treasury.govt.nz (23.03.2020)

On 23 March, the Minister announced significant further support for the economy, workers and businesses, including removal of the cap on the Government’s wage subsidy scheme which will inject a further $4 billion into the economy over the next eleven weeks. Among other measures the economic response package includes: $2.8 billion income support package for our most vulnerable, including a permanent $25 per week benefit increase and a doubling of the Winter Energy Payment for 2020.

moef.go.kr (02.03.2020)

Support Package to Respond to COVID-19 Outbreak implies up to 5 days of childcare leave along with the payment of 50,000 won per day.

moef.go.kr (04.03.2020)

The government has drawn up a budget of  W2.4T to low-income households in the case of childcare shifting from daycare institutions to homecare.

elperiodico.com.gt (30.03.2020) El titular del Ministerio de Desarrollo Social (MIDES), Juan Romero, dio a conocer que durante la emergencia se activó la implementación del Programa Institucional de reacción y una readecuación de los programas para apoyar a las familias que se ven afectadas por las medidas que ha tomado el gobierno para contener el contagio del COVID-19. La primera de las acciones es el programa de apoyo y prevención alimentaria por el COVID-19 que busca llegar a más de 700 mil familias, aproximadamente 3 millones 385 mil de personas. Se distribuirá en zonas de contagio y vulnerabilidad que haya sido definidos por el Ministerio de Salud Pública y Asistencia Social (MSPAS) y el Consejo Nacional de Reducción de Desastres (CONRED).

owwa.gov.ph (20.03.2020)

The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) supported Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) affected by the travel ban due to COVID-19 as well as those who were repatriated with cash transfers. P10,000 cash assistance, drawn from the OWWA Trust Fund of member-OFWs, was given to each stranded OWWA member-OFW (distributed through OWWA regional welfare offices). Said assistance aims to “help stranded OFWs ease their burden and assist them back to their places of origin” during the travel ban.

pnl-law.com (28.03.2020) The Government provide compensation of One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000.00) to public and private health workers who may contract severe COVID-19 infection while in the line of duty, and a compensation of One Million Pesos (P1,000,000.00) to the families of public and private health workers, who may die while fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. This benefit has a retroactive application from 01 February 2020.

cnaps.mg (26.03.2020) For us members of the CNaPS, we are told that starting Monday, March 30, 2020, the offices of CNAPS will be closed throughout Antananarivo except for the office space that is open from 8 am-12pm. All social security benefits will be paid. Members are encouraged to submit the documents online. 

Additionally, users are encouraged to use mobile banking and to make use of the newly available free phone number to contact the CNaPs.

gov.sg (20.02.2020)

To address the economic uncertainties brought about by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, the government introduced a cash transfer of up to SG$300, depending on income, for all residents aged 21 and above. Additionally, S$100 for passion card top-up for all seniors, and S$100 supermarket vouchers for lower-income families.

cnaps.mg (20.03.2020) Suite à rencontre entre le gouvernement malagasy et les représentants du secteur privé, une disposition spéciale a été prise face à la lutte contre la ropagation du coronovirus. De ce fait, nous portons à la connaissance de nos assujettis la prolongation du paiement de la cotisation du premier trimestre de cette année jusqu'au 31 juillet 2020. Il est a noter que tout retard est exempt de pénalisation.

sanews.gov.za (24.03.2020)

Government has unveiled employment related plans expected to soften the blow of the COVID-19 countrywide lockdown, on workers and firms. Workers who will be affected by the 21 day lockdown during the outbreak will receive the adequate support from the department (as foreseen in the Basic Conditions of Employment Act). For those who fall ill as a result of work, they will be covered by the Compensation Act. UIF (Unemployment Insurance Fund) existing benefits for illness, reduced work time and unemployment will then kick in. In addition the UIF will compensate affected workers through a new “National Disaster Benefit” (a flat rate equal to the minimum wage (R3 500) per employee for the duration of the shutdown to a maximum period of three months).

sanews.gov.za (22.03.2020)

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) will provide early payments of social grants to older persons and persons with disabilities from 30 and 31 March 2020.

opm.gov.tt (23.03.2020) Several measure to face the Coronavirus emergency: a Salary Relief Grant will be provided to citizens who have lost income as a result of the impact of COVID-19. They will have access to TT$1500 per month over a three-month period from the National Insurance Board. Food Card support of TT$510.00 per month for three months for households where a family member was retrenched, terminated or income reduced during this period. Rental Assistance for up to TT$2500.00 per month for an initial period of three months (but no more than six) for persons who have been retrenched, terminated or if the household income was reduced as a result of the impact of COVID-19.

mppre.gob.ve (24.03.2020) Para enfrentar el Coronavirus y salvaguardar al pueblo bolivariano, se fortalece el sistema de bonos al pueblo a través del Carnet de la Patria: durante este mes se han entregado dos (2) bonos a más de 9 millones de personas, correspondientes a las asignaciones: Marzo de lealtad y Disciplina y solidaridad. A partir de hoy, será emitido el bono «Quédate En Casa» a los más de 6 millones de trabajadores; 4 millones (trabajadores independientes) y dos millones (trabajadores de empresas privadas como complemento de nómina).

molisa.gov.vn (16.03.2020) The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs has just dispatched Official Letter  sent to Vietnam Social Insurance on guidelines to suspend payments into the retirement and death gratuity funds of social insurance until June 30. If the pandemic lasts longer businesses will be able to apply for an extension. This applies to companies where 50 percent of staff have lost their jobs caused by Covid-19 epidemic.

molisa.gov.vn (30.03.2020) The Government has just issued Resolution No. 37 / NQ-CP on a number of specific regimes in the prevention and control of Covid-19, taking effect from March 29, 2020. Among those: food vouchers for people subject to medical isolation (VND 80,000 / day), anti-epidemic allowance (between VND 150,000 / day - 300,000 VND / day) for people involved in fighting against COVID-19.

IOSH has put together a COVID-19 webpage with advice, guidance and resources for the occupational safety and health community. It includes 

• Preventative measure
• Emergency planning advice
• Managing your workers
• Travelling for work

as well as a list of useful ressources.

This list provides resources from the United State’s OSH agencies charged specifically with OSH issues: the National Institute for Occupational Safety (NIOSH) and Health and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The resources include links to information on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (NIOSH’s parent agency) and U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) (OSHA’s parent agency).

The NIOSH links provide specific information on PPE and also resources and guidance for emergency response situations.  CDC links provide a more general overview of workplace precautions to lower risk as well as a map tracking global outbreak status, cases, and latest updates. The OSHA/DOL links provide specific guidance for key at risk industries. The Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19  PDF provides specific guidance on classifying worker exposure and protection measures as well as addressing workers on international assignment. The OSHA links provides other materials available in PDF for printing and distribution. Several of these are provided in Spanish. There are also links to OSHA’s respiratory safety video and eTool.

lefigaro.fr (02.04.2020)

Les soignants atteints par le Coronavirus auront droit à la prise en charge à 100% au titre de la maladie professionnelle.

noticias.anses.gob.ar (31.03.2020) La ANSES informa que los beneficiarios de Asignación Universal por Hijo (AUH) y por Embarazo (AUE) comenzarán a cobrar el próximo viernes 3 de abril el Ingreso Familiar de Emergencia (IFE) de 10.000 pesos instituido por el Decreto 310/20 con carácter excepcional ante la situación creada por la pandemia de Coronavirus COVID-19.

A efectos de facilitar el cobro y evitar aglomeraciones que afecten negativamente la cuarentena vigente hasta el 13 de abril próximo, los beneficiarios de AUH y AUE cuyos documentos de identidad terminen en los números 0, 1, 2 y 3 tendrán los 10.000 pesos acreditados en sus cuentas el próximo viernes 3, y podrán retirarlos por cajeros automáticos o, en caso de dificultades para hacerlo por esa vía, por cajero en la sucursal bancaria correspondiente.

ec.europa.eu (10.03.2020) During today's EU leaders' videoconference on the response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Commission received a mandate to further step up its response to the Coronavirus, or COVID-19 outbreak, on all fronts and coordinate Member State actions. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said:"The investment will be sizable and reach €25 billion quickly. To realise this, I will propose to Council and Parliament this week to release €7.5 billion of investment liquidity. I will set up a Task Force to work with Member States to ensure that the money starts flowing in the coming weeks. Today marks an important step in a coordinated response that the 27 Heads of State and Government, the President of the European Council and the Commission have been calling for. Now it is time for action.”

romania-insider.com (18.03.2020)

The set of measures to be analyzed and adopted by the Government on Wednesday aims to increase the liquidity of the companies, support the companies that temporarily suspend their activity in paying the technical unemployment benefits (75% of wages) to their employees, reduce the direct interaction of citizens with state institutions (by for instance extending the tax payment deadlines), and stimulate the production capacities for goods needed during this crisis, mainly sanitary protection materials, disinfectants.

government.se (19.03.2020) In light of the COVID-19 virus, the Government on March 19 decided that its proposed additional amending budget for 2020 will include a supplementary system of support for short-time work schemes. The new system was presented on Monday by the Government, together with the Centre Party and the Liberal Party, and means that central government will take a greater share of the costs for short-time work in 2020. It is proposed that the new rules enter into force on 7 April, but that they apply from 16 March.

cnbc.com (19.03.2020) Abu Dhabi has also announced a raft of measures to support its economy in this period. That includes a 5 billion dirham ($1.36 billion) water and electricity subsidies for citizens and businesses. Rental rebates are also being offered to restaurants, as well as the tourism and entertainment sectors.

meijburg.com (18.03.2020)

With the passage of time, the corona pandemic is having an increasingly dramatic effect on the Dutch business community. The measures announced by the government on March 12, 2020 proved to be inadequate. For this reason additional measures to further support the Dutch business sector have been implemented and complement or extend the measures of March 12, 2020. 

- Businesses that have been forced to cease most of their activities immediately due to the government measures to combat the coronavirus and have seen all or most of their turnover evaporate, can claim an allowance in the form of a gift. This concerns a one-off fixed amount of EUR 4,000 for the period of three months.
- The GO scheme, for businesses that have difficulty obtaining bank loans and bank guarantees, will be increased and the maximum relief per company will increase from EUR 50 million to EUR 150 million.
- Qredits, a provider of micro-credits to start-ups and small businesses, will be financially supported with a maximum amount of EUR 6 million to support businesses affected by measures to combat the coronavirus.
- Government-guaranteed scheme for loans to small and medium-sized enterprises (Borgstelling MKB-kredieten; BMKB): the share for which the government is guarantor will be temporarily increased from 90% of 75% of a line of credit.
-The State Secretary for Economic Affairs and Climate (EZK) has decided to accelerate (as of March 16, 2020) temporarily expand the Government-guaranteed scheme for agricultural loans to small and medium-sized enterprises (Borgstelling MKB-landbouwkrediet), so that companies with a healthy future perspective can continue to be financed.

bm.dk (22.03.2020)

A 30-day online qualification course is now being offered to unskilled and skilled professionals in the service, tourism, hotel and restaurant sectors. While employees participate in distance education, companies can cover their salary losses through funds from WEU reimbursement and competency funds. During the training period, companies can receive the pay loss partly from the WEU allowance and partly from the competence fund funds, if these are available through the agreement. This means that companies do not have to pay employees' salaries during the training period. The companies pay the course fee alone.