of generosity, data from 20 countries shows that average transfers doubled (+101%). The size of cash 2 transfers more than doubled in five countries (Mongolia, Trinidad and Tobago, Egypt, South Korea and Brazil). Overall, transfers represent 29% of average monthly GDP per capita. Figure 2. Duration (left) and generosity (right) of cash transfer programs Moldova 21% 12 months 1 Kosovo 30% Turkey 34% 9 months 1 Barbados 40% Russia 50% 6 months 9 Armenia 50% Cameron 61% 4 months 2 Angola 67% Turks and Caicos islands 100% 3-6 months 2 Sierra Leone 100% Indonesia 100% 3 months 34 Dominican Republic 100% Albania 100% 2 months 8 Average 101% Brazil 140% South Korea 150% 1.5 months 1 Egypt 157% Trinidad and Tobago 200% 400% 1 month 13 Mongolia 0 10 20 30 0% 100% 200% 300% 400% Number of cash transfer programs Percentage increase from pre-C19 level Overall, social assistance continues to be adapted to the crisis. A total of 62 programs in 47 countries have simplified and made their administrative systems more user-friendly. This includes making it easier for people to access programs, provide advance payments, waiving conditionalities, allow for remote applications, etc. More generous transfers are provided for 78 programs in 58 countries, both in terms of higher transfer levels and extra payment cycles. Scale-up of program coverage is occurring in 165 countries and concerns 479 measures. Among them, existing programs are being scaled-up in 26 cases. A total of 454 programs are new (71% of social assistance), 79 of which are one-off measures (12% of the total). Table 2 and figure 3 report those adaptations. Table 2. Adaptation of social assistance N. of programs N. of countries Increase in existing benefits 78 58 Vertical expansion 54 39 Additional payment 24 27 Scale up coverage 479 165 Existing programs 26 21 New programs 454 165 one-off (targeted) 74 41 one-of (universal) 5 5 non-one off (universal) 1 1 non-one off (targeted) 374 156 Both vertical and horizontal expansion 18 14 Administration 62 47 Total 638 176 Over a billion individuals benefitted from social assistance in various ways. Based on our analysis, 4 sets of numbers can be considered: if we consider the full set of ways in which programs are adapted (i.e., administration, 3 adequacy and coverage), these have benefitted 1.8 billion people (1,801,343,016). If we examine the sole metric of horizontal coverage expansion for cash transfers, then such scale-up covered almost 1.1 billion people (1,080,686,828). This is 14% of the world’s population (see figure 3 for a breakdown by country Covid coverage rates). This level would increase by about half a billion people, or totaling 1.6 billion, if also in-kind transfers are included (1,611,029,017). Informal sector workers are one of the main populations targeted with cash transfers. We estimate that 136.7 million such workers are reached by cash-based programs (table 3). This is likely a conservative estimate, with countries announcing the intention to reach informal workers but not systematically reporting coverage numbers. Countries with higher rates of coverage include Philippines and El Salvador, while in absolute terms Argentina and Colombia show overage of 9 and 10 million, respectively. Morocco’s reach of 3 million informal workers – the program that taps the health sector database (Ramed) documented more in detail in May’s editions featuring delivery practices – is also remarkable. Informal sector Table 3. Country % population workers (individuals) Philippines 84,600,000 79% El Salvador 4,800,000 75% Chile 7,200,000 38% Tunisia 3,532,000 31% Zimbabwe 4,100,000 28% Lao PDR 1,500,000 21% Colombia 10,500,000 21% Ecuador 3,610,000 21% Argentina 9,000,000 20% Lesotho 200,000 9% Sierra Leone 660,800 9% Morocco 3,000,000 8% Bhutan 58,527 8% Togo 500,000 6% Cabo Verde 30,000 6% Honduras 500,000 5% Code d’lvoire 1,016,991 4% North Macedonia 55,800 3% Egypt 1,900,000 2% Total 136,764,117 - 4 Figure 3. Country-level coverage of Covid19 rates Japan Tuvalu 100% South Korea 100% Bolivia 97% Hong-Kong 94% Malaysia 83% Singapore 82% Venezuela 80% Philippines 79% Peru 75% El Salvador 75% Serbia 72% Paraguay 65% Dominican Republic 64% Haiti 59% Myanmar 39% Chile 38% Pakistan 37% Indonesia 31% Algeria 31% Tunisia 31% Iran 30% Costa Rica 29% Zimbabwe 28% Australia 27% Colombia 27% Kenya 26% US 24% Lao PDR 21% Ecuador 21% Argentina 20% Panama 20% Turkey 20% Comoros 19% Sri Lanka 19% Russia 19% Bangladesh 15% India 15% Togo 14% Jordan 14% Sierra Leone 14% Thailand 13% Guinea 13% Guatemala 12% Cambodia 11% Spain 11% Lesotho 9% Georgia 9% Morocco 8% Kazakhstan 8% Somalia 8% Cabo Verde 8% Congo, Rep. 8% Bhutan 8% South Africa 6% Greece 6% Honduras 5% Angola 5% Armenia 5% Global average Nigeria 5% Liberia 4% = 14% Mauritania 4% South Sudan 4% Montenegro 3% Madagascar 3% North Macedonia 3% Egypt 3% Congo, Dem. Rep 2% Mali 2% Azerbaijan 2% Rwanda 2% Ukraine 2% Brazil 2% Barbados 2% Uzbekistan 1% West Bank and Gaza 1% Code d’lvoire 0% 5 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% The level of cash transfers coverage in response to Covid doesn’t appear correlated to countries Covid policy measures. Figure 4 plots cash transfers coverage against the Stringency Index 1: In Latina America, for example, some countries like Peru and Bolivia has adopted strict policies accompanied by large-scale cash-based provisions; other countries such as Honduras, however, have similarly strict measures but without the provision of cash at a comparable level. Figure 4. Cash transfer C19 coverage and stringency index 100% Bolivia 90% Cash transfers coverage in response to C19 80% 70% Peru 60% 50% 40% 30% R² = 0.0041 20% 10% Honduras 0% 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 Stringency Index How much were cash transfers scaled-up relative to pre-Covid levels? To explore this question, we use administrative data from the ASPIRE database for 57 countries. For 14 of them, coverage started from very low levels, with resulting scale up for a factor of 10 and beyond 2. If we exclude those exceptional cases, for the remaining sample of 43 cases the average rate of increase in cash transfers coverage is about 244% (see figure 5). Note that baseline data should be taken as an upper bound estimate since administrative data tends to overestimate rates due to possible program overlaps (see annex 1 for pre-Covid rates). 1 The Stringency Index is a composite measure based on nine response indicators including school closures, workplace closures, and travel bans, rescaled to a value from 0 to 100 (100 = strictest response). Since the index evolves over time, we considered the average value since it was non-zero to July 10 (source: Our World in Data). 2 Namely Angola, Lao PDR, Togo, Myanmar, Zimbabwe, Congo Dem. Rep, Somalia, Sierra Leone, Code d’lvoire, Mauritania, Liberia, Cambodia, Nigeria, and South Sudan. 6 Figure 5. Scale up rate of cash transfers relative to pore-Covid level West Bank and Gaza 4.97% Brazil 5.85% Azerbaijan 10.87% Global average Georgia 12.61% = 244% South Africa 17.68% Kazakhstan 18.87% Armenia 23.07% Honduras 24.20% Guatemala 25.77% Russia 28.33% North Macedonia 39.10% Egypt 43.11% Ecuador 52.03% Sri Lanka 58.24% Chile 58.46% Panama 70.28% Argentina 84.91% Turkey 103.14% Indonesia 110.60% Dominican Republic 113.88% Cabo Verde 115.16% Morocco 129.59% Lesotho 143.29% Bangladesh 163.29% Malaysia 196.04% Rwanda 196.72% Pakistan 201.43% Colombia 284.83% Guinea 316.50% Bolivia 321.84% Tunisia 322.92% Jordan 329.03% Philippines 330.47% Madagascar 366.54% Paraguay 449.72% Costa Rica 484.09% Mali 591.08% Serbia 641.62% Peru 661.54% India 763.63% Kenya 768.88% El Salvador 839.09% Congo, Rep. 989.53% 0% 100% 200% 300% 400% 500% 600% 700% 800% 900% 1000% How much is the coverage of cash transfers as % of the population if we also consider pre-existing schemes? Figure 6 provides estimate for rates that consider both Covid ‘horizontal’ scale up as well as pre-Covid coverage. This is important to consider because many countries have maintained coverage of beneficiaries in pre-Covid programs (which wouldn’t appear as “scale up”), while seeking to expand coverage to new beneficiaries – whether through extending pre-existing schemes or introducing new ones (also in this case, see Annex 1). Our preliminary estimates indicate that planned or actual cash transfers reach 22% of the sample of 57 countries with ASPIRE administrative data pre-Covid. These are “on top” of pre-existing cash transfers which reach 16% of the population. Combined, the pre and Covid coverage equals to an average of 38% of the population in those countries. These range from between 60-70% in East Asia, Latin America and high-income countries to less than 20% in Africa, MENA and low-income settings. 7 Figure 6. Coverage of cash transfers as % of the population, pre and post-Covid rates (n= 57) 80% 80% 70% 70% 29% 60% 60% 50% 50% 39% 40% 17% 27% 44% 40% 30% 22% 30% 21% 22% 20% 47% 20% 24% 33% 28% 11% 29% 10% 8% 16% 15% 16% 10% 8% 16% 0% 3% 7% 8% AFR EAP ECA LAC MNA SAR Average 0% 1% sample LIC LMIC UMIC HIC Average (n=57) sample (n=57) Pre-C19 coverage New coverage (only C19 ben) Pre-C19 coverage New coverage (only C19 ben) Importantly, how many of country measures are planned, ongoing or ended in practice? This is an important question to get a firmer grip at country level action. While reporting is often limited, patchy and unavailable, we re-surveyed the universe of social assistance measures with a view of understanding their ‘state in implementation’ (table 4). Information was available for about 31% of the sample, or 195 measures. Out of these, 72% (141 measures) are ongoing, while the rest of the portfolio is either planned (13%) or completed (14%) at this time. For instance, the reassessment revealed that some countries had announced measures which would be subsequently canceled: for example, Egypt had planned a cash transfers for 200,000 informal sector workers, but this was eventually reconsidered. Table 4. State in implementation Planned Ongoing Ended Total Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) 21 74 22 117 Universal one-off cash 1 4 0 5 Childcare support 1 2 0 3 Social pensions 0 5 2 7 In-kind food/voucher schemes 2 20 3 25 School feeding 0 1 0 1 Utility and financial waivers/postponements 1 33 1 35 Public works 0 2 0 2 Total 26 141 28 195 Turning to other key social protection components, social insurance programs slightly increased since June. This includes an additional 10 measure and 3 additional countries, bringing the count to 273 and 125, respectively. Most programs include unemployment benefits (79 measures), followed by paid sick leave (68) and the wavers, deferment or subsidization of social security contributions (61). Also significant is the number of 8 pensions and disability-related measures (50), while healthcare insurance support only appeared in 15 cases. Table 5 sets out those measures. Table 5. Social insurance program type N. of measures N. of countries Paid sick support 68 55 Healthcare insurance support 15 14 Pension 50 35 Social security contribution waiver/subsidy 61 53 Unemployment benefit 79 64 Total programs 273 128 Supply-side, worker-related labor market programs also grew, although less extensively. With 144 programs in 88 countries, this edition cements the role of wage subsidies as the lead labor instrument: those measure now account for 56% of the labor portfolio with 81 measures in 69 countries. Other measures include labor market regulation adjustments (28 cases), 23 activation initiatives, and shorter-time arrangements (12). Table 6 lays out those interventions. Table 6. Labor markets program type N. of measures N. of countries Wage subsidy 81 69 Activation (training) measures 23 19 Labor regulation adjustment 28 24 Shorter work time benefits 12 10 Total programs 144 88 Regions present different combinations of social protection components. Relative to last month, the broad composition remains similar, with marginal changes in the order of one percentage point. Sub-Saharan Africa is the region with the highest share of social assistance (84%), followed by South Asia (76%) and Latin America and the Caribbean (71%). North America as well as Europe and Central Asia display a higher reliance on social insurance, while East Asia present the largest share of labor market measures (e.g., with programs in Singapore, China, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Philippines). The latter as just 5% in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia (figure 7). Figure 7. Social protection in Covid response composition by region Social Assistance Social Insurance Labor Markets 100% 5% 6% 5% 11% 11% 14% 11% 19% 18% 20% 80% 19% 33% 26% 24% 47% 36% 60% 40% 84% 76% 71% 57% 60% 56% 46% 47% 20% 0% 9 Some good news on measures in conflict and fragile situations. Among these countries, 13 new measures were included since June, and a few countries, notably Syria, are now actively introducing social protection measures. Burundi, Central African Republic, Eritrea, Kiribati, Marshall Island and Yemen are the only countries for which measures were not recorded. How much are countries spending on social protection responses? For a subset of countries for which data is available (75 in the case of social assistance, 21 for insurance, and 17 for labor markets), a total of $589 billion is being reported. This is line with the level reported in June and represents about 0.4% of the world’s $142 trillion GDP. Such level of investment is comparable to the overall social protection spending that occurred as part of the global response to the 2010 financial crisis (note that the Covid crisis may well be at the early stages, with potential for spending to soar remarkably). Per capita spending, however, is highly uneven: this ranges from $121 in high- income countries to a mere $1 in low-income settings; similarly, South Asia only provides $3/capita (Table 7). Table 7. Social Assistance Social insurance Labor Markets Spending pc Countries Spending ($) Countries Spending ($) Countries Spending ($) $/per capita LIC 10 301922606.4 0 - 0 - 1 LMIC 18 35871591541 3 1014126211 3 1076579479 6 UMIC 26 22487434909 11 12493280113 8 4,699,728,031 23 HIC 21 502,810,950,891 7 2767439265 6 6030679534 121 75 561,471,899,946 21 16,274,845,590 17 11,806,987,044 52 AFR 21 3,735,558,918 1 86,207 2 2,245,495,495 5 EAP 15 158,432,934,960 5 1,191,239,269 6 7,743,990,427 137 ECA 13 74,493,079,917 5 332,951,157 6 1,013,330,007 57 LAC 17 10,077,849,969 7 13,036,568,956 1 260,000,000 40 MNA 4 703,450,000 2 1,709,000,000 2 544,171,114 20 NA 1 290,005,000,000 1 5,000,000 0 - 295 SAR 4 24,024,026,181 0 - 0 - 3 75 561,471,899,946 21 16,274,845,590 17 11,806,987,044 52 10 Annex 1. Coverage of cash transfers (countries for which pre and post-Covid rates are available) Pre-C19 Year for admin Post C19 total Country C19 coverage coverage data Pre-C19 coverage Angola 5.19% 0.02% 2015 5.21% Lao PDR 21.24% 0.10% 2015 21.34% Togo 14.32% 0.15% 2015 14.48% Myanmar 39.10% 0.45% 2016 39.55% Zimbabwe 28.40% 0.40% 2015 28.79% Congo, Dem. Rep 2.38% 0.04% 2016 2.41% Somalia 8.00% 0.15% 2016 8.15% Sierra Leone 13.76% 0.42% 2016 14.18% Code d’lvoire 4.07% 0.14% 2017 4.21% Mauritania 4.16% 0.16% 2016 4.32% Liberia 4.18% 0.17% 2016 4.35% Cambodia 11.32% 1.05% 2015 12.38% Nigeria 4.76% 0.45% 2015 5.22% South Sudan 3.92% 0.38% 2016 4.30% Congo, Rep. 7.79% 0.79% 2016 8.58% El Salvador 74.76% 8.91% 2014 83.67% Kenya 25.79% 3.35% 2018 29.14% India 14.79% 1.94% 2016 16.72% Peru 75.00% 11.34% 2015 86.34% Serbia 71.61% 11.16% 2013 82.77% Mali 2.26% 0.38% 2016 2.64% Costa Rica 28.56% 5.90% 2015 34.46% Paraguay 64.95% 14.44% 2017 79.39% Madagascar 2.68% 0.73% 2018 3.42% Philippines 79.32% 24.00% 2017 103.33% Jordan 14.13% 4.29% 2015 18.42% Tunisia 30.54% 9.46% 2014 40.00% Bolivia 96.89% 30.10% 2015 126.99% Guinea 12.89% 4.07% 2019 16.96% Colombia 26.69% 9.37% 2019 36.06% Pakistan 36.54% 18.14% 2017 54.69% Rwanda 1.96% 1.00% 2015 2.95% Malaysia 83.32% 42.50% 2016 125.82% Bangladesh 15.31% 9.38% 2016 24.69% Lesotho 9.49% 6.62% 2017 16.11% Morocco 8.33% 6.43% 2016 14.75% Cabo Verde 7.83% 6.80% 2014 14.64% Dominican Republic 64.26% 56.42% 2018 120.68% Indonesia 31.08% 28.10% 2018 59.19% Turkey 19.92% 19.31% 2017 39.24% 11 Argentina 20.23% 23.82% 2017 44.05% Panama 20.11% 28.61% 2015 48.73% Chile 38.44% 65.76% 2018 104.21% Sri Lanka 18.83% 32.33% 2018 51.15% Ecuador 21.13% 40.61% 2014 61.75% Egypt 2.60% 6.02% 2018 8.62% North Macedonia 2.68% 6.85% 2017 9.53% Russia 18.69% 65.96% 2017 84.65% Guatemala 11.60% 44.99% 2013 56.59% Honduras 5.22% 21.55% 2015 26.76% Armenia 5.02% 21.77% 2017 26.79% Kazakhstan 8.21% 43.51% 2017 51.72% South Africa 6.06% 34.27% 2015 40.33% Georgia 9.40% 74.56% 2017 83.97% Azerbaijan 2.01% 18.51% 2015 20.53% Brazil 1.58% 26.93% 2018 28.50% West Bank and Gaza 0.79% 15.86% 2015 16.65% Source: ASPIRE database for pre-C19 data (administrative). Countries with post-C19 rates above 100% indicate program overlaps (n=5). 12 Countries with planned or ongoing social protection responses to COVID-19 as of July 10, 2020 (n=200; gray = no data/measures reported) 13 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 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Andorra ✓ Angola ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Anguilla (UK) ✓ ✓ Antigua and Barbuda ✓ ✓ ✓ Argentina ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Armenia ✓ ✓ ✓ Aruba ✓ ✓ Australia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Austria ✓ ✓ ✓ Azerbaijan ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Bahamas, the ✓ ✓ Bahrain ✓ ✓ ✓ Bangladesh ✓ ✓ Barbados ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Belarus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Belgium ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Belize ✓ ✓ ✓ Benin ✓ Bermuda ✓ ✓ Bhutan ✓ ✓ Bolivia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Bosnia & Herzegovina ✓ ✓ ✓ 14 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 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Comoros ✓ Congo, Dem. Rep ✓ ✓ Congo, Rep. ✓ ✓ Cook Island ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Costa Rica ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Croatia ✓ ✓ Cuba ✓ 15 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 ✓ ✓ Djibouti ✓ Dominica ✓ Dominican Republic ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Ecuador ✓ ✓ ✓ Egypt ✓ ✓ ✓ El Salvador ✓ ✓ ✓ Equatorial Guinea ✓ Estonia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Eswatini ✓ ✓ Ethiopia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Fiji ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Finland ✓ ✓ France ✓ ✓ ✓ Gabon ✓ ✓ Gambia, The ✓ Georgia ✓ ✓ ✓ Germany ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Ghana ✓ ✓ ✓ Gibraltar ✓ Greece ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Greenland ✓ 16 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 Grenada ✓ ✓ ✓ Guatemala ✓ ✓ Guernsey ✓ ✓ ✓ Guinea ✓ ✓ Guinea- Bissau ✓ ✓ Guyana ✓ ✓ Haiti ✓ ✓ ✓ Honduras ✓ ✓ Hong-Kong ✓ ✓ Hungary ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Iceland ✓ ✓ ✓ India ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Indonesia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Iran ✓ ✓ Iraq ✓ ✓ Ireland ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Israel ✓ Italy ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Jamaica ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Japan ✓ ✓ ✓ Jordan ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Kazakhstan ✓ ✓ ✓ Kenya ✓ ✓ ✓ Kosovo ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Kuwait ✓ 17 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 Kyrgyz Republic ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Lao PDR ✓ Latvia ✓ ✓ Lebanon ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Lesotho ✓ ✓ ✓ Liberia ✓ ✓ ✓ Libya ✓ Liechtenstein ✓ Lithuania ✓ ✓ ✓ Luxembourg ✓ ✓ ✓ Madagascar ✓ ✓ ✓ Malawi ✓ Malaysia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Maldives ✓ ✓ ✓ Mali ✓ ✓ ✓ Malta ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Mauritania ✓ ✓ Mauritius ✓ ✓ Mexico ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Micronesia, Fed. Sts. ✓ ✓ Moldova ✓ ✓ ✓ Monaco ✓ ✓ Mongolia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Montenegro ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Montserrat (UK) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 18 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 Morocco ✓ ✓ ✓ Mozambique ✓ ✓ Myanmar ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Namibia ✓ ✓ Nepal ✓ ✓ ✓ Netherlands ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ New Zealand ✓ ✓ ✓ Nicaragua ✓ Niger ✓ ✓ Nigeria ✓ ✓ ✓ North Macedonia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Northern Mariana Islands ✓ ✓ Norway ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Oman ✓ ✓ Pakistan ✓ ✓ Panama ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Papua New Guinea ✓ Paraguay ✓ Peru ✓ ✓ ✓ Philippines ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Poland ✓ ✓ ✓ Portugal ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Qatar ✓ ✓ Romania ✓ ✓ ✓ 19 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 Russia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Rwanda ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Saint Lucia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Samoa ✓ ✓ ✓ Sao Tome and Principe ✓ 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 ✓ ✓ 20 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 St. Vincent and the Grenadines ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Sudan ✓ Suriname ✓ ✓ Sweden ✓ ✓ Switzerland ✓ ✓ Syria ✓ ✓ 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 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 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 Uzbekistan ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Vanuatu ✓ ✓ Venezuela ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Vietnam ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ West Bank and Gaza ✓ ✓ Zambia ✓ ✓ Zimbabwe ✓ 22 Countries and territories 1. Afghanistan 39. Chile 80. Guyana 120. Moldova 161. Singapore 2. Albania 40. China 81. Haiti 121. Mongolia 162. Sint Maarten 3. Algeria 41. Côte d’lvoire 82. Honduras 122. Monaco 163. Slovakia 4. Andorra 42. Colombia 83. Hong-Kong 123. Montenegro 164. Slovenia 5. Angola 43. Comoros 84. Hungary 124. Montserrat (UK) 165. Solomon Islands 6. Anguilla (UK) 44. Congo, Dem. Rep. 85. Iceland 125. Morocco 166. Somalia 7. Antigua and Barbuda 45. Congo, Rep. 86. India 126. Mozambique 167. South Africa 8. Argentina 46. Cook Island 87. Indonesia 127. Myanmar 168. South Korea 9. Armenia 47. Costa Rica 88. Iran 128. Namibia 169. South Sudan 10. Aruba (Netherlands) 48. Croatia 89. Iraq 129. Nepal 170. Spain 11. Australia 49. Cuba 90. Ireland 130. Netherlands 171. Sri Lanka 12. Austria 50. Curaçao (Netherlands) 91. Israel 131. New Zealand 172. Sudan 13. Azerbaijan 51. Cyprus 92. Italy 132. Nicaragua 173. Suriname 14. Bahamas 52. Czechia 93. Jamaica 133. Niger 174. Sweden 15. Bahrain 53. Denmark 94. Japan 134. Nigeria 175. Switzerland 16. Bangladesh 54. Djibouti 95. Jordan 135. Northern Mariana Islands (U.S) 176. Syria 17. Barbados 55. Dominica 96. Kazakhstan 136. North Macedonia 177. Tajikistan 18. Belarus 56. Dominican Republic 97. Kenya 137. Norway 178. Taiwan 19. Belgium 57. Ecuador 98. Kosovo 138. Oman 179. Thailand 20. Belize 58. Egypt 99. Kuwait 139. Pakistan 180. Timor Leste 21. Benin 59. El Salvador 100. Kyrgyz Republic 140. Panama 181. Togo 22. Bermuda (UK) 60. Equatorial Guinea 101. Lao PDR 141. Papua New Guinea 182. Tonga 23. Bhutan 61. Estonia 102. Latvia 142. Paraguay 183. Trinidad and Tobago 24. Bolivia 62. Eswatini 103. Lebanon 143. Peru 184. Tunisia 25. Bosnia & Herzegovina 63. Ethiopia 104. Lesotho 144. Philippines 185. Turkey 26. Botswana 64. Fiji 105. Liberia 145. Poland 186. Turks and Caicos 27. Brazil 65. Finland 106. Libya 146. Portugal Islands (UK) 28. British Virgin Islands 66. France 107. Liechtenstein 147. Qatar 187. Tuvalu (UK) 67. Gabon 108. Lithuania 148. Romania 188. UAE 29. Brunei Darussalam 68. Gambia, The 109. Luxembourg 149. Russia 189. Uganda 30. Bulgaria 69. Georgia 110. Madagascar 150. Rwanda 190. UK 31. Burkina Faso 70. Germany 111. Malawi 151. Saint Lucia 191. Ukraine 32. Cabo Verde 71. Ghana 112. Maldives 152. Saint Kitts and Nevis 192. Uruguay 33. Cambodia 72. Gibraltar (UK) 113. Malaysia 153. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 193. USA 34. Cameroon 73. Greece 114. Mali 154. Samoa 194. Uzbekistan 35. Canada 74. Greenland 115. Malta 155. Sao Tome and Principe 195. Vanuatu 36. Caribbean 75. Grenada 116. Mauritania 156. Saudi Arabia 196. Venezuela (Netherlands) 76. Guatemala 117. Mauritius 157. Senegal 197. Vietnam 37. Cayman Islands (UK) 77. Guernsey (UK) 118. Mexico 158. Serbia 198. West Bank and Gaza 38. Chad 78. Guinea 119. Micronesia 159. Seychelles 199. Zambia 79. Guinea-Bissau 160. Sierra Leone 200. Zimbabwe 23 (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 3 4 School feeding Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures 3 https://www.imf.org/en/Topics/imf-and-covid19/Policy-Responses-to-COVID-19 4 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-afghanistan-food/afghanistan-distributes-free-bread-as-prices-soar-amid-coronavirus-idUSKBN22H1A4 24 Labor market regulations Labor Reduced work time Markets Wage subsidies 25 (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 Albania Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act ● ● ● ● ● ● 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 26 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.5 • 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. 5 https://exit.al/2020/03/qeveria-pagese-direkte-per-te-vetepunesuarit-sa-2-here-rroga-e-deklaruar-dyfishon-pagesat-e-ndihmes-ekonomike-dhe-papunesis/ 27 - 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. 28 Social security contributions Activation measures Labor market regulations Reduced work time • To support firms with liquidity the Government of Albania issued the first loan guarantee in the amount of ALL 11.0 billion (approx. USD 100 Labor million), to be allocated by banks to companies that have difficulties in Markets paying employee salaries. Interest rate costs are fully covered by the Wage subsidies government, and no collateral is required from the companies. The loan will cover employee salaries for a 3-month period, not exceeding a monthly salary of ALL 150,000 per worker. All sectors of the economy are eligible, with the exception of telecommunications, food retail, and pharmaceuticals 29 (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. 6 (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) 6 http://www.aps.dz/societe/104006-une-allocation-de-10-000-da-pour-les-familles-necessiteuses-et-celles-affectees-par-le-coronavirus 30 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) 7 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) 8 Activation measures Labor market regulations Labor Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 7 https://www.joradp.dz/FTP/JO-FRANCAIS/2020/F2020015.pdf 8 https://www.joradp.dz/FTP/JO-FRANCAIS/2020/F2020016.pdf 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 Andorra ● 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 government introduced prophylactic/care leave: workers with Paid sick leave children can have access to paid leave while the educational and extracurricular leisure centers are compulsorily closed 9 Social Health insurance Insurance Pensions Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures 9 https://www.bopa.ad/bopa/032057/Pagines/CGL20200429_11_50_35.aspx 32 Labor market regulations Labor Reduced work time Markets 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 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 approximately US$6 to US$10 monthly) and a double payment will be made. The program has already benefited 11,473 children under the Cash transfers age of five, in a universe of 6,325 families. The government has also (conditional and unconditional) adapted the payment procedures to ensure adequate sanitation and Social worker protection during the transfers. (top up and extra payment) 10 Assistance • To improve the income of the poorest families affected by the depth of the economic crisis that the country is experiencing, in May 2020 the first phase of the Social Monetary Transfer Program will begin, which will have 1,600,000 beneficiaries 11 One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers 10 http://jornaldeangola.sapo.ao/politica/apoio-financeiro-beneficia-mais-de-11-mil-criancas-em-tres-provincias 11 http://jornaldeangola.sapo.ao/politica/apoio-financeiro-beneficia-mais-de-11-mil-criancas-em-tres-provincias 34 • In order to guarantee the consumption of food in the basic basket for the most vulnerable families, the Ministry of Social Action, Family and Promotion of Women, the Ministry of Commerce and the Provincial Food, vouchers, others Governments develop campaigns to distribute goods in the basic basket to the most vulnerable populations. vulnerable, with emphasis on supporting more than 17,000 children 12 13 School feeding Public works • In order to alleviate family financial expenses / obligations, a 180-day moratorium is granted to families that have difficulties in paying their Utility waivers home's IPU14, • As well as electricity and water supply bills 15 16 Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor market regulations Labor Reduced work time Markets • To safeguard jobs and ensure the payment of wages, companies with difficulties in making the payment of the wages for April may resort to Wage subsidies the financing of subsidized wages through the liquidity line created by the National Bank of Angola 17 18 12 https://beyond.co.ao/medidas-imediatas-de-estimulo-para-empresas-e-particulares-em-resposta-a-pandemia-do-coronavirus/ 13 https://beyond.co.ao/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Memorando-de-propostas-de-medidas_Codiv_19_AO.pdf 14 https://www.governo.gov.ao/VerNoticia.aspx?id=50027 15 https://beyond.co.ao/medidas-imediatas-de-estimulo-para-empresas-e-particulares-em-resposta-a-pandemia-do-coronavirus/ 16 https://beyond.co.ao/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Memorando-de-propostas-de-medidas_Codiv_19_AO.pdf 17 https://beyond.co.ao/medidas-imediatas-de-estimulo-para-empresas-e-particulares-em-resposta-a-pandemia-do-coronavirus/ 18 https://beyond.co.ao/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Memorando-de-propostas-de-medidas_Codiv_19_AO.pdf 35 (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) 19 (conditional and unconditional) • As well as vertical and horizontal expansion of public assistance Social programme.20 (vertical and horizontal expansion) Assistance One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works 19 http://www.gov.ai/documents/finance/Information%20for%20Employers%20and%20Employees%20re%20Governments%20Assistance%20Benefit.pdf 20 http://www.gov.ai/documents/2020%20Budget%20Address.pdf 36 Utility waivers 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.21 Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 21 http://www.gov.ai/documents/2020%20Budget%20Address.pdf 37 (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 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 disclosed22. One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers Social • The Ministry of Social Transformation is providing relief packages of Assistance food and medication to elderly living alone, persons with disabilities, Food, vouchers, others and unemployed adults with children.23 School feeding Public works • 20 percent reduction in electricity costs to the public and fuel costs to Utility waivers fishermen for 90 days Paid sick leave Social Health insurance Insurance Pensions 22 https://antiguaobserver.com/government-to-provide-relief-packages-to-some-families/ 23 https://www.facebook.com/675762122516480/videos/221429098944378/ 38 Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 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 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). 24 (vertical expansion) • The government introduced the Emergency Family Income (Ingreso Familiar de Emergencia) (non-contributory). A lump sum payment of Social Cash transfers $10,000 (US$155) provided for the month of April to one member of Assistance (conditional and unconditional) the family. The total number of expected beneficiaries: 3.6 million families including; Informal workers, “Monotributistas” of category A and B, Domestic workers (all new). *UPDATE* the government officially announced on June 1st 2020, that the national government will again pay the $ 10,000 of the Emergency Family Income (IFE) to the almost 9 million people who collected it the first time, with a payment schedule that will start on June 8. 25 - 24 https://www.lanacion.com.ar/economia/quienes-cuando-cobraran-bono-extraordinario-anunciado-anses-nid2344443 25 https://www.argentina.gob.ar/noticias/el-gobierno-oficializo-la-segunda-etapa-del-pago-del-ife 40 • There will be an extraordinary bonus of $3,000 Argentine pesos (US$45) for the people who receive social programs (556,000 people). (vertical expansion) 26 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 • The Minister of Social Development of the Nation, Daniel Arroyo, announced the payment of an extraordinary reinforcement for holders of the Food Card , which will be accredited next Wednesday, April 29. Those families with a daughter / or will receive a bonus of 4000 pesos ; and those who have two or more children, will receive an extraordinary reinforcement of 6000 pesos . The objective is to guarantee access to food for the most vulnerable sectors in the context of the emergency caused by Covid-19. 28 • In order to guarantee supply and control the abuse of prices during the health emergency, the Ministry of Productive Development ordered 26 https://www.argentina.gob.ar/noticias/coronavirus-refuerzos-en-la-politica-alimentaria-planes-sociales-y-auh 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.argentina.gob.ar/noticias/tarjeta-alimentar-se-acreditara-un-refuerzo-extraordinario 41 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 29 • The government is distributing the remaining school feeding food School feeding stocks as take-home rations. 30 Public works • 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. 31 • 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 Utility waivers alternate bill payments are missed. The measure will govern for 180 days and includes users who are holders of the AUH and AUE, retirees and pensioners, those who receive unemployment insurance, and other groups. 32 • 05/18/2020. Freezing of fixed and mobile telephony, internet and pay TV rates: In the current context and based on social, preventive and compulsory isolation, information and communication technologies (ICTs) were declared an essential activity for the population. With the aim of containing the situation of affected people and guaranteeing 29 https://www.boletinoficial.gob.ar/detalleAviso/primera/227052/20200320 30 https://cdn.wfp.org/2020/school-feeding-map/ 31 https://www.argentina.gob.ar/coronavirus/medidas-gobierno 32 https://www.boletinoficial.gob.ar/detalleAviso/primera/227120/20200325 42 connectivity and full access to services, the National Government established the suspension of price increases until August 31 for mobile and fixed telephony, internet and pay TV. . At the same time, the provision of inclusive postpaid, mobile prepaid and fixed internet mobile phone plans for all people requesting the benefit was agreed, with a fixed price until October 31. The measure includes the commitment of the provider companies not to make layoffs during the term of the agreement. 33 • 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 sale of food and hygiene items and pharmacy, among others) Paid sick leave • Paid leave for all workers, public and private, who have dependent sons and daughters and must attend to care needs due to the 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, Social distribution and sale of food and hygiene items and pharmacy, among Insurance 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. 33 https://www.argentina.gob.ar/coronavirus/medidas-gobierno 43 • 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 market regulations Reduced work time • See the Emergency Assistance Program for Work above. The allocation amount will be determined according to the following Labor parameters: Markets - 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 44 (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. 35 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) 34 • 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)). 34 https://www.gov.am/en/ 35 https://www.azatutyun.am/a/30495643.html 45 - 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). 36 (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 36 https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1010183.html 46 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 47 • 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 48 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. 49 (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 50 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) 37 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 38. 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 37 http://www.gobierno.aw/news/news_47033/item/flexibility-package-for-covid-19-crisis_48794.html 38 http://www.gobierno.aw/news/news_47033/item/procedure-for-the-emergency-funds-for-social-assistance-fase_48785.html 51 (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 Australia ● ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • Cash for households: The Government is providing two separate $750 payments to social security, veteran and other income support recipients and eligible concession card holders. The first payment was made from 31 March 2020 and the second payment will be made from 13 July 2020. Around half of those that benefit are pensioners. These payments will help to support confidence and domestic demand in the Social Cash transfers economy. The second payment will not be made to those eligible for Assistance (conditional and unconditional) the Coronavirus supplement. 39 40 • Cash for individuals: Coronavirus Supplement: the government announced a 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. 41 This supplement will be 39 https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/coronavirus-supplement/how-much-you-can-get 40 https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-05/Overview-Economic_Response_to_the_Coronavirus_3.pdf 41 https://www.dss.gov.au/about-the-department/coronavirus-covid-19-information-and-support 52 in place for the next six months at a cost of AUD 14.1bn (USD 8.5bn). 42 43 (new) • 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 44. (new) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works Utility waivers • Self-employed have access to special unemployment benefits for Paid sick leave sickness absence due to COVID-19or quarantine 45 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 Social further $10,000 in 2020-21. Eligible individuals (including unemployed Insurance individuals on temporary work visas) will be able to apply online to Pensions 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 for approximately 3 months (exact timing will depend on the passage of the relevant legislation) 46. 42 https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-03/Overview-Economic_Response_to_the_Coronavirus.pdf 43 https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-05/Overview-Economic_Response_to_the_Coronavirus_3.pdf 44 http://www.premier.tas.gov.au/releases/ministerial_statement_covid-19_response_measures 45 https://read.oecd-ilibrary.org/view/?ref=134_134797-9iq8w1fnju&title=Paid-sick-leave-to-protect-income-health-and-jobs-through-the-COVID-19-crisis 46 https://treasury.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-03/Fact_sheet-Early_Access_to_Super.pdf 53 • 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 market regulations Reduced work time • 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. Labor • Australia is providing a wage subsidy (so-called “JobKeeper payment”) Markets 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. 47 47 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-30/coronavirus-wage-subsidies-government-businesses-workers/12103108 54 (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 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 fund, implemented by the Austrian Economic Chamber. Design details to be announced 48.The maximum amount of compensation for the net loss of income per observation period is € 2,000 (therefore a Cash transfers maximum of € 12,000 in total), but at least € 500 if the eligibility (conditional and unconditional) requirements are met. In the case of additional income over € 2,000, Social the net loss of income will not be replaced. Funding duration is Assistance increased from three to six months. The observation period is extended to mid-December 49 One-off cash transfers • Temporary waiving of conditionalities to receive the childcare benefit (i.e. obligatory health examinations that usually have to take place at Childcare support fixed times during pregnancy until age 5 of the child). 48 https://www.wko.at/service/haertefall-fonds-epu-kleinunternehmen.html 49 https://www.bmf.gv.at/public/top-themen/corona-hilfspaket-faq.html 55 Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works Utility waivers • Employees with care responsibilities for one or more children under the age of 14 can take up to 3 weeks of care leave (Sonderbetreuungszeit) with full wage replacement (1/3 of the salary will be reimbursed to the employer by the government) 50. • 'According to the Epidemic Act, an employee who is quarantined by the doctor or the authorities because of the coronavirus, i.e infected or suspected to be infected (and is therefore unable to work) is entitled to sick pay from the employer (can be refunded by the state). Benefit level and duration is the same as for a sick worker (and workers would also receive a sickness benefit if they would be in quarantine longer Paid sick leave than 6-12 weeks). The employee does not need a sickness certificate in this case because he/she is not necessarily sick. This does not apply to employees who are quarantined abroad. An employee who self- Social isolates because of belonging to a risk group (due to age, pre-existing Insurance or current conditions) is also entitled to sick pay, paid by the employer and refunded by the state. However, the risk-group status must be certified by a doctor (via phone or visit) and this does not apply to workers of the core sectors like health, transportation or supermarkets. Health insurance Pensions • Temporary waiving of the conditionality to regularly meet the case worker at the labor market service to receive unemployment benefits Unemployment benefits 51 (admin adaptation) Social security contributions 50 https://news.wko.at/news/niederoesterreich/coronahotline.html 51 https://www.gesundheitskasse.at/cdscontent/?contentid=10007.857901&portal=oegknportal&viewmode=content 56 Activation measures Labor market regulations • Corona short-time working allows the temporary reduction of normal working hours (up to 10 percent on average over the entire period) and of wages due to economic difficulties. Its purpose is to temporarily reduce the labor costs for the companies and at the same time to keep the employees. • Net remuneration guarantee: • Employees receive the following remuneration from the employer, irrespective of the working hours during short-term Reduced work time corona work: • • with gross monthly wages before short-time work of less than 1,700 euros 90% of the net wage before short-time work; • for gross wages between 1,700 euros and 2,685 euros 85%; • for gross wages over 2,685 euros 80% (also above the Labor maximum contribution basis!). Markets • Apprentices receive 100% of their previous net wages 52 • The government is covering up to 90% of wages/salaries of workers to stay employed, rather than being laid-off. 53. 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). The working time of employees registered for short-time work can be 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). 52 https://www.bmf.gv.at/public/top-themen/corona-hilfspaket-faq.html 53 https://www.oegb.at/cms/S06/S06_0.a/1342627789286/home/rechenbeispiele-zeigen-warum-corona-kurzarbeit-fuer-alle-sinnvoll-ist 57 58 (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 • As one of the measures to increase government support for low- income families in Azerbaijan, the coverage of the targeted state social assistance program is expanding, Trend reports referring to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population. According to the ministry, from April 1 to date, the number of citizens receiving targeted social assistance has grown by 12,000 families and reached 82,000. Meanwhile, the number of family members receiving social Social assistance this month increased by 50,000 and currently stands at Cash transfers Assistance 340,000 people. The average monthly amount of social assistance for (conditional and unconditional) each family continues to grow, reaching 222 manat ($130.5). As the ministry noted, the support was also provided to low-income families whose term for receiving targeted state social assistance during the special quarantine regime has expired. The term for the provision of this assistance to them has been extended to one month following the end of the quarantine regime 54. • Another key support tool in the social protection sphere is lump-sum payments in the amount of living wage - 190 manats ($112) to 54 https://www.azernews.az/nation/164515.html 59 200,000 unemployed citizens of the country. The payment is considered for two months. 55 One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions 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 vulnerable families. 56 • Payment of tuition fees to the following categories of individuals: - recipients of targeted state social assistance; Utility waivers - 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 57. Paid sick leave Health insurance Pensions Social • Provide a lump-sum payment in the amount of the subsistence Insurance minimum (AZN 190, around USD 112) to jobseekers registered with the State Employment Service. (new) Unemployment benefits • Expand the coverage of unemployment insurance payments and create proactive appointment mechanism. Continue to pay insurance 55 https://caspiannews.com/news-detail/azerbaijan-takes-measures-to-mitigate-covid-19-impact-on-economy-social-life-2020-4-6-1/ 56 https://cabmin.gov.az/az/document/4382/ 57 https://cabmin.gov.az/az/document/4381/ 60 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 sector • Labor Reduced work time Markets • A program of compensating for the damage caused to the entrepreneurs and their employees. The amount of which is lower than 712 manat ($418) will be fully paid by the state to the enterprise. Wage subsidies • 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). 58 58 https://cabmin.gov.az/az/document/4371/ 61 (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. 59 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 60. 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/ 59 http://magneticmediatv.com/2020/04/campbell-outlines-measures-undertaken-by-social-services-in-light-of-covid-19/ 60 62 those persons who – as a result of the closure of the tourism sector — found themselves on reduced workweeks 61. 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 61 http://magneticmediatv.com/2020/04/campbell-outlines-measures-undertaken-by-social-services-in-light-of-covid-19/ 63 (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. 62 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). 63 Social Paid sick leave Insurance Health insurance 62 https://www.bna.bh/en/HRHPremierorderstodoublethevalueofsocialsecuritybenefits.aspx?cms=q8FmFJgiscL2fwIzON1%2BDnsLlEDOxXSIjsQrjGl7ljM%3D 63 https://www.moh.gov.bh/COVID19/Details/3969 64 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) 64 65 Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 64 https://www.moh.gov.bh/COVID19/Details/3969 65 https://www.moh.gov.bh/COVID19/Details/3982 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 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. 66 The total fund of Taka 2,250 will be distributed among the 50 lakh families through the mobile financial services (MFSs) 67 Social Assistance One-off cash transfers 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 66 https://tbsnews.net/coronavirus-chronicle/covid-19-bangladesh/pm-launch-disbursement-cash-aid-50-lakh-families-tomorrow 67 https://pmo.gov.bd/site/news/fafbd633-d404-4159-9960-3a7b78b7897c/Prime-Minister-Sheikh-Hasina-launches-disbursement-of-cash-aid-for-50-lakh-families%E2%80%A6 66 Utility waivers 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) 68 68 https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/unprecedented-bailout-package-the-way-1885042 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 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). 69 (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 69 https://gisbarbados.gov.bb/blog/vulnerable-programme-put-in-place-for-families/ 68 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. 70 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 71. Activation measures 70 https://gisbarbados.gov.bb/blog/care-packages-distributed-to-vulnerable-groups/ 71 https://barbadostoday.bb/2020/03/21/welfare-cheques-boost-to-help-families/ 69 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 72. 72 https://www.stlucianewsonline.com/coronavirus-barbados-announces-20m-survival-stimulus-package-landlords-told-not-to-evict/ 70 (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 • On May 18th, 2020, the President signed the Decree “On Financial Incentives for Staff Members of the Organizations Providing Social Services”, which stipulates additional fees for staff members of the public social support institutions working with persons who have infectious diseases and their first contacts who are not admitted to health institutions by medical indications. These additional fees are paid to staff members working in the rotating scheme. The rotating scheme means working for 14 days continuously not leaving the Social institution. The amount of the additional fee depends on the category Cash transfers Assistance of the employee and the frequency of their contact with the infected (conditional and unconditional) persons. When infections or contacts with infected persons or with first contacts are found in such organizations, the additional fees should be 1,500 Belarusian roubles (621 USD) for medical workers who are physicians, 1,300 Belarusian roubles (538 USD) for medical workers who have secondary special medical education, and 900 Belarusian roubles (373 USD) for other workers. When no cases of infection and/or first contacts are found in the organizations, the relevant additional fees should make: 500 Belarusian roubles (207 USD) for medical workers who are physicians, 400 Belarusian roubles 71 (166 USD) for medical workers who have secondary special medical education, and 250 Belarusian roubles (103 USD) for other workers. In addition, social service workers who work according to the rotating scheme are provided with living accommodations in such organizations and additional remunerations (9 Belarusian roubles, or 3.7 USD) per working day according to such scheme, as stipulated by the legislation. When a new staff team is employed, mandatory testing should be made in order to identify persons who may be infected. • On May 18th, 2020, the President issued the Decree “On Social Support for Specific Categories of Individuals”. This Decree stipulates a longer period of public targeted social support to families with many children in the form of a monthly social benefit which is extended up to 12 months (up from the current 6 months), as well as higher means- testing from 100% to 115% of the minimum subsistence budget (MSB) per capita which is used to appoint such benefit (increased to 283.80 Belarusian roubles, or 117.5 USD, from the current amount of 246.78 Belarusian roubles, or 102.1 USD). • One-off cash transfers 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.73 (admin adaptation) In-kind transfers • On April 6, 2020, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection informed that the social services are ready to provide support to Food, vouchers, others 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. 73 http://www.belpost.by/press-centre/news-company/5025.html 72 Belarus has 146 such centres, located in every district of the country. The number of people living alone and people with disabilities is about 830,000, including almost 160,000 persons who have no close relatives.74 • The Ministry of Anti-Monopoly Regulation and Trade introduced state regulation of prices on medical masks and disinfectants (antibacterial and decontaminating agents).75 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”.76 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 Social respiratory symptoms. People who work and pay fees to the Social Paid sick leave Insurance 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 74 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/ 75 https://www.mart.gov.by/news/price_control_mask 76 http://pravo.by/upload/docs/op/C22000208_1586379600.pdf 73 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 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 Belize ● ● ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers • The government will also upscale transfers through ВООЅТ, The (conditional and unconditional) conational cash transfers program77. 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 78. Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave Social Health insurance Insurance Pensions 77 https://www.breakingbelizenews.com/2020/03/30/pm-barrow-says-stipends-for-the-unemployed-to-be-disbursed-this-week-discusses-other-financial-measures/ 78 https://www.breakingbelizenews.com/2020/03/18/minister-faber-confirms-school-closures-on-covid-19/ 75 • 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.79 Social security contributions Labor Activation measures Markets Labor market regulations Reduced work time Wage subsidies 79 https://www.breakingbelizenews.com/2020/04/03/citizens-can-now-apply-for-unemployment-relief-program/ 76 (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 80. Paid sick leave 80 OECD database http://www.oecd.org/social/Covid-19-Employment-and-Social-Policy-Responses-by-Country.xlsx 77 • 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 81. 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 82. • 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 81 https://www.inasti.be/fr/news/difficultes-suite-au-coronavirus 82 https://www.onem.be/fr/nouveau/chomage-temporaire-la-suite-de-lepidemie-de-coronavirus-covid-19-simplification-de-la-procedure 78 (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 79 Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 80 (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. 83 (new) One-off cash transfers Childcare support 83 http://www.royalgazette.com/labour/article/20200324/weekly-500-safety-net-for-laid-off-workers 81 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 82 (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 Bhutan ● ● Cash-based transfers • The goverboment introduced Druk Gyalpo’s Relief Kidu which provides Immediate financial support for people who have been laid off or placed on reduced salaries, or their livelihood is impacted. Eligibility based on application: individuals who have been laid off, placed on unpaid leave or on reduced pay from businesses as well as self-employed individuals who have lost their earnings either partially Cash transfers or completely. The Relief Kidu benefit amount is at Nu. 12,000 (~USD (conditional and unconditional) 160) per person per month for recipients of the full amount of the Kidu and Nu. 8,000 (~USD 106) per month for recipients of the partial Social amount of the Kidu. Additional support of Nu. 800 (~USD 10.5)per Assistance child per month is granted to eligible beneficiaries with children. By May 25th, the Druk Gyalpo's Relief Kidu has granted Nu. 150 million (USD 1.95 million) as the first disbursement of the Relief Kidu to 13,006 people. One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding 83 • Build Bhutan program through a cross-ministerial effort, the Build Bhutan program aims to provide relief and support recovery through reskilling and provision of jobs to newly unemployed and at the same time address shortages of labor in sectors that previously relied on foreign workers. Currently the program aims to provide support to 7,000 newly unemployed. The budget for the program is still under consideration. 84 • Tourism Stimulus Package: A much smaller income support program titled Tourism Stimulus Package was announced on April 17th. The program will cover only 2,436 people formally affiliated with tourism Public works sector and will provide support to them through cash for work and cash for reskilling style programs. Work provided under this program includes beautification of the main tourist attractions, maintenance of relevant infrastructure, hotel assessments, support to carrying out of survey and studies aimed to improve performance of the sector, as well as waste management. Those eligible will be provided Nu 6,000 (~USD 80) per month in case of selecting in training, and Nu 15,000 (~USD 200) per month in case of opting out for construction and development work. The duration of the program was not specified. Total budget of the programs is Nu 286 million (~USD 3.8 million). 85 86 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 84 https://www.businessbhutan.bt/2020/05/19/build-bhutan-project-to-engage-7000-job-seekers-in-construction-sector/ 85 https://southasiamonitor.org/bhutan/bhutan-announces-tourism-stimulus-package 86 https://kuenselonline.com/tourism-stimulus-package-to-benefit-2436/ 84 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). • The Bono Familia is a one-time only transfer of Bs500 (US$72) for Social each child enrolled in elementary, primary and secondary schools Cash transfers Assistance (public or private). BF is expected to directly and indirectly cover 65.3 (conditional and unconditional) percent of the population • The Bono Canasta Familiar is a one-time payment Bs400 (US$58) transfer to 1.6 million low income households in rural and urban areas to cover the cost a monthly basic food basket. BCF is expected to indirectly and directly cover 23.9 percent of the 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. 86 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. 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 • The GoB introduced telework in the labor code as a special modality of Labor Labor market regulations service provision in the public and private sectors 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 87. 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). 87 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. 88 • 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 88 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 89 (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 90 or topping up Bolsa Familia with the value of the school meal (sometimes more) 91. 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 89 http://bostonreview.net/class-inequality/paul-katz-leandro-ferreria-brazil-basic-income-marica 90 ttps://twitter.com/IPC_IG/status/1250000996253794304 91 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 affected92 • 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 93 Activation measures • Teleworking, anticipation of individual holidays, grant collective Labor market regulations vacation benefits, suspension of required administrative medical examinations connected to employment 94 • 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 95 92 Beneficio Emergencial de Manutenção do Emprego e Renda 93 http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/_ato2019-2022/2020/Mpv/mpv927.htm 94 http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/_ato2019-2022/2020/Mpv/mpv927.htm 95 http://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/_ato2019-2022/2020/mpv/mpv936.htm 94 (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 British Virgin Islands (UK) ● ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • As part of the government's $62.9m stimulus package, $10 millions will be allocated to the Covid-19 Unemployment Relief Fund, which will support residents affected by the pandemic for a period of up to three months. Compensation will be on a case by case basis and individuals have to provide the relevant information on how they were affected by the pandemic. The SSB will administer and monitor the initiative. Cash transfers Those applying must have paid at least 13 out of 20 weeks of SSB Social (conditional and unconditional) contributions before March 30, 2020; be financially impacted by Assistance Covid-19; and be actively seeking employment. The benefit will be calculated at a rate of 50 percent of insurable earnings up to a maximum of $1,000 and a minimum of $500 a month. 96 97 One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions 96 https://www.bvibeacon.com/62-9m-stimulus-package-unveiled/ 97 http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/breaking/covid-19/bvi-rolls-out-62-9-million-covid-19-economic-stimulus-package/article_bcff1ba6-ff08-50cc-b048- 85df36f4578f.html 95 In-kind transfers • 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 elderly, persons with chronic illnesses and with children first, then the Food, vouchers, others 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. Items included in each package are basic and essential products such as flour, rice, beans, water and fruits and vegetables 9899 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. 100 Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions • Government allocated $6.5 million to help businesses that have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and government-enforced Activation measures closures. Businesses can apply for a grant, and recipients are expected Labor to make a genuine effort to keep their staff employed. 101 Markets Labor market regulations Reduced work time Wage subsidies 98 https://bvinews.com/high-response-from-residents-in-need-of-food-supplies/ 99 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 100 https://bvi.gov.vg/media-centre/water-charges-suspended-one-month 101 https://www.bvibeacon.com/62-9m-stimulus-package-unveiled/ 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. 102 Labor Activation measures Markets Labor market regulations Reduced work time Wage subsidies 102 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. 103 (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 103 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 104; - provision of hot meals through municipalities to 50,000 additional recipients. 105 104 https://www.mlsp.government.bg/index.php?section=PRESS2&prid=1969&lang= 105 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. 106 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. 107 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. 106 https://www.mzh.government.bg/bg/press-center/novini/nad-420-000-deca-i-uchenici-she-poluchat-polagashi/ 107 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 consideration108. 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. 109 Reduced work time 108 https://dv.parliament.bg/DVWeb/showMaterialDV.jsp?idMat=147150 109 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). 110 • 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 111 112. • 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 110 https://www.mlsp.government.bg/blizo-102-000-sluzhiteli-ot-nad-7400-firmi-zapazvat-rabotnite-si-mesta 111 https://www.bnt.bg/en/a/coronavirus-government-allocates-funds-for-increased-costs-of-ministries 112 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 announced113. (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. 113 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) 114 • 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. 115 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 114 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 115 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. 116 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). 117 116 https://expressodasilhas.cv/pais/2020/03/27/governo-garante-rendimento-a-30-mil-trabalhadores-informais/68653 117 https://www.asemana.publ.cv/?MEDIDAS-PARA-APOIAR-AS-EMPRESAS-E-AUMENTAR-A&ak=1 107 (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 Cambodia ● ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • The government will spend $25 million a month to provide money to Cash transfers 400,000 households identified by an existing program as the poorest. (conditional and unconditional) The program will provide 80,000 ren (USD $20) to rural families and 120,000 (USD $30) to urban families. 118 One-off cash transfers Social Childcare support Assistance Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others • Food distribution to pagodas and poor population 119 School feeding Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave Social Health insurance Insurance Pensions 118 https://www.nst.com.my/world/region/2020/06/602383/cambodia-provide-handouts-millions-affected-covid-19 119 http://www.mosvy.gov.kh/article/491 108 Unemployment benefits • Suspension of monthly contributions to NSSF for enterprises in the Social security contributions garment and tourism sectors 120 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. 121 The maximum period for suspension is two months but this can be extended further depending on the circumstances. 120 https://www.aseanbriefing.com/news/incentives-obligations-announced-businesses-cambodia-tourism-garment-industries/ 121 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 4,500 122 (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 122 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 123. 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 123 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. 124 125 • British Columbia will provide a one-time CAD 1,000 payment to people Social Cash transfers who lost their incomes due to COVID-19. 126 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 124 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 125 https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-trudeau-says-new-merged-benefits-will-help-workers-affected-by-covid/ 126 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 employers can apply for up to 15 weeks of employment insurance if Paid sick leave 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. 127 • Self-employed have access to new temporary sickness benefit for sickness absence due to COVID-19or quarantine Health insurance Social • OSFI freezes defined benefit transfers and annuity purchases, extends Insurance regulatory deadlines – The Office of the Superintendent of Financial 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-19 128 Unemployment benefits Social security contributions 127 https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/corporate/notices/coronavirus.html 128 https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/seniors-supports-covid19-1.5565743 113 Activation measures Labor market regulations Reduced work time Labor • 75% wage subsidy up to CAD 847 per week or CAD 58,700 per Markets employee for eligible employers for up to 24 weeks, retroactive to August 29 ,2020 to prevent job losses and allow for rehiring workers. Wage subsidies The subsidy is available for a subset of employers, excluding public bodies, experiencing a drop of at least 30% of their revenues. 129 130 129 https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/economic-response-plan/wage-subsidy.html 130 https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/subsidy/emergency-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 131 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 month132. https://english.rijksdienstcn.com/covid-19/news/2020/april/24/food-aid-for-the-most-vulnerable-households 131 https://english.rijksdienstcn.com/covid-19/news/2020/may/5/reduction-in-costs-for-households-and-companies-caribbean-netherlands 132 115 • Households in need can qualify for support when paying fixed costs such as rent, WEB or internet bills. 133 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 133 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. 134 (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. 135 • Cayman Islands government will organize voucher and daily lunch School feeding Programme with distribution through school cafeteria providers and 134 https://www.caymancompass.com/2020/04/01/one-off-payments-made-to-vulnerable-caymanians/ 135 https://caymannewsservice.com/2020/03/nau-receives-81-new-applications/ 117 NGO partners. 136 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 136 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 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 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, the second payout 85 percent and the third 65 percent. The transfer Social amount depends on household type (whether the households is Cash transfers Assistance exclusively informal, or whether the households is vulnerable and (conditional and unconditional) 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. 137 • Subsidio Familiar: This grant is awarded to those families that belong to the Chile Seguridades y Oportunidades program and the Family Subsidy, especially those in extreme poverty. 138 137 http://portal.nexnews.cl/showN?valor=MzFSNjk4MjYyRDE2NjM1MjQyMDcyNTEwMTI0ODE5MjUzOTUxMzY1MDE1NDU5MTUxNjgxNTQ2NTE0NTM1MjU0NDYyMDY0MFc1NT U1NTU1NTU1NTU1 138 https://www.gob.cl/planeconomicoemergencia/apoyo/ 121 • One-off cash transfers Childcare support 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. 139 • 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 140. Public works • Postponement of payment of the first installment of contributions. and forgiveness of interest and fines for taxes and late declarations Utility waivers and facilities to enter into payment agreements in the Treasury. Reduction to 0% of the Stamp and Stamp Tax for 6 months. • 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 https://www.cnnchile.com/pais/gobierno-entrega-2-millones-canastas-alimentos_20200518/ 139 https://cdn.wfp.org/2020/school-feeding-map/ 140 122 Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 123 (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. 124 • Unemployment social assistance for up to 6 months for the unemployed not eligible for unemployment social insurance benefits. Increased social assistance to families in difficulties. 141 • 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. 142 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%. 143 • The measures include: (i) coordination across line ministries and Activation measures between migrant-sending and receiving regions to provide 141 http://www.gov.cn/zhengce/content/2020-03/20/content_5493574.htm 142 https://home.kpmg/cn/en/home/insights/2020/02/china-tax-alert-15.html 143 http://www.mohrss.gov.cn/gkml/zcfg/gfxwj/202002/t20200221_360350.html 125 transportation and employment services to support return to work; (ii) enhanced use of UI funds to provide public employment and online learning and training services; and (iii) expanded online recruitment, online employment guidance and postponing face to face interview to support job search of college graduates. Labor Labor market regulations Markets 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 126 (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 Côte d’lvoire ● ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • The Government of Côte d’Ivoire established a Solidarity Fund in April 2020 to provide financial support to households impacted by Covid- 19. Poor households and individuals (active in the formal and informal sector) who have lost their job or face substantial income losses due to Cash transfers measures in place are eligible for support. For the transitory phase, the (conditional and unconditional) 170 billion FCFA Fund is planning to assist 177 000 households in the Greater Abidjan area, through a three-month emergency cash transfer Social program. Discussions are currently underway to decide whether Assistance support will be expanded to the rest of the country, potentially targeting up to 1 million households 144 One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others • food provision and basic supplies to quarantined populations School feeding Public works 144 based on note produced by Solene Rougeaux as part of the G2Px initiative 127 • 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. • Postpone, for all subscribers, the payment deadlines for electricity and water bills, from April to July 2020, and from May to August 2020. To Utility waivers 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 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 • three months of Universal Health Coverage (Couverture Maladie Universelle, CMU) premiums to all beneficiaries of financial support in Health insurance Social the form of cash transfers Insurance • Pensions Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 128 (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 145. 145 https://www.eltiempo.com/politica/gobierno/coronavirus-en-colombia-medidas-del-gobierno-para-evitar-el-pico-del-covid-19-475032 129 • New cash transfer program, “solidarity income”, includes a one-off payment of COP 160,000 ($108) 146 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. 147 (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 146 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- 147 Mol-200325.aspx 130 • 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 148149 Public works • Water services are provided free of charge for low income families (strata 1 and 2). 150 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. 151 • In addition, large financial institutions such as Bancolombia, Grupo Aval and Davivienda froze for three months all credit payments 148 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 149 https://cdn.wfp.org/2020/school-feeding-map/ 150 https://www.colombia.com/actualidad/nacionales/ivan-duque-anuncia-medidas-economicas-a-causa-del-covid-19-264409 151 https://www.dinero.com/pais/articulo/coronavirus-por-que-el-distrito-no-cobrara-un-mes-de-servicios-publicos/283207 131 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. 152 • 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 152 https://coronaviruscolombia.gov.co/Covid19/acciones-25-marzo.html 132 (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 Comoros ● Cash-based transfers • The Government plans to provide emergency support to the vulnerable Cash transfers in need, through social cash transfers. The number of beneficiaries is (conditional and unconditional) estimated to be equal to 23.5 percent of the total population, approx 160 000 people 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 133 Labor market regulations Labor Reduced work time Markets Wage subsidies 134 (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 Congo, Dem. Rep ● ● Cash-based transfers • The government is planning a cash transfers in Kinshasa and other Cash transfers affected provinces within the context of COVID-19. 2 million social (conditional and unconditional) transfer beneficiaries are expected to benefit from this transfer. Total budget allocated is US$50 million 153 One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social Social pensions Assistance In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works • the State is providing free water and electricity services to all Utility waivers households for two months 154 Social Paid sick leave Insurance Health insurance 153 based on note produced by Alphonsus Nji T Achomuma as part of the G2Px initiative) 154 https://zoom-eco.net/a-la-une/rdc-letat-rend-gratuite-la-fourniture-deau-et-delectricite-aux-menages-durant-deux-mois/ 135 Pensions Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 136 (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 ● ● 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 137 Pensions Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 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 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. 155 (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. 156 Childcare support 155 https://www.intaff.gov.ck/covid19-response-package/family-elderly-children/school-closure-support/) 156 https://www.intaff.gov.ck/covid19-response-package/family-elderly-children/one-off-support-to-our-existing-beneficiaries-on-welfare-support/ 139 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. 157 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. 158 157 https://www.intaff.gov.ck/covid19-response-package/businesses/self-isolation-and-quarantine-cover/ 158 https://www.intaff.gov.ck/covid19-response-package/businesses/training-subsidy/ 140 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. 159 159 https://www.intaff.gov.ck/covid19-response-package/businesses/wage-subsidy/ 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 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 160 • Monthly subsidy of 200K colones (USD 352) for three months to 375,000 families economically affected by COVID-19 One-off cash transfers 160 https://www.facebook.com/InstitutoMixtodeAyudaSocial/posts/4444580622234748 142 • Social services for social transfer beneficiaries – nurseries open for those workers that need to work even during the containment Childcare support measures/partial lockdown 161 • Expansion of 10K non-contributory social pension 162 Social pensions In-kind transfers • Special food packages and sanitary items are delivered for families in Food, vouchers, others extreme poverty. 163 • 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. 164 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 161 https://www.presidencia.go.cr/comunicados/2020/04/red-nacional-de-cuido-y-desarrollo-infantil-mantiene-operaciones/ 162 https://semanariouniversidad.com/pais/mas-de-126-000-personas-recibiran-beneficios-de-inyeccion-millonaria-a-regimen-no-contributivo-de-la-caja/ 163 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/ 164 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/ 143 - (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 144 (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 145 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. 165 165 https://vlada.gov.hr/vijesti/vlada-na-sjednici-donijela-mjere-za-pomoc-gospodarstvu/29137 146 (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 147 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. 166 166 http://www.radioreloj.cu/es/destacadas/trabajadores-cubanos-protegidos-ante-el-nuevo-coronavirus/ 148 (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 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" 167 School feeding Public works Utility waivers Social Paid sick leave Insurance Health insurance 167 https://www.curacaochronicle.com/post/main/update-covid-19-solidarity-package-emergency-measures-for-mitigating-the-effects-of-the-crisis/ 149 Pensions Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor market regulations Reduced work time Wage subsidies • To provide temporary support to companies affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment has introduced the Temporary Emergency Measure Bridging Work for the Preservation of Work (NOW). Pursuant to the Temporary Emergency Measure Bridging of Employment (NOW), employers from certain branches, such as hotels, restaurants, cafes, transport, non-food retail, construction and storage are eligible for compensation in the Labor wage bill of the month April 2020. In order to be able to apply for such Markets compensation, the company must suffer from a loss of revenue of at least 25% due to the corona crisis. The compensation referred to as the NOW-compensation concerns the wages of each of its employees as well as of its statutory directors that were employed with/in service of the company per 28 February 2020 and it varies between 80% (maximum) and 20% (minimum) of the (maximized) wages based on the loss of revenue. The exact percentage of the compensation depends on the expected loss of revenue. Another condition to be eligible for the NOW-compensation is that the employment agreements of the employees will not be terminated and that the payment of their wages will be continued. 168 168 https://www.ekvandoorne.com/en/f/news/subsidy-of-wages-for-employers-on-curacao/ 150 (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 169. Health insurance Pensions 169 https://www.pio.gov.cy/en/press-releases-article.html?id=12671#flat 151 • Payment of Special Unemployment Benefit for workers from Unemployment benefits suspended businesses 170 Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies • Wage subsidies to small businesses (up to 5 people) 171 170 https://www.pio.gov.cy/en/press-releases-article.html?id=12971#flat 171 https://www.pio.gov.cy/en/press-releases-article.html?id=12671#flat 152 (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 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 • "Antivirus" Employment Protection Programme: An employee who is affected by COVID-19 or ordered into quarantine in connection with COVID-19 is entitled to sick pay. This rule applies to all insured persons notwithstanding the place of quarantine (national territory, another Social Paid sick leave EU member state or a third country). Same rules apply as in the case Insurance of a sick worker (the employer has the obligation to pay the employee a salary reimbursement in the amount of 60% of reduced average earnings for the first 14 calendar days of the quarantine, with no waiting period; after 14 days the employee is further reimbursed 153 through sickness insurance). The employee has to be covered by Czech sickness insurance to be entitled to this sickness allowance. The programme has now been extended until 31/08/2020. 172 • New law that came into effect on 26 March 2020: Care/nursing allowance (also called attendance allowance) is prolonged for the whole period of school closure as a result of anti-epidemic measures for workers with children aged 0-13 (compared to up to 10 years old before) or persons taking care of disabled persons (regardless of age) if the facility designed for their care has closed. The attendance allowance is provided from sickness insurance by the Czech Social Security Administration and thus not considered as a family benefit. It might or might not be paid at the same level as a sickness benefit. 173 Health insurance Pensions Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures • The government approved a proposal for legislative changes in the field of employment. It will now be possible for a job seeker to register at the Labor Office online and from anywhere. Persons registered with Labor market regulations the Labor Office will now have up to 3 days to prove a medical certificate in case of illness. 174 Reduced work time Labor Markets 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 172 https://read.oecd-ilibrary.org/view/?ref=134_134797-9iq8w1fnju&title=Paid-sick-leave-to-protect-income-health-and-jobs-through-the-COVID-19-crisis 173 https://read.oecd-ilibrary.org/view/?ref=134_134797-9iq8w1fnju&title=Paid-sick-leave-to-protect-income-health-and-jobs-through-the-COVID-19-crisis 174 https://www.mpsv.cz/ 154 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 Reduction of demand for services, products and other products of the company - employee receives wage compensation 60% of average earnings. 175 175 https://www.mpsv.cz/web/cz/antivirus 155 (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 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 • Sickness Benefits Act amendment (new bill adopted on 17/03/2020) provides a right to receive and be reimbursed for sickness benefits Social from the first day of absence in case of COVID-19 infection or due to Paid sick leave Insurance quarantine imposed by health authorities, provided that the other general conditions in the Sickness Benefits Act for receiving and being reimbursed for sickness benefits are met. This applies to both 156 employees (standard and non-standard) and self-employed workers. 176 Health insurance Pensions Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor market regulations Reduced work time Labor Wage subsidies • The Danish government would cover 75% of employees’ salaries if Markets firms committed not to lay off workers. This program will last for three months, or until July 2020 (initially was June but then it was extended for additional month). The subsidy will cover a maximum of 23,000 Danish krone/month ($3,418). 177 176 https://read.oecd-ilibrary.org/view/?ref=134_134797-9iq8w1fnju&title=Paid-sick-leave-to-protect-income-health-and-jobs-through-the-COVID-19-crisis 177 https://www.euractiv.com/section/coronavirus/news/danish-corona-hit-firms-get-state-aid-to-pay-75-of-salaries/ 157 (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 Djibouti ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions Social In-kind transfers Assistance • The design and implementation of an emergency food support program. for 65,000 households. Since the start of this health crisis, Food, vouchers, others around 40,000 households across the country have benefited from food distributions 178 School feeding Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave Social Health insurance Insurance Pensions Unemployment benefits 178 https://www.presidence.dj/conseilministresuite.php?ID=7&ID2=2020-04-21 158 Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies • 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 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). • Plus, a minimum of $9.5 million from the government for relief payments to those who are financially challenged. More details Cash transfers expected new week. Social (conditional and unconditional) Assistance • Heads of families and single persons who are unemployed will receive income support in the amount of $600 and $400 respectively, for the period April 2020 to June 2020 in the first instance. This assistance will be administered by social security. 179 One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions 179 Dominica COVID-19 Fiscal Measures document 160 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 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 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 162 (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 COVID19.180 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 0-5.181 • 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.182 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 180 https://hoy.com.do/lea-aqui-el-discuros-completo-de-danilo-medina/amp/ 181 https://hoy.com.do/lea-aqui-el-discuros-completo-de-danilo-medina/amp/ 182 http://inabie.gob.do/index.php/new/244-un-millon-800-mil-raciones-seran-repartidas-en-escuelas 163 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. 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 Ecuador ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • New cash transfer of $60 has been introduced for informal workers earning less than $400 per month 183. (The main cash transfer is Bono Cash transfers de Proteccion Familiar, a transfer of USD 60 to 950,000 poor (conditional and unconditional) households and informal sector workers. The first transfer was made in early April and the second transfer was initiated in mid-May. Social (new) 184 Assistance One-off cash transfers Childcare support 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 183 https://www.eluniverso.com/noticias/2020/03/21/nota/7790391/coronavirus-bono-contingencia-60-dolares-trabajadores-informales 184 based on note produced by Douglas Randall as part of the G2Px initiative) 165 Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave Health insurance • The social security institute will postpone the payment of Social Pensions contributions for April, May and June 90 days for voluntary affiliates Insurance and non-dependencies. Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 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 Egypt ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • Ministry of Social Solidarity added 160,000 new households to Takaful and Karama Program (TKP) bringing the total number of people under to TKP to 3.11 million households (approx. 11 million individuals) The TKP budget will also increase in the new fiscal year from EGP 18.5 Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) billion o EGP 19.3 billion and coverage will reach a total of 3.5m households. • Moreover, increased payments are envisioned for women leaders in rural areas (EGP 900 per month instead of EGP 350). Social Assistance • A one-off monetary compensation of EGP 500 for 3 months is being offered to informal workers registered at the database of Ministry of Labor and Manpower Payment will be done through post offices and banks Registration is still opened and is expected to cover 1.9 million individuals (out of 4.4 million applicants) working in construction, One-off cash transfers 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 167 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 market regulations Reduced work time Wage subsidies • Egypt activated the Employees Emergency Fund that provide financial Labor aids and subsidies to employees who had not been receiving salaries Markets 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 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 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. 185 Assistance One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works 185 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-elsalvador-trfn/lockdown-broken-in-el-salvador-as-crowds-gather-for-government-aid-idUSKBN21H3IB 169 • 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. 186 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. 187 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. 188 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 186 https://twitter.com/PresidenciaSV/status/1240409234854088705 187 https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/haiti/article241249651.html 188 https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/haiti/article241249651.html 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 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 189 190 School feeding Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave 189 https://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com/noticia.php?id=15388 190 https://www.cabri-sbo.org/uploads/files/Covid19BudgetDocuments/UNOFFICIAL-TRANSLATION-DECREE-43-2020.pdf 171 Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 172 (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 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 • Waiving of the 3-day waiting period: the state decided to reimburse the first three days of sick leave for all workers during an emergency situation (normally not covered: the employer pays sick pay from day Social 4 to day 8 of sick leave for employees). The first three days of Paid sick leave Insurance sickness are reimbursed retrospectively to anyone whose sick leave was opened from 13 March. This difference applies to all sick leaves (including the self-employed) that were opened until the end of the emergency, what ended on 17 May. 173 Health insurance Pensions Unemployment benefits • The economic stimulus package includes temporary suspension of Social security contributions second pillar pension scheme payments • The government offers online job search counselling and Activation measures intermediation 191 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 192. 191 https://www.tootukassa.ee/eng/content/estonian-unemployment-insurance-fund-stop-serving-customers-all-office 192 https://www.sm.ee/en/news/government-approved-measure-supporting-employers-and-workers-difficulties-because-corona-virus 174 (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 Eswatini ● ● Cash-based transfers • The government announced on June 6ht that it has sourced E25 million to create a Relief Fund in order to mitigate the effects of Cash transfers COVID-19 on laid off and unpaid workers in the country. This Fund will (conditional and unconditional) be managed by Government, employer and employee representatives, ENPF and NDMA. The Ministry of Labour and Social Security will in due course announce the distribution guidelines of the Relief Fund. 193 One-off cash transfers Social Childcare support Assistance Social pensions 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 Social Paid sick leave Insurance Health insurance 193 http://www.gov.sz/images/CORONA/PM-statement-5-June-2020-final.pdf 175 Pensions • The PM also announce that in addition to the Relief Fund, the ENPF has also made available an amount of E5 million as seed capital for the establishment of an Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) for the Kingdom of Eswatini. A comprehensive study and drafting of the enabling legislation for the introduction of the UIF in Eswatini will be Unemployment benefits activated. Emaswati would appreciate that currently there is no UIF or its equivalent in this country. This generally means that beyond the prescribed severance benefits that employees are entitled to on retrenchment, there is no form of insurance available to protect their loss of income thereafter. 194 Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 194 http://www.gov.sz/images/CORONA/PM-statement-5-June-2020-final.pdf 176 (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 195 Food, vouchers, others • City of Adama (Oromia): started providing bread and water for those who need assistance during the stay at home order 196 195 https://twitter.com/Ethiopialiveupd/status/1246746208854519808 196 https://www.facebook.com/adamaastu/?__tn__=%2Cd%2CP-R&eid=ARAmyt6NH5xmSzfEfVZOGhvdJvfRuZl4Kxt9zc0fUVdT83xUiS55PZrsC9VHU2-XWhl6t7UGurN-KOK_ 177 • Addis Ababa City Administration: Allocated 600 million ETB for purchasing stockpile of food/other essential goods and distribute same to 800 retail shops 197. 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. 198 Utility waivers • Tigray State: a moratorium on evictions and reduction of rents by half. 199 197 https://www.facebook.com/MayorofAddis/?__tn__=kC- R&eid=ARAHlQ19jivML1AMAsZiU0PtOzTjjYdvNrBYBD0Jf6wRGAU0RdB1_Nst6cDdiJXyCYKnFOOK6MEBmfF1&hc_ref=ARS2qs4MJZpGY3xygiBlXVVylrr41ve96kDwWAlXHrGQURJjjP DplzQT2YeBdY5CJZk&fref=nf 198 https://twitter.com/PMEthiopia/status/1239483664926457856 199 https://addisfortune.news/news-alert/tigray-state-orders-cafes-restaurants-closure/ 178 • 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 200 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. 201 Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 200 https://twitter.com/Ethiopialiveupd/status/1243116327461629952 201 https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-11/ethiopia-prohibits-company-layoffs-under-state-of-emergency 179 (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) 202 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 202 https://home.kpmg/xx/en/home/insights/2020/04/fiji-government-and-institution-measures-in-response-to-covid.html 180 • 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 203 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 203 https://home.kpmg/xx/en/home/insights/2020/04/fiji-government-and-institution-measures-in-response-to-covid.html 181 (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 182 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. 204 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- 204 compensation-for-persons-placed-in-quarantine 183 sole traders to claim unemployment benefits without shutting down their businesses 205. • 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 205 https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/finland_announces_15bn_support_package_to_prop_up_economy/11267534 184 (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"206 (vertical expansion) • A transfer of Euro 1,500 will be provided to the self-employed and other SMEs as part of the solidarity fund 207 (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. 206 https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2020/04/15/coronavirus-emmanuel-macron-souhaite-un-moratoire-sur-la-dette-des-pays-africains_6036639_823448.html 207 https://www.gouvernement.fr/info-coronavirus 185 • 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 208 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 209. 208 https://cdn.wfp.org/2020/school-feeding-map/index.html 209 https://www.gouvernement.fr/sites/default/files/contenu/piece-jointe/2020/03/brochure_fiches_pratiques_sur_les_mesures_de_soutien.pdf 186 Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time 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 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 210 Utility waivers • Suspension during the time of confinement of rent payments for people with no income 211 Paid sick leave Social Health insurance Insurance Pensions 210 https://www.minefcovid19.ga/# 211 https://home.kpmg/xx/en/home/insights/2020/04/gabon-government-and-institution-measures-in-response-to-covid.html 188 Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Labor Activation measures Markets Labor market regulations Reduced work time Wage subsidies 189 (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 212. School feeding Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures 212 http://thepoint.gm/africa/gambia/article/president-adama-barrows-4th-address-to-the-nation-on-the-national-response-to-covid-19 190 Labor market regulations Labor Reduced work time Markets Wage subsidies 191 (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 213. 213 https://agenda.ge/en/news/2020/1273 192 • 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) 214. 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 215 Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time 214 https://agenda.ge/en/news/2020/1273 215 https://agenda.ge/en/news/2020/1273 193 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). 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 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 216. • Germany’s second €130 bn stimulus contains onetime “child bonus” of One-off cash transfers €300 for families receiving the child grant (“Kindergeld”) 217 218 Social • Parents who lose income due to COVID-19 can get easier access to child benefits. In addition, simplified process for a child grant Assistance (Kinderzuschlag) is put in place, with one-month income proof instead Childcare support of 6 months. Payment amount is up to Euro 185/child/month until September. Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding 216 https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/soziales/coronavirus-bundesregierung-beschliesst-umfangreiches-rettungspaket-a-2e96dfed-b307-4a47-a62b-ca81cf7be4a9 217 https://www.france24.com/en/20200603-germany-unveils-130-billion-euro-stimulus-package-to-kickstart-virus-hit-economy 218 https://www.bundesfinanzministerium.de/Web/DE/Themen/Schlaglichter/Konjunkturpaket/das-konjunkturpaket.html 195 Public works Utility waivers • 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. 219 Health insurance Social Pensions • Pensions increase guaranteed by Merkel 220 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. 221 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 social insurance contributions). Workers with children get 67% of the Reduced work time Labor salary 222. (The government expects that, for economic reasons alone, Markets 2.15 million employees will benefit from such arrangements in 2020) 223. Second stimulus pack has A plan to extend “Kurzarbeit” (reduced work week) measures beyond 2021 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 219 https://www.bundesgesundheitsministerium.de/en/press/2020/coronavirus.html 220 https://www.bccourier.com/merkel-guarantees-an-increase-in-pensions/ 221 https://www.bundesregierung.de/breg-en/issues/kabinett-kurzarbeitergeld-1729898. 222 https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/soziales/coronavirus-bundesregierung-beschliesst-umfangreiches-rettungspaket-a-2e96dfed-b307-4a47-a62b-ca81cf7be4a9 223 https://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/soziales/corona-krise-bundesregierung-erwartet-mehr-als-zwei-millionen-kurzarbeiter-a-5257c27d-33cc-4679-8c2d-af23f271d177 196 salary . (The Federal Government expects that, for economic reasons alone, 2.15 million employees will benefit from such arrangements in 2020) . 197 (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 communities and households Social to provide food items during the Covid-19 lockdown This measure Assistance Food, vouchers, others provided food for up to 400,000 individuals 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 GH¢100 and below will be free of charge from service providers for the Utility waivers next 3 months. 224 224 https://www.graphic.com.gh/business/business-news/coronavirus-it-is-now-free-to-send-gh-100-and-below-via-mobile-money.html 198 • 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 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 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 200 • 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 • 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 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 225. • 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. 226 • 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 225 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? 226 Art. 10, LA 01.05.2020 and JMD 17788/346/8.5.2020 FEK 1779/Β/10.5.2020. 202 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. 227 • 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. 228 227 JMD 15687/282/2020 FEK 1468/Β/16.4.2020. 228 Art. 7, LA - 20.03.2020 as amended by art. 24, LA - 30.03.2020. 203 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. 229 • 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. 230 • 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. 231 Wage subsidies 229 Art. 9, LA - 20.03.2020 FEK 68/Α/20.03.2020. 230 Art. 5, par.3, LA - 11.03.2020. 231 Art. 4 par.3, LA - 11.03.2020, MD 17239/Δ1.5936, JMD 17787/520 FEK 1778/B/10.05.2020. 204 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 Greenland ● 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 Paid sick leave Social Health insurance Insurance Pensions 205 • The National Insurance Board (NIB) in Grenada has allocated EC$10 million for workers who have lost income because of measures taken by the Government to reduce the spread of the coronavirus (COVID- 19). There will be no distinction between higher- and lower-income workers and the support will not be based on income. Eligible persons must have been contributing to the NIS and must be unemployed as a Unemployment benefits direct consequence of COVID-19. Persons who are receiving income support or payroll support from the Government of Grenada will not be eligible. Qualified persons will receive a flat monthly payment of EC$330 per month over a period of six months. Payment will commence during the last week of May 2020 232 233 Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 232 https://www.nowgrenada.com/2020/04/fiscal-responsibility-key-to-governments-ability-to-provide-covid-19-stimulus-package/ 233 https://caribbeanbusinessreport.com/news/nis-grenada-allocates-ec10-million-for-covid-19-unemployment-benefit/ 206 (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 Greenland ● 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 Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time 207 Wage subsidies • Denmark’s government is supporting private companies struggling with drastic measures to curb the spread of coronavirus that it would cover 75% of employees’ salaries, if they promised not to cut staff 234. 234 https://www.euractiv.com/section/coronavirus/news/danish-corona-hit-firms-get-state-aid-to-pay-75-of-salaries/ 208 (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 209 Pensions • The National Insurance Board (NIB) in Grenada has allocated EC$10 million for workers who have lost income because of measures taken by the Government to reduce the spread of the coronavirus (COVID- 19). There will be no distinction between higher- and lower-income workers and the support will not be based on income. Eligible persons must have been contributing to the NIS and must be unemployed as a Unemployment benefits direct consequence of COVID-19. Persons who are receiving income support or payroll support from the Government of Grenada will not be eligible. Qualified persons will receive a flat monthly payment of EC$330 per month over a period of six months. Payment will commence during the last week of May 2020 235 236 Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 235 https://www.nowgrenada.com/2020/04/fiscal-responsibility-key-to-governments-ability-to-provide-covid-19-stimulus-package/ 236 https://caribbeanbusinessreport.com/news/nis-grenada-allocates-ec10-million-for-covid-19-unemployment-benefit/ 210 (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” 237 to reach 2 million beneficiaries during 3 months (1000 (conditional and unconditional) quetzals or US$130 per month/beneficiary) Targeting is based on electricity consumption (<200whz) for areas with electricity (90% of Social beneficiaries). In areas with limited access to electricity, targeting is Assistance based on socio-economic characteristics (10% of beneficiaries). (new) One-off cash transfers Childcare support • Expansion of the non-contributory program “Adulto Mayor” (100 million quetzals or 13 million dollars). Implemented by Ministry of Social pensions Labor. 238 In-kind transfers 237 Decree 13-2020 April 8 2020 and AG 57 2020 April 16 2020 238 Decree 12-2020 April 1 2020 211 • Food transfers and vouchers for food, medicine and inputs to prevent COVID-19. Program for vulnerable families, including elderly, elderly in nursery homes. Program jointly implemented by Ministry of Social Food, vouchers, others Development and Ministry of Agriculture (700 million quetzals or US$ 91million) 239 • Parent associations, which already received for the school meals School feeding program to organize take-home rations for pick up at school level. 240 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. 241 239 Decree 12-2020 April 1 2020 240 https://cdn.wfp.org/2020/school-feeding-map/ 241 Decree 13-2020 April 8 2020 212 (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 242 One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works Utility waivers 242 https://covid19.gov.gg/guidance/benefits 213 • The government will pay up to 163 euro/week to workers who are Paid sick leave unable to work due to illness 243 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 244. 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 245. 243 https://covid19.gov.gg/guidance/benefits 244 https://covid19.gov.gg/guidance/benefits 245 https://home.kpmg/xx/en/home/insights/2020/04/Guernsey (UK)-government-and-institution-measures-in-response-to-covid.html 214 (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 215 Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 216 (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) 246 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 246 https://www.imf.org/en/Topics/imf-and-covid19/Policy-Responses-to-COVID-19 217 Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 218 (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 Guyana ● ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social • Advance payment of old-age pension Safeguard and ensure that Assistance Social pensions people older adults can collect their payments pension during the pandemic of COVID-19 247 In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others • School feeding Public works Utility waivers • Suspending water and electricity utilities for three months. 248 Paid sick leave Social Health insurance Insurance Pensions 247 https://socialprotection.org/sites/default/files/publications_files/Nota%20Tecnica%20Abril_FINAL.pdf 248 https://socialprotection.org/sites/default/files/publications_files/Nota%20Tecnica%20Abril_FINAL.pdf 219 Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 220 (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 221 Wage subsidies • Wage subsidies for 60,000 workers were announced for the textile industry as well as compensation for 100,000 teachers. 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 Honduras ● Cash-based transfers • The government is implementing an emergency cash transfer Cash transfers program focused on self-employed and informal workers receiving (conditional and unconditional) government support under the Covid-19 crisis. The program will benefit around 500,000 people, who are all new beneficiaries 249 One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social Social pensions Assistance In-kind transfers • 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 Social Health insurance Insurance Pensions Unemployment benefits 249 based on note produced by Marcela Rozo and as Miriam Matilde Montenegro Lazo part of the G2Px initiative 223 Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 224 (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 Social One-off cash transfers people. A Community Care Fund has been designated to extend this Assistance assistance to more recent immigrants who are low income and have not yet achieved permanent residency status. The first payments to be made as early as July 8 250 Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works 250 https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3087965/hong-kong-permanent-residents-can-apply-hk10000?exp_signup=opt-ggl-sign- in&onboard=true# 225 • The government will cover one month of rent for lower-income Utility waivers tenants living in public rental units. 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 226 (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 227 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 228 (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 • Workers incl. self-employed who used up their twelve-month sickness benefit entitlement are still entitled to sickness benefits. Self- Social Paid sick leave employed workers can receive sickness benefits (“quarantine Insurance payments”) when in quarantine. 251 Health insurance 251 https://read.oecd-ilibrary.org/view/?ref=134_134797-9iq8w1fnju&title=Paid-sick-leave-to-protect-income-health-and-jobs-through-the-COVID-19-crisis 229 • During the next 15 months, individuals may withdraw a monthly sum from their voluntary pension savings to a maximum of ISK 800,000 Pensions (US$5,680). • • As part of an ISK 230 billion (US$ 1.6 billion) package of COVID-19 economic support, part-time employees, the self-employed, and freelance workers will be allowed to claim up to 75% of unemployment benefits in order to avoid job losses. This will effectively allow for Unemployment benefits 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. 252 • Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 252 https://www.icelandreview.com/politics/icelandic-government-presents-economic-response-package-to-covid-19-crisis/ 230 (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 Social Cash transfers Samman Nidhi (PM-Kisan) program will receive a top up of Rs2000 Assistance (conditional and unconditional) (US$ 26.50) for 3 months. • 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 lakh workers of the NGRES. 253 253 https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-amid-coronavirus-lockdown-up-govt-transfers-rs-611-crore-to-27-lakh-mnrega-workers/349701 231 • The Government of Bihar has decided to transfer funds from the Chief Minister Relief Fund at the rate of Rs.1000 / - per family to the bank account of the labourers and needy persons residing in other states stranded due to lockdown. This scheme is only for those who are in residents of Bihar a and are stranded in other states due to the lockdown announced due to corona virus. The Bihar government has transferred money to 10.11 lakh workers, of the total applications from over 13 lakh registered workers 254 One-off cash transfers Childcare support • 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 School feeding child care center) closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At the moment, they are delivering such food items necessary for ten days. 254 https://indianexpress.com/article/business/economy/covid-19-44-5-bihar-cash-transfers-10-lakh-workers-delhi-haryana-maharashtra-6368673/ 232 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 • India’s Employer’s Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) will allow workers to withdraw up to 75 percent non-refundable advance or 3 months’ salary from their provident fund account, whichever is lower. • India’s national pension system (NPS) allows partial withdrawals Pensions towards treatment for COVID related illness for subscribers and their Social spouses and children. The current rules of early withdrawal do not Insurance 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 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 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 234 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. 235 - 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 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 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 237 • 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 238 (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 239 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 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 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 241 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. 255 255 https://www.gov.ie/en/service/578596-covid-19-wage-subsidy/ 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 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. 243 Health insurance Pensions Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Labor Activation measures Markets Labor market regulations Reduced work time Wage subsidies 244 (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 245 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 246 • 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. 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 Jamaica ● ● ● ● Cash-based transfers • Programme of Advancement through Health and Education (PATH) payments will be paid earlier than scheduled. 256 • 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. 257 256 http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20200316/education-ministry-providing-food-path-students-amid-school-closure 257 https://jis.gov.jm/media/2020/04/CARE-Brochure-Ministry-of-Finance-2020.pdf 248 • 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. 258 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, 258 http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20200506/250000-compassionate-grants-be-paid-weekend 249 • 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. 259. 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. 260 259 http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20200316/education-ministry-providing-food-path-students-amid-school-closure 260 https://jis.gov.jm/media/2020/04/CARE-Brochure-Ministry-of-Finance-2020.pdf 250 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$34,8819) or less per annum for the 3-year period 2017-2019 ; who filed taxes in the 2019/20 financial year; and filed payroll returns indicating that they have employees. 251 (back to the top) fits e ns time ment le a v mea tributio e yme support ben P a id just s ility sure n ad con nt & s b e sfer d i sa ranc lic W ers latio y ork s y t orks r b si d i aive Tran f ecur an s n su dw s& egu ion o e su mpl ty w h Tr sion ia l s lth i uce ivat or r ind Wag Une In-k Utili Red Hea Pub Soc Cas Pen Lab Act Japan ● ● ● Cash-based transfers Cash transfers • Japan’s planned spending package of up to 20 trillion yen (US$ 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 252 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 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 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. 254 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 255 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 256 (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 almost 3 million people will be Cash transfers made to those who have lost income as a result of COVID-19. The (conditional and unconditional) amount of will be equivalent to minimum wage (45,000 tenge or US$ 110). 261 One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers Social • In-kind support in the form of free grocery packages is planned for Assistance Food, vouchers, others large families with children, persons with disability and other vulnerable families. School feeding Public works • Reimbursement of utilities expenses for Apr and May in amount of KZT15,000 will be provided for some socially vulnerable groups of Utility waivers population. Electricity and telecommunications: citizens, who were transferred to remote work, may receive compensation for the electricity and telecommunications bills. Utilities in Almaty: the 261 https://home.kpmg/xx/en/home/insights/2020/04/kazakhstan-government-and-institution-measures-in-response-to-covid.html 257 residents can defer utilities payments, incl. elevator and waste disposal, for Mar and Apr till the end of 2020 with no fines or penalties. 262 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 262 https://home.kpmg/xx/en/home/insights/2020/04/kazakhstan-government-and-institution-measures-in-response-to-covid.html 258 (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 • 1,094,238 Inua Jamii beneficiaries will start receiving Ksh8,000 (US$ (conditional and unconditional) 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. • 3,000,000 new households’ beneficiaries will be added under Social NSNP/KSEIP Assistance One-off cash transfers Childcare support • 300,000 new households’ beneficiaries will be added under Social Social pensions pensions program. In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding • As part of the “Kazi Mtaani” initiative, 10,600 youths living in Nairobi’s Public works slums (Mathare, Kibera, Mukuru and Korogocho) have been enlisted for street cleaning, fumigation, disinfection, garbage collection, bush 259 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 Nairobi, Mombasa, Kiambu, Nakuru, Kisumu, Kilifi, Kwale and Mandera. Daily wage is about $6/day delivered via Mpesa 263 264 • Fee waivers on person-to-person mobile money transactions on M- Utility waivers PESA were approved. Also, a 100% tax relief for persons earning less than Ks.24,000 (US$ 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 263 https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/business/2020/05/govt-creates-26000-jobs-for-kenyans-living-in-slums/ 264 https://www.kenyanews.go.ke/mandera-launches-kazi-mtaani/ 260 (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 261 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 monthly). Social Pensions • As part of the economic recovery plan for the second half of this year Insurance and 2021, 5-percent of pension contributions that business pay for workers will be covered under efforts to reduce tax burden. 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 Reduced work time • Expenditures for the monthly salaries in the amount of €170 (US$ 187) Labor for April and May will be covered, a measure amounting to €41 million Markets (US$ 45.1 million). • As part of the economic recovery plan for the second half of this year Wage subsidies and 2021, employment support measures include: (i) Wage subsidy for workers in pandemic-affected businesses; (ii) Salary subsidy for new workers hired by businesses based on a plan that identifies sectors and categories of workers most in need 262 (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 263 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 264 (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. 265 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 266 (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 Lao PDR ● Cash-based transfers • Given that Lao PDR lacks a national cash transfer program, Government is planning on rapidly designing and implementing an Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) programs to support affected people in the contexts of COVID-19. The program design will rely on the existing experience in setting up a nutrition sensitive conditional cash transfer (CCT) program in the north of the country and aims to build Cash transfers on the building blocks that the country has been developing to rapidly (conditional and unconditional) register and pay beneficiaries. While the program design is still under Social discussion, it would target poor and new poor families and informal Assistance workers in affected industries such as tourism and manufacturing, and also migrant workers from Thailand and other countries. Approx. 250,000 household beneficiaries (national) will benefit from this program265. One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers 265 based on note produced by Francesca Lamanna as part of the G2Px initiative 267 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 Wage subsidies • 268 (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. 266 Health insurance 266 https://covid19.gov.lv/en/podderzhka-zhitelyam/ekonomika/dlya-rabotnikov/issuance-sick-leave-certificates 269 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. 267 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. 268 267 https://covid19.gov.lv/en/support-society/economics/entrepreneurs/allowance-idle-time 268 https://home.kpmg/us/en/home/insights/2020/03/tnf-latvia-tax-relief-response-coronavirus.html 270 (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). 271 • 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 272 (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 • Increase the cash benefit amount for existing beneficiaries, especially child grant support. Identify and add new vulnerable people – children, Cash transfers elderly (60-70yrs), people living with disabilities and informal sector (conditional and unconditional) operators. The project is expected to benefit close to 200,000 social grant beneficiaries One-off cash transfers Social Childcare support Assistance Social pensions In-kind transfers 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. 269 Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave 269 https://ewn.co.za/2020/03/19/lesotho-declares-national-emergency-over-covid-19-outbreak 273 Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies • Government will cover salaries of factory workers 270 270 https://allafrica.com/stories/202005190321.html 274 (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 For COVID-19 support to vulnerable households, the Government of Liberia plans to use existing Liberia Social Safety Nets Project to provide immediate relief in Greater Monrovia area and scale up cash transfers in the four most food insecure counties. Specifically, the government plans to: • Provide one-off emergency cash transfers to approximately 25,000 Cash transfers poorest households in Greater Monrovia via mobile money (conditional and unconditional) • Scale up the Social Cash Transfer (SCT) program from 3,500 to Social 15,000 extreme poor households in Liberia’s four most food insecure Assistance counties (Maryland, Grand Kru, River Gee and Bomi) via mobile money • The expected beneficiaries of 40,000 families are as follows: 25,000 poorest households in Greater Monrovia (new); 3,500 rural extreme poor households (current); and 11,500 new extreme poor households 271 One-off cash transfers Childcare support Social pensions In-kind transfers 271 based on note produced by Victoria Strokova and Nicholas Timothy Smith as part of the G2Px initiative) 275 • The government is appropriating the amount of US$25 million to Food, vouchers, others support food distribution to households in designated affected counties for the period of 60 days. • Government switched to take home school meals, an approach used School feeding during Ebola. Public works • The Government is planning to take up the electricity bill of Utility waivers households in the affected counties for the duration of the STAY-AT- HOME. Cost of this measure is US$ 4 million. Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 276 (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 277 Labor market regulations Labor Reduced work time Markets Wage subsidies 278 (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) 279 for the financing of short-time work through unemployment insurance to prevent an increase in unemployment. 272 Social security contributions Labor Activation measures Markets Labor market regulations Reduced work time Wage subsidies 272 http://www.liechtensteinusa.org/article/measures-taken-in-liechtenstein-in-response-to-the-coronavirus-pandemic 280 (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 281 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. 282 (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. 273 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. 273 https://meco.gouvernement.lu/dam-assets/dossiers/Tableau-stab-9avril-EN.pdf 283 • 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 284 (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 285 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 286 (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 287 Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Labor Activation measures Markets Labor market regulations Reduced work time Wage subsidies 288 (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. 274 Paid sick leave Social Health insurance Insurance Pensions 274 https://www.imf.org/en/Topics/imf-and-covid19/Policy-Responses-to-COVID-19#M 289 • 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. 275 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). 276 275 https://raajje.mv/74522 276 https://maldives.net.mv/36269/maldives-to-fast-track-100-mln-coronavirus-stimulus-applications-to-open-next-week/ 290 (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. 291 • The Malaysian government has budgeted RM10 billion to provide one- off cash transfer to depending on income level: RM1600 to 4 million households earning