ilo.org (25.03.2020) This brief outlines the implications of the Covid-19 crisis for national social protection systems and highlights specific social protection responses taken in countries in the Asia and Pacific region. It builds on a more comprehensive ILO Brief which offers policy considerations regarding the role of social protection in responding to the possible impacts of COVID-19 crisis.

gouvernement.lu (19.03.2020) Faced with the impact of COVID-19 on companies and the self-employed in Luxembourg, the Joint Social Security Centre (CCSS) and the Minister for Social Security, Romain Schneider, have taken a series of measures to support companies and the self-employed by offering them greater flexibility in their management of the payment of social security contributions.

canada.ca (23.03.2020)

For workers without paid sick leave (or similar workplace accommodation) who are sick, quarantined or forced to stay home to care for children, the Government is:

• Introducing the Emergency Care Benefit by providing up to $900 bi-weekly, for up to 15 weeks. This benefit will provide income support to:
  • Workers, including the self-employed, who are quarantined or sick with COVID-19 but do not qualify for EI sickness benefits.
  • Workers, including the self-employed, who are taking care of a family member who is sick with COVID-19, such as an elderly parent.
  • Parents with children who require care or supervision due to school closures, and are unable to earn employment income.
• Application for the Emergency Care Benefit will be available in April 2020, and will require Canadians to attest that they meet the eligibility requirements. They will need to re-attest every two weeks to reconfirm their eligibility. To apply for the Benefit, Canadians can access it on their CRA MyAccount secure portal.
• Introducing an Emergency Support Benefit delivered through CRA to provide up to $5.0 billion in support to workers who are not eligible for EI and who are facing unemployment.

canada.ca (23.03.2020) Service Canada is ready to support Canadians affected by COVID-19 and placed in quarantine, with the following support actions:

• The one-week waiting period for EI sickness benefits will be waived for new claimants who are quarantined so they can be paid for the first week of their claim
• Establishing a new dedicated toll-free phone number to support enquiries related to waiving the EI sickness benefits waiting period
• People claiming EI sickness benefits due to quarantine will not have to provide a medical certificate
• People who cannot complete their claim for EI sickness benefits due to quarantine may apply later and have their EI claim backdated to cover the period of delay

folha.uol.com.br (18.03.2020) As part of the plan to combat the new coronavirus, the government announced on Wednesday (18) that it will grant vouchers to transfer money to the portion of the population that has no formal work and does not receive resources from programs such as Bolsa Família and BPC (Benefit from Continued Installment). Minister Paulo Guedes (Economy) announced the measure in an interview at the Planalto Palace. According to him, another government action will be to pay part of the salaries of workers of micro and small companies that commit to not firing employees. According to Guedes, the measure will be signed this Wednesday by President Jair Bolsonaro and will allow each beneficiary to receive around R $200 monthly for a period of three months. 

g1.globo.com (16.03.2020)  Announcement of the measures, which foresee an injection of R $ 147.3 billion in the economy, was made on Monday by Minister Paulo Guedes. Package expands credit to retirees and small businesses.

For the poorest population, the government informed that it will release about R $3 billion for Bolsa Família. The amount corresponds to the inclusion of over 1 million families among the beneficiaries - the government did not detail whether there will be a change in the income criteria for this membership.

noticiasfides.com (18.03.2020) La presidenta Jeanine Añez anunció este miércoles cuatro medidas económicas para ayudar a sectores de la población considerados más afectados por las consecuencias de la pandemia del coronavirus. Una de las medidas es la creación del Bono Familia, que busca contribuir en la alimentación de los hijos de las familias de escasos recursos. “Hoy anuncio ante ustedes la creación del Bono Familia, un bono para las familias bolivianas que más lo necesitan; para las familias con niños que en este tiempo de cuarentena no tendrán el desayuno escolar”, señaló la mandataria. El bono es de 500 bolivianos y será para cada hijo que asista al nivel primaria en escuela fiscal. El beneficio será entregado en abril.

Añez dijo que de similar manera se hará con el pago del impuesto a las utilidades. “Hemos ordenado que el impuesto a las utilidades no se pague en abril, que será un mes duro, sino que se pague en mayo y a plazos”, apuntó.

La cuarta medida tiene que ver con la provisión de los servicios básicos. El gobierno prohíbe “contundentemente” cortar los servicios de agua, luz y gas a los hogares mientras dure la cuarentena y la crisis en salud. En ese sentido, la falta de pago no será un motivo para prescindir del servicio.

belgium.be (06.03.2020) Ces mesures visent en substance, d’une part, à permettre aux entreprises impactées de mettre leurs salariés en chômage temporaire afin de préserver l’emploi et, d’autre part, à prévoir des modalités d’étalement, de report, de dispense de paiement de cotisations sociales, précomptes, impôts de nature sociale et fiscale, pour les entreprises et les indépendants.

premier.tas.gov.au (17.03.2020)

Ministerial Statement COVID-19 Response Measures

(...) "Whilst ensuring that Tasmanian’s health wellbeing and safety is our most important aim we must also ensure that we support Tasmanian jobs and those businesses most affected by the economic impacts we are facing. The Government will take strong action and in the first stage of our economic stimulus plan I can announce there will be:

• $20 million for the provision of interest free loans to businesses in the hospitality, tourism, seafood and exports sectors. The loans will be available to small businesses with a turnover of less than $5 million for the purpose of purchasing equipment or restructuring business operations and will be interest free for a period of up to three years.
• To support Tasmanian jobs, the Government will waive payroll tax for the last four months of this financial year for hospitality, tourism and seafood industry businesses during 2020. This will save businesses around $7 million enabling them to keep more Tasmanians employed.
• Other small to medium businesses with an annual payroll of up to $5 million in Australian wages will be able to apply based on the immediate impact of the virus on their businesses to waive their payroll tax payments for the remaining three months from March to June 2020.  This initiative is costed at up to $9 million."

Belgium.be (20.03.2020) Le chômage temporaire sera à la fois automatique, étendu et renforcé, ainsi qu'un soutien aux indépendants fermés ou en difficulté.

premier.tas.gov.au (17.03.2020)

Ministerial Statement COVID-19 Response Measures

(...) "$1 million will be available to support front line workers with accommodation, such as in circumstances where their family members are ill so they can continue to contribute to our response. The accommodation will be provided for the period required to effectively manage the COVID-19 pandemic. The Government will provide an additional $1 million in grants to mental health organisations to support individuals experiencing mental health difficulties as a result of the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. We will also establish an emergency accommodation support fund of $1 million to be administered through the Department of Communities Tasmania.   This will be available for individuals and families who have been placed on home quarantine but who are unable to return to their regular place of residence due to self-isolation measures being in place.  This will provide additional support members for our community at this difficult time."

premier.tas.gov.au (17.03.2020)

Ministerial Statement COVID-19 Response Measures

(...) "Today, I am announcing as an initial response to this pandemic, that the Government will provide further support and economic stimulus to help businesses and Tasmanian’s affected by the virus. The package will include further support for our community: One-off emergency relief payments of $250 for individuals and up to $1000 for families who are required to self-isolate by public health as a result of coronavirus. This will be available to casual workers and those on low incomes. Funding for this measure will be uncapped."

azatutyun.am (18.03.2020) Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian has promised that his government will provide at least 150 billion drams (over $300 million) in assistance to the economy, which is likely to be affected by the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic. (...) “We have prepared a package of 30 billion drams (over $60 million) for urgent social assistance to exclude the impoverishment of people,” the prime minister said, adding that citizens and businesses should be confident that the government will stand by them.

government.se (16.03.2020) Liquidity reinforcement via tax accounts Under this proposal, companies can defer payment of employers’ social security contributions, preliminary tax on salaries and value added tax that are reported monthly or quarterly. Company payment respite covers tax payments for three months and is granted for up to 12 months. This replaces the previously presented proposal. It is proposed that the new regulations take effect on 7 April 2020, but can be retroactively applied from 1 January 2020. This means that companies that have paid into their tax account for January to March can receive repayment of the tax from the Swedish Tax Agency. Payment respite will not be granted to companies that mismanage their finances or are in some other way unethical. Nor will respite be granted to companies that have large tax debts. The proposals on respite and short-term layoffs will now proceed to the Council on Legislation for fast-track consideration.

government.se (16.03.2020) Central government to assume sick pay responsibility for two months

It is proposed that central government assume the entire cost of all sick pay during April and May. Self-employed persons will also be compensated in that they can receive standardised sick pay for days 1–14.

government.se (16.03.2020) The crisis package now presented can – depending on how the situation develops – encompass more than SEK 300 billion if the entire liquidity reinforcement through tax accounts is used.

Short-term layoffs introduced today

This proposal means that employers’ wage costs can be halved, in that central government will cover a larger share of the costs. This model is similar to short-time work, but the subsidy level is significantly increased. The employee receives more than 90 per cent of their wage. The aim is to save Swedish jobs. It is proposed that the proposal on short-term layoffs enter into force on 7 April and be in effect throughout 2020, but be applied from today, 16 March.

thelocal.se (11.03.2020) Sweden is temporarily scrapping the 'karensdag' – the first unpaid day of your sick leave – in response to the coronavirus, the government announced as it outlined measures to handle the crisis. The decision means that workers will get sickness benefits from the moment they have to be absent from work due to illness, and the state rather than employers will foot the bill for the cost of the first day. It comes into effect today, and will apply for one and a half month for now. Swedish law normally guarantees sick pay from the second day of illness, but concerns had been raised that employees would turn up at work despite feeling ill in order not to lose out on the first day's salary. Sweden's Public Health Agency has urged people to stay at home if they develop symptoms of the coronavirus, however mild, and especially not go to work if they come into contact with risk groups.

OECD (20.03.2020) Many affected countries introduced or announced bold measures over the last days and weeks, often with a focus on supporting the most vulnerable who are bearing a disproportionate share of the burden. This note and the accompanying policy table contribute to evidence-sharing on the role and effectiveness of various policy tools.

Financial Times (20.02.2020) The crisis has illuminated stark differences between the employed and freelancers. Many countries are grappling with how to deal with their self-employed workforces losing income. In Greece, payments of €800 will be issued, as well as tax holidays. The Norwegian government is proposing to compensate self-employed workers for lost earnings up to 80 per cent of their salaries, while the Danes will receive up to 75 per cent.

ncov.mohw.go.kr (19.03.2020)

Measures include:

• 4 months worth of local gift certificates (+1,242 billion won) for beneficiaries of livelihood, medical, residential, and educational benefits (13.77 million households) and legally displaced (300,000 households) * Total amount of 4 months per single household: (livelihood, medical care) 520,000 won / (residential, educational, secondary) 400,000 won
• Local gift vouchers (100,000 won per person per month) for 4 months (+1.5 trillion won) 20% of the incentive (incentive) support when receiving 30% of the remuneration for the elderly job project participants with local gift certificates (+1281 billion won)
• Emergency livelihood (11.9 million households) is provided to low-income households in crisis, such as unemployment and closed business (+200 billion won)
• Reduction of 50% of health insurance premiums for 3 months for the lower 20% of health insurance premiums, 50% reduction to the lower 50% of health insurance premiums in special disaster areas (+2,656 billion won)
• To increase the temporary transition to home care for children in daycare centers and kindergartens, increase the home care allowance budget (+271 billion won)

As the additional budget was finalized, the total expenditure of the Ministry of Health and Welfare increased from 82,526.9 billion won to 86,1944 billion won in 2020. Along with this, a reserve of 883 billion won has been organized and executed to expand the prevention and treatment system, and plans to secure additional reserves if necessary. The Ministry of Health and Welfare will make thorough preparations to promptly execute the supplementary budget and reserves, and will actively work to strengthen corona19-related infectious disease response capabilities and support the livelihood economy.

boletinoficial.gob.ar (24.03.2020)

Prestación monetaria no contributiva única de carácter excepcional destinada a compensar la pérdida o grave disminución de ingresos de personas afectadas por la situación de emergencia sanitaria. El monto de la prestación es de $10.000, se pagará por única vez en el mes de abril. Lo cobrará solo un integrante del grupo familiar.

El Ingreso Familiar de Emergencia será otorgado a las personas que se encuentren desocupadas; se desempeñen en la economía informal; sean monotributistas inscriptos en las categorías “A” y “B”; monotributistas sociales y trabajadores y trabajadoras de casas particulares, siempre que cumplan con los siguientes requisitos: a. Ser argentino o argentina nativo/a o naturalizado/a y residente con una residencia legal en el país no inferior a DOS (2) años. b. Tener entre 18 y 65 años de edad. c. No percibir ingresos por trabajo en relación de dependencia, ser monotributista de categoría "C" o superior, no percibir prestación por desempleo ni jubilaciones, pensiones o retiros de carácter contributivo o no contributivo.

El IFE es compatible con el cobro de la Asignación Universal por Hijo, la Asignación por Embarazo y el programa Progresar.

anses.gob.ar (22.03.2020) Con el objetivo de proteger a los sectores más vulnerables en el marco de la emergencia sanitaria decretada ante la pandemia del coronavirus, ANSES otorgará un bono extraordinario que alcanzará más de 9 millones de jubilados, pensionados y personas que cobran la Asignación Universal por Hijo y por Embarazo.

elsalvador.com (24.03.2020)

Como parte de un nuevo paquete de medidas para contener la propagación del coronavirus, el presidente Nayib Bukele anunció 30 días de cuarentena total domiciliar, así como una transferencia de $300 para 1.5 millones de hogares que dejarán de percibir ingresos mientras dure el mes de cuarentena obligatoria. Pero este beneficio económico no es para todos. ¿Quiénes lo recibirán? Las familias para las que se destinará la subvención de los $300 serán aquellas que cuyo consumo de energía eléctrica es de menos de 250 kilovatios/hora por mes. Las familias beneficiadas, además, son aquellas que deberán estar en sus casas y no podrán ir a sus empleos, y en cuyo hogar no haya otro salario. “Si en el hogar hay un salario, esos hogares no van a recibir ese dinero”, advirtió el mandatario. A partir del consumo de energía establecido se calcula que unos 1.5 millones de hogares (75 % de la población) recibirá esta ayuda, lo que representa al Estado una erogación de $450 millones para un mes.

sn.at (16.03.2020) Weil die aktuelle Krise die Unternehmen vor akute Liquiditätsprobleme stellt, gibt es wesentliche Änderungen gegenüber dem bisherigen Kurzarbeitsmodell. So konnte es bisher bis zu sechs Wochen dauern, bis Kurzarbeit beantragt werden konnte, diese Zeit wird nun auf 48 Stunden verkürzt.

Eine zweite wesentliche Änderung ist auch, dass die Arbeitszeit vorübergehend auch auf null reduziert werden kann. Damit soll gewährleistet werden, dass die Mitarbeiter in den Unternehmen bleiben und die Betriebe nach überstandener Krise rasch wieder ihre Arbeit aufnehmen können. Während Kurzarbeit bisher vor allem von Industrieunternehmen genutzt wurde, soll sie nun auch für kleine und mittlere Betriebe (KMU) und für Kleinstbetriebe anwendbar sein. Die Nettoersatzrate beim neuen Kurzarbeitsmodell beträgt zwischen 80 und 90 Prozent, wobei Geringverdiener die höchste Nettoersatzrate haben. Die Nettoersatzrate ist die Differenz zwischen dem Entgelt für die geleistete Arbeitszeit zuzüglich Kurzarbeitshilfe und vereinbarten Zuschlägen durch das AMS. Beispiel: Wenn jemand 1000 Euro netto verdient und null Stunden arbeitet, soll eine 90-prozentige Ersatzrate greifen, das AMS bezahlt also das Arbeitslosengeld plus einen Zuschlag, das sind dann zwischen 800 und 900 Euro. Das Unternehmen bezahlt nur einen kleinen Restbetrag. Damit ist das Modell auch für Unternehmen deutlich attraktiver als bisher.

compiling/crowdsourcing #socialprotection responses around the world in real time