pio.gov.cy (15.03.2020)

To all businesses that have decided to suspend their operations and to all businesses that will continue their operations and will suffer losses beyond 25% of their turnover, a Suspended Operations Plan of the businesses is applied. The affected workers will receive unemployment allowance for as long as the business will be under suspended operations. A Support Plan for Small Businesses, amounting to €10mn, for businesses employing up to 5 people, under the condition that they keep employing their employees and have suffered a loss bigger than 25% of their turnover is implemented. The Plan foresees a subsidy of 70% of the workers’ salary.

pio.gov.cy (15.03.2020)

Granting of a “Special Leave” allowance to parents who are employed in the private sector for the care of children up to 15 years old (including the third grade of gymnasium) due to the suspension of classes in schools, both public and private, in nurseries and kindergartens. The “special leave”may last up to 4 weeks. (budget of €20mn, potential beneficiaries 50.000 persons).

azernews.az (08.04.2020) A program of compensating for the damage caused to the entrepreneurs and their employees as a result of coronavirus has been launched in Azerbaijan. The program will cover 300,000 employees, 42,000 employers, and about 300,000 private or micro-entrepreneurs. The Azerbaijani government allocated 215 million manat ($126 million) to preserve the salaries of the hired workers. The average monthly salary as of January - 712 manat ($418) - will be taken as the main criterion for partial payment of the workers' salaries. A program on providing micro entrepreneurs and private entrepreneurs with funds has been launched on April 8. The Azerbaijani government rendered financial support in the amount of 80 million manat ($47 million) to 300,000 individual entrepreneurs involved in the spheres affected as a result of the pandemic.

iss.sm (06.04.2020)

From Monday, April 6, the online service allowing patients to request services from the computer, tablet or smartphone is active, without having to go to the Health Center, thus avoiding travel, lines or waiting on the phone. In addition to the "repetitive prescription" and the "ordinary prescription", other requests for health services will be activated afterwards and will be promptly communicated to users. As of today, the equivalent of 400 prescriptions per day are expected to be delivered by civil protection and volunteers.

The Occupational Safety and Health Council has developed a COVID-19 OSH Information Pack, which includes a wealth of ressources for many areas of economic activity. Some of these ressources are available in multiple languages, such as Chinese, English, Filipino, Nepali and Urdu: 

1a. A Compendium of Infection Control of Epidemic for Organization：
 •  7 Infection Control Moves at Workplace
1b. Guideline on Infection Control & Prevention for Frontline Workers:
 •  Handbook on Epidemic Prevention for Frontline Workers (English version to follow)

2. Infection Control Guideline at Workplace
 •  Property Management Industry - Infection Control Guideline at Workplace (English version to follow)
 •  Retails Industry-  Infection Control Guideline at Workplace
 •  Public Transport and Logistics Industry-  Infection Control Guideline at Workplace
 •  Residential Care Homes for Persons with Disabilities and Elderly-  Infection Control Guideline at Workplace
 •  Construction Industry- Infection Control Guideline at Workplace
 •  Construction Industry- Infection Control Guideline at Workplace (Filipino)
 •  Construction Industry- Infection Control Guideline at Workplace (Nepali)
 •  Construction Industry- Infection Control Guideline at Workplace (Urdu)
 •  Sedentary Services - Infection Control Guideline at Workplace
 •  Catering Industry - Infection Control Guideline at Workplace (English version to follow)

3. Infographic about Personal, Home and Environmental Hygiene
 •  Safety tips for travelling from home to work (CHINESE only)
 •  Pour Water To Drainage Pipes Regularly To Prevent Spreading Germs
 •  Put The Toilet Lid Down Before Flushing To Prevent Spreading Germs
 •  Areas Missed During Hand Washing
 •  Why is hand washing so important? (CHINESE only)
 •  How to wash your hands properly? (CHINESE only)
 •  5 steps for cleaning up when you return home (CHINESE only)
 •  Fact sheet - Prevention of Novel Coronavirus Infection (CHINESE only)
 •  Flexible Work Arrangements to Avoid Crowds (CHINESE only)
 •  Key Points of Cleaning Common Areas (CHINESE only)

4. Poster
 •  Prevention of Pneumonia and Respiratory Tract Infection
 •  Add soap Rub hands for 20 seconds: Step for hand washing
 •  Mind Your Hands!
 •  Maintain Cough Manners
 •  When to Wash Our Hands

5. Leaflet
 •  Guidelines for the Safe Use of Common Chemical Disinfectants
 •  Use mask properly Protect ourselves and protect others
 •  Prevent pneumonia and respiratory tract infection (simplified version)

6. Video
 •  How to wear a surgical mask properly
 •  How to clean our hands properly
 •  Maintain drain pipes properly
 •  Together, We Fight the Virus!
 •  Health advice for the Prevention of Pneumonia and Respiratory Tract Infection
 •  Prevention of pneumonia and respiratory tract infection
 •  Prevent diseases · Maintain good hygiene

7. Guidelines
 •  Use Mask Properly
 •  Health Advice on Prevention of Severe Respiratory Disease associated with a Novel Infectious Agent in Workplace (Interim)
 •  Health Advice on Prevention of Severe Respiratory Disease associated with a Novel Infectious Agent for Driver, Crew and Operational Staff of Public Transport (Interim)
 •  Health Advice on Prevention of Severe Respiratory Disease associated with a Novel Infectious Agent for Hotel Industry (Interim)
 •  Health Advice on Prevention Severe Respiratory Disease associated with a Novel Infectious Agent for Properties Management (Interim)
 •  Severe Respiratory Disease associated with a Novel Infectious Agent (Other languages)

sknvibes.com (24.03.2020)

As part of its comprehensive stimulus package announced to soften the significant health, fiscal and economic impact the COVID-19 disease (novel coronavirus) would have on the Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, the Team Unity Government has committed to the provision of additional resources in the region of $12 million to capitalize the Severance Payment Fund. This measure is implemented because "with higher unemployment, we expect that there will be greater demand upon the Severance Fund". The $12 million provided for the Severance Payment Fund is part of the approximately $120 million stimulus package response announced by the honourable prime minister.

jadek-pensa.si (10.08.2020)

The main measures are, under certain conditions:

• A full compensation reimbursement of employees’ salaries who have been temporarily laid-off due to the employer’s inability to provide work due to the consequences of the new coronavirus epidemic in the amount of 80% of the basic salary, and the exemption of payment of contributions tied to salary compensations, both to the maximum mentioned amount;
• A full compensation reimbursement for employees’ salaries for their absence due to force majeure in the amount of 80% of the basic salary and exemption of payment of contributions relating to such salary compensations, both to the mentioned maximum amount;
• Exemption of the payment of contributions for retirement and disability insurance and the obligation of paying a crisis allowance in the amount of EUR 200 for working employees;
• Extraordinary assistance in the form of a basic monthly income for the self-employed (of 70% of the net minimum wage), religious servants and farmers (of 80 percent of full-time minimum wage to farmers or members of their farms suffering from COVID-19 disease due to their inability to work.); exemption for the payment of contributions for the self-employed, religious servants, partners and farmers;
• A right to compensation during the temporary absence from work due to illness or injury by obligatory health insurance from the first day of the absence onward.

euractiv.com (09.04.2020) Denmark has always prided itself on its “flexicurity” model that marries the free market with a welfare society, but in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has chosen another strategy. Like several other European countries, it chose to effectively fork over money to companies to pay the wages of their staff. “It is important for me here today to send a signal to companies: Keep on your employees,” Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said.

gov.si (24.03.2020) A set of measures to preserve jobs will be implemented:

•  a new regime of co-financing wages for temporarily laid-off workers will be established. All contributions for temporarily laid-off employees in the following two months – from entry into force to 31 May 2020 with the possibility of an extension if the situation continues – that must be paid into both the healthcare and pension insurance schemes will be covered by the state, and the insured persons' rights will be preserved. Affected self-employed workers will be exempt from the payment of contributions (also until May 31, 2020).
• Sick pay for all workers during the epidemic from the first day onwards will be covered by the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia, not the employer.
•  Persons employed and activated in sectors that are key in overcoming the epidemic will be rewarded with an increase in their basic salary by between 10% and 200%, based on the decision of their superiors, in the form of hazard pay and higher workload bonuses.

srbija.gov.rs (31.03.2020) The set of economic measures includes a total of nine measures, with an estimated effect of RSD 608.3 billion. Of these nine measures, three are fiscal policy measures, two are direct assistance to the private sector and measures to preserve the liquidity of the economy, and other measures include a dividend moratorium by the end of the year and fiscal stimulus - that is, a direct assistance to all citizens of legal age. All Serbian citizens of legal age (18+ years of age) will receive direct assistance in the amount of €100, for which about RSD 70 billion will be set aside from the state budget and added that this is a great sign of support and desire to bring a dose of optimism. The state will assume the payment of taxes and contributions on wages and thus it wants to encourage companies to keep all their workers and not lay off anyone.

aps.sn (06.04.2020)

L’Etat a décidé de prendre en charge les dépenses pour une valeur de 15, 5 milliards de francs Cfa pour le paiement des factures d’électricité des ménages abonnés à la tranche sociale pour un bimestre, soit environ 975 522 ménages. Un montant de 3 milliards est également alloué pour la prise en charge des factures d’eau de 662 000 ménages de la tranche sociale pour également un bimestre. (La tranche sociale, ce sont ceux qui sont dans la tranche inférieure ou égale à 250 kw/heure).

novissi.gouv.tg (08.04.2020) Le gouvernement togolais a annoncé ce jour, le lancement d’un programme destiné à aider les populations les plus vulnérables à faire face aux difficultés liées à la pandémie mondiale du Coronavirus. L’initiative dénommée « Novissi » (entraide en éwé), vise à soutenir les couches sociales les plus impactées par les mesures restrictives prises par le gouvernement afin d’enrayer la progression de la maladie dans le pays.

The Jakarta Post (13.04.2020) Indonesia’s preemployment card program, a social safety net offering aid similar to unemployment benefits, saw an immediate spike in interest within a few days of its launch, as 2.8 million people have lost their jobs nationwide as a result of businesses temporarily halting operations. Just a day after the program was launched on Saturday, 1.4 million people applied for benefits worth a total of Rp 3.5 million (US$223)  — to be given for four months — in the first registration phase, according to data from the Office of the Coordinating Economic Minister. The program, which was part of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s campaign pledge, initially aimed at providing Indonesian workers the necessary skills training for work. “Our objective is slightly shifting,” Denni Puspa Purbasari, the president director of the program’s management. “We initially wanted to reduce youth unemployment, but now we were also focusing on furloughed workers, those who have lost their jobs or small entrepreneurs who have lost customers.”

voaafrique.com (01.4.2020)

Pour lutter contre l'épidémie de coronavirus, le président du Niger Mahamadou Issoufou avait déjà annoncé la semaine dernière des distributions gratuites et des ventes à prix réduits de vivres pour soutenir les personnes vulnérables, et la prise en charge par l'Etat des factures d'électricité et de l'eau pour les tranches sociales pour les mois d'avril et mai.

Die BGHW hat eine Sammlung von Praxisbeispielen zur Bekämpfung der Corona-Infektionen aus dem HANDEL für den HANDEL auf ihrer Webseite veröffentlicht.  Diese Beispiele sollen Ihnen Anregungen geben, wenn Sie Lösungen für ähnliche arbeitstechnische Probleme suchen.

Hier geht's zum Download der Dokumente.

primeminister.kz (07.04.2020) For the period of the state of emergency, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, K. Tokaev, instructed to start making monthly payments to persons who lost income due to the state of emergency, in the amount of 1 wage (42,500 tenge). In total, at least 1.5 million of citizens can count on this assistance. The State Commission has expanded the circle of recipients of social benefits, including self-employed, who have lost their jobs, as well as some groups of socially vulnerable segments of the population. In total about 3 million Kazakhstanis will receive support in the amount of 42,500 tenge.

A new story book that aims to help children understand and come to terms with COVID-19 has been produced by a collaboration of more than 50 organizations working in the humanitarian sector, including the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and Save the Children.

Download the book here (in English) 

My Hero is You: all language versions

As countries introduce measures to restrict movement as part of efforts to reduce the number of people infected with COVID-19, more and more of us are making huge changes to our daily routines. The new realities of working from home, temporary unemployment, home-schooling of children, and lack of physical contact with other family members, friends and colleagues take time to get used to. Adapting to lifestyle changes such as these, and managing the fear of contracting the virus and worry about people close to us who are particularly vulnerable, are challenging for all of us. They can be particularly difficult for people with mental health conditions. Fortunately, there are lots of things that we can do to look after our own mental health and to help others who may need some extra support and care. Here are tips and advice that we hope you will find useful.

• Keep informed.
• Listen to advice and recommendations from your national and local authorities. 
• Follow trusted news channels, such as local and national TV and radio, and keep up-to-date with the latest news.
• Have a routine. Keep up with daily routines as far as possible, or make new ones.   Get up and go to bed at similar times every day.
• Keep up with personal hygiene.
• Eat healthy meals at regular times.
• Exercise regularly.
• Allocate time for working and time for resting.
• Make time for doing things you enjoy.
• more...

guineenews.org (06.04.2020) L'Agence Nationale d'Inclusion Economique et Sociale (ANIES) a mis en place un ensemble de mesures pour faire face à l'urgence COVID :
- un nouveau programme de transferts d'argent de 250.000 francs guinéens par mois pour 240.000 ménages (1,6 millions de personnes) dans différentes régions de la Guinée, y compris Conakry;
- l’État prendra à sa charge pour trois mois les factures des abonnés au tarif social de l’électricité et de l'eau à compter de ce mois d’avril;
- les échéances de paiement des factures d’eau et d’électricité pour l’ensemble des autres abonnés non commerciaux seront décalées de trois mois;
- les loyers sur les bâtiments publics et privés sont bloqués d’avril à décembre 2020.

thestar.com (09.04.2020) Since the Canada Emergency Response Benefit application process went live last Monday, many have remarked how easy it is to get approved. Every person who applies for the CERB will be automatically approved, whether they qualify or not. The application takes minutes and those who set up direct deposit will receive funds within a few days. The catch is that if it is later determined the applicant was not eligible, they will have to repay the funds when taxes for 2020 are due next spring.

nssfug.org (31.03.2020)

The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) of Uganda will allow Ugandian businesses/employers facing economic distress due to COVID-19 to reschedule NSSF contributions for the next 3 months without accumulating a penalty with effect from the 31st of March. However businesses that do not apply for this amnesty will be expected to continue honoring their statutory obligation to remit NSSF contributions by the 15th day of every month.

El Gobierno de México ha desarrollado una campaña de comunicación preventiva y reactiva contra el COVID-19. En la página web del gobierno mexicano (https://coronavirus.gob.mx) está disponible una variedad de documentos y videos para diferentes grupos objetivo, que educan e informan sobre el coronavirus. Aquí también encontrará otro material de la campaña, incluyendo un libro para ayudar a los padres a explicar a sus hijos la situación actual del coronavirus: 

Presentacion CSG-Medidas Seguridad Sanitaria (PPT)
Cuento  COVID para niños (PDF)
Información COVID para niños (PDF)
Flourograma Ciudadano (PDF)
​​​​​​​Manejo de desechos (PDF)
Mensajero Coronavirus (PDF)
Prepare su hogar para COVID-19 (PDF)
Semaforo de distancia social (PDF)

alqarn.dj (02.04.2020)

As part of the humanitarian and social response to preventive measures against the outbreak of the Corona epidemic and its efforts to reduce the social and economic impact of this epidemic on citizens, the Ministry of Social Affairs implemented a program to distribute food coupons. Thousands of food coupons have so far benefited thousands of needy families in various neighborhoods of the capital.

aljazeera.com (01.04.2020)
All workers who are isolated or quarantined who are receiving treatment shall receive their basic salary and allowances regardless of whether they are entitled to sick leave or not. Three billion riyals ($824m) were set aside to support companies in paying their employees.