financialtribune.com (06.04.2020) The government will allocate 50,000 billion rials ($305 million) to Unemployment Insurance Fund to support those who have lost their jobs amid the outbreak of coronavirus, an official with the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare said. “To prevent the spread of the virus, applicants are urged to fill out online forms for unemployment benefits at the newly-designed website 'bimebikari.mcls.gov.ir' within 30 days, rather than going personally to the ministry’s bureaus," Masoud Babaie added.  “As per a joint guideline signed by the Cooperatives Ministry and the Social Security Organization on March 30, workers of 10 job groups and economic subsectors that have been hit by coronavirus outbreak and are subject to the provisions of the Islamic Republic of Iran Labor Law, the Social Security Act and the Unemployment Insurance Law will qualify to receive unemployment benefits for three months,” he was quoted as saying by IRNA. 

Diese Frage kann sich aktuell in jedem Betrieb stellen: Was ist zu tun, wenn ein Mitarbeiter oder eine Mitarbeiterin sich mit dem Corona-Virus infiziert hat oder der begründete Verdacht auf eine Infektion besteht. Eine neue Broschüre von Berufsgenossenschaften und Unfallkassen nennt die richtigen Ansprechpartner und gibt Hinweise, wie auch in dieser Situation Sicherheit und Gesundheit im Unternehmen bestmöglich gewahrt werden können. 

Die Berufsgenossenschaft für Handel und Warenlogistik hat ihre  speziellen Sicherheitshinweise für die Handels- und Warenlogistikbranche nun auch in Englisch und Türkisch veröffentlicht.

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The German Social Accident Insurance Institution for the Trade and Logistics industry provides their special safety notices for the trade and goods logistics industries now also in an English and a Turkisch version.

The international occupational safety and health comunity has developped a set of guides, actions and sources of information to formulate COVID-19 responses for the workplace. Here are the links to their websites:

International Labour Office (ILO)

International Organisation of Employers (IOE)

International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)

agenciadeempleocolsubsidio.com (27.03.2020) El Subsidio de emergencia es un beneficio que se otorga a partir del decreto 488 de 27 de marzo de 2020. Como una medida de orden laboral, dentro del Estado de Emergencia, Económica, Social y Ecológica.

¿Quiénes pueden acceder a este subsidio?

• Trabajadores dependientes e independientes cesantes con una escala salarial desde 1 hasta 4 s.m.l.v. (desde $877.803 hasta $3.511.212)
• Que haya realizado aportes a una caja de compensación durante un (1) año continuo o discontinuo, en el transcurso de los últimos 5 años.
• Personas que no tengan empleo cesantes. Sin ningún tipo de ingreso, pensión o renta mensual y no estar afiliado como cotizante a una EPS.
• Solo los que hayan cotizado en Colsubsidio durante su último trabajo.
• Los cesantes que a partir del 17 de marzo de 2020 hayan realizado su postulación al subsidio de emergencia según el decreto 488 del 2020.

Bloomberg (05.04.2020) The Spanish government is working to roll out a universal basic income as soon as possible, as part of a battery of actions aimed at countering the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, according to Economy Minister Nadia Calvino. Social Security Minister Jose Luis Escriva is coordinating the project and plans to put some sort of basic income “in place as soon as possible,” with the main focus on assisting families, Calvino, who also serves as deputy prime minister, said in an interview Sunday night with Spanish broadcaster La Sexta. But the government’s broader ambition is that basic income becomes an instrument “that stays forever, that becomes a structural instrument, a permanent instrument,” she said.

nation.co.ke (25.03.2020) Some of the measures announced by the government are: Appropriation of an additional Ksh. 10 Billion to the elderly, orphans and other vulnerable members of our society through cash-transfers by the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, to cushion them from the adverse economic effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and tax relief for persons earning gross monthly income of up to Ksh. 24,000.

noticias.anses.gob.ar (05.04.2020) La ANSES comunica que los solicitantes del Ingreso Familiar de Emergencia (IFE) podrán conocer, a partir de las 00 horas del lunes 6 de abril, si reúnen los requisitos para poder acceder a esta prestación extraordinaria de 10.000 pesos que se cobrará en el curso de este mes. Quienes hayan cumplido con los requisitos exigidos podrán continuar con el trámite, siguiendo los pasos que oportunamente le comunique ANSES. Los solicitantes del IFE deberán ingresar a consultar su situación en la página Web de la ANSES (www.anses.gob.ar).

The Straits Times (07.04.2020) Give all Singaporeans a universal basic income for the duration of the coronavirus crisis, to assure them that their basic needs will be met even if they lose their jobs, said Nominated MP Walter Theseira. Under his proposal, dubbed the Majulah Universal Basic Income Scheme (MUBI), all Singaporeans - including children and retirees - will get $110 a week for 12 weeks. This will be considered taxable income and cost $4.62 billion.

Documents - curation 

news articles - curation

The Japan Times (03.04.2020) The government will provide ¥300,000  (2800$) in cash to each household suffering from falling incomes amid the spread of the new coronavirus. About 10 million of the nation's 58 million households are expected to be eligible for the cash program, a key pillar of an emergency economic package that the government plans to compile as soon as Tuesday.

On 29 February, the number of new COVID-19 cases for the day surged to 909 in Korea. 4 weeks later, on March 30, the number of new cases dropped to 78. “South Korea took rapid, intrusive measures against COVID-19 and they worked” (The Guardian, March 20). 

The Report  on “Tackling COVID-19: Health, Quarantine and Economic Measures of South Korea” shares Koreas succesful experiences in controling the spread of COVID-19 and covers a wide range of social security measures, including, but not limited to: 

• economic incentives
• health care
• prevention 

to control the outbreak of COVID-19.

The report was prepared by the Development Finance Bureau at the Ministry of Economy and Finance in collaboration with the Korea Center for Diseases Control and the Ministry of Health and Welfare. 

The  Intensive Care National Audit & Research Centre (ICNARC)  provides information about the quality of health care to those who commission, manage, deliver and experience critical care through national clinical audits and  clinical and health services research studies. IN a recently published ICNARC report on 2249 critically ill COVID-19 patients it was wound that: 

1. The average age of patients with confirmed COVID-19 is 60.1 years of age, compared to 58.1 for patients with viral pneumonia (non-COVID-19).
2. As of 4 April 2020, critical care unit outcomes have been received for 690 patients, of whom 346 patients have died and 344 were discharged alive from critical care in the UK (50.1% fatality rate) in comparison to 22.4% of patients with viral pneumonia (non-COVID-19) in critical care have passed away.
3. People who are 70 or older are the most vulnerable with only 82 (31.9%) who survived COVID-19 in critical care, but there are  COVID-19 patients in critical care of all ages (142 patients amongst the 50-69 year olds who died and 29 fatalities amongst the 16-49 years olds).
4. 73% of  critically ill patients with confirmed COVID-19 are male.

During this unprecedented time the world and India are facing due to the Coronavirus outbreak, it has been the endeavour of Indo-German Focal Point (IGFP) to rise to the ocassion in supporting the important role of the State in investing in prevention, by addressing issues such as the vulnerability of migrant construction workers, the promotion of awareness programmes on prevention and the rescue of stranded workers. The Thinktank of the Govt of India (Niti Aayog) has apprised the activities of IGFP  on the Prevention of  the spreading of COVID-19. 

Furthermore, 

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced a 22,200 million Indian Rupees (INR) support package for the welfare of economically weaker sections of society in Odisha to deal with the coronavirus related impact.

The measures include : 

• 4 months advance pension for the 4.8 million beneficiaries under the Odisha Social Security Scheme
• 2.2 million Construction worlers will receive 1500 INR each
• 9.4 million beenficiaries under the FSCW Department will get a financial assistance of 1000 INR each

Download the measures as PDF.

indiatoday.in (27.03.2020) Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced a 22,200 million Indian Rupees (INR) support package for the welfare of economically weaker sections of society in Odisha to deal with the coronavirus related impact.
The measures include : 

• 4 months advance pension for the 4.8 million beneficiaries under the Odisha Social Security Scheme
• 2.2 million Construction worlers will receive 1500 INR each
• 9.4 million beenficiaries under the FSCW Department will get a financial assistance of 1000 INR each

Download the measures as PDF.

gov.kg (30.03.2020) The Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic, Muhammedkaly Abylgaziev, held a meeting, which resulted in the adoption of a plan to reduce the negative impact on economic and social stability in connection with the spread of coronavirus infection. Among the measures there is the decision to provide targeted social assistance to low-income families in the form of food packages. It was recommended to large producers, suppliers of food products, owners of large retail chains to ensure an adequate supply of socially significant agricultural goods and food products, stable sales and prices for them;  put in the state reserve the necessary volume of the food group of essential goods.

asemana.publ.cv (25.03.2020)

Government announces measures related to labour markets and social protection to face the emergency:
- Payment of 70% of the gross salary to the worker in the case of the suspension of the employment contract by the employer and INPS (National Institute of Social Security), in the following proportion: a) 35.% payable by the employer b) 35.% by INPS.

- Unemployment allowance: reduction of the guarantee period in the period considered for the purpose of awarding unemployment benefit from 180 to 60 days in the period from April 1 to June 30, at the date of filing the application.

Dnevnik.bg (30.03.2020) On 23 March the National Assembly adopted an Emergency Measures and Actions Act. One of the anti-crisis measures that the government has proposed to support businesses because of the Coronavirus epidemic is that the State pays 60% of workers' insurance income for up to 3 months if the employer pays the difference and commits not to cut people off. During this period, the insurance will be paid by the employer and the employee. The aim is to keep jobs until the worst part of the crisis is over because of the coronavirus epidemic.

pressoffice.gov.bz (20.03.2020)

While Belize still has no confirmed case of the virus, the bi-partisan committee took very important decisions to further protect the health and well-being of Belizeans and reduce the threat of the virus spreading to Belize. A BZ$25M loan will be used as relief for employees affected by this crisis, especially those in the tourism industry.

Reduced Employment Ratio Parliament has passed the Minister of Social and Children’s Affairs’ bill on the entitlement to the payment of unemployment benefits alongside reduced employment ratio due to temporary company recessions. The Act provides that wages paid alongside reduced unemployment ratio do not deplete unemployment benefits. The Directorate of Labour manages the applications for unemployment benefits due to reduced employment ratio.

regjeringen.no (27.03.2020)

In the past two weeks, 274 000 unemployment benefit applications have been submitted, and the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration (NAV) reports that 291 000 people were registered as fully unemployed on 24 March. This corresponds to 10.4 per cent of the labour force. By comparison, two weeks ago the unemployment rate was 2.3 per cent. New measures concerning unemployment benefits:
- Extended unemployment benefit period for persons dismissed from work;
- Extended unemployment benefit period for laid-off workers;
- Advance payment of unemployment benefits.

regjeringen.no (27.03.2020) Friday 27 March, the Government put forward additional financial measures to address the consequences of the coronavirus outbreak. Health related measures include:
- Employers are to be reimbursed for sickness benefits paid from the fourth day onwards for sickness absence related to the coronavirus;
- Employees are given the right to self-report sickness for 16 days even though the employer only pays from Day 4;
- Self-employed persons and freelancers may also receive sickness benefits from the National Insurance Scheme from the fourth day onwards for sickness absence due to the coronavirus.