BBC News (07.10.2020) Extreme poverty is set to rise this year for the first time in more than two decades, with coronavirus expected to push up to 115 million people into that category, the World Bank has said.

capac (22.09.2020) Since September 1, 2020, the rules for temporary corona unemployment have changed.  Only sectors and companies recognized as particularly affected can apply for temporary corona unemployment until December 31, 2020. You can therefore only submit a request for temporary unemployment for corona force majeure if you are working for the employer's account: which falls within a sector particularly affected by the coronavirus crisis  whose company is particularly affected by the coronavirus crisis.

cgdev.org (Sept 2020) Many countries have launched unprecedented relief packages to cushion the economic and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. This short review considers some initial lessons emerging from selected countries around the use of digital technology to implement these government-to-people (G2P) social transfer programs. Information is still limited on how well the programs have functioned; in particular, there is a dearth of rapid demand-side survey evidence on the experience of beneficiaries receiving transfers and the likely magnitudes of inclusion and exclusion errors. Nevertheless, the emerging picture provides some indications of how investments in digital systems and their deployment along the social transfer value chain have been facilitating the response. Lessons from the COVID-19-related scale-up of social assistance can be harnessed by developing countries to rethink and strengthen the architecture of social protection systems in the future.

ilo.org (01.10.2020) Based on findings from seven countries (Canada, China, Germany, India, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand), the ILO has outlined 10 possible policy responses to inform dialogue among governments, employers’ and workers’ organizations to advance decent work opportunities for more women and men in the digital economy

socialprotection.org (September 2020) This document provides information and guidance on social protection and older people, with a focus on pensions to cushion the economic impacts of COVID-19. It is intended as an advisory for people involved in planning and delivering social protection support for older people across a range of contexts. The document briefly describes the specific impact of COVID-19 on older people’s health and wellbeing, as well as the socio-economic impacts. It discusses the current responses which for the most part have not specifically targeted older people and makes the case for pensions as a proven mechanisms to provide immediate income support.

Ministry of Economy (28.09.2020) The requirement of the annual Proof of Life (re-registration) of retired civil servants, pensioners and civil political amnesties referred to in Ordinance No. 244 and Normative Instruction No. 45, both of June 15, 2020, is suspended until October 31, 2020.

OFFICIAL BULLETIN REPUBLICA ARGENTINA - General Resolution 4788/2020 (04.08.2020) The postponement or reduction of up to 95% of the payment of employer contributions to the Argentine Integrated Pension System. Certain employers will enjoy the benefit of postponement of the expiration date for the payment of employer contributions to the Argentine Integrated Social Security System for the period accrued in March, April, May, June and July 2020.

a) Accrued in March 2020: from June 9 to July 31, 2020, inclusive.

b) Accrued April 2020: from July 1 to August 31, 2020, inclusive.

c) Accrued May 2020: from August 1 to September 30, 2020, inclusive.

d) Accrued June 2020: from September 1 to October 31, 2020, inclusive.

e) Accrued July 2020: from October 1 to November 30, 2020, inclusive.
 

worldbank.org (28.09.2020) The economic impact of COVID-19 is unprecedented in size and scope. It has quickly evolved from a health emergency into an employment crisis. It also has far-reaching implications for workers beyond the immediate employment effects, as it most likely has accelerated the transformation process of jobs that had already started in the region and the world. This book focuses on three important pre-pandemic trends observed in the region—namely, premature deindustrialization, servicification of the economy, and task automation—that were significantly changing the labor market landscape in the region and that have been accelerated by the crisis.

Gouvernement.lu (25.08.2020) After the agreement in July 2020 with Belgium, Germany and France to maintain the exceptional provision not to take into account the teleworking days linked to the COVID-19 crisis for the determination of the applicable social security legislation frontier workers, Luxembourg and its three neighboring countries have agreed to extend this exemption until December 31, 2020. Concretely, this means that a frontier worker who carries out his work from his home, continues to be affiliated to the Luxembourg social security system and this until the end of 2020.

Guichet.lu (06.07.2020) The agreement between Luxembourg and Germany regarding the social security affiliation of cross-border workers who are teleworking is extended until 31 August 2020. Thus, the days of teleworking due to the COVID-19 crisis: are not taken into account for the determination of the social security legislation that should apply to the workers concerned; will not have any influence on their social security affiliation.

President Taneti Maamau (23.08.2020) Given this ongoing closure of borders, stranded nationals abroad will continue to receive Government’s financial assistance until additional notice is made following the review of border closure at the end of August 2020. This assistance is implemented to ensure I-Kiribati nationals stranded overseas are supported during this unfortunate situation.

socialeurope.eu (24.09.2020) The pandemic has brought into focus the social contract between income and contribution which can underpin a solidaristic welfare state.

panapress (11.07.2020) Ten million pieces of soap will be put on the Burundian market monthly, at a price half subsidized by the state, as part of hygienic measures undertaken by the government in partnership with the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) to prevent the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country.

Government of the Virgin Islands (15.09.2020) Over 1000 small businesses have qualified for the economic stimulus grant ranging from $1,592 to $7,955 and will begin to receive their cheques beginning this week. The Small Business Sector Grant Programme was established for the purpose of assisting Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)  affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, in meeting operational expenditure, while stimulating economic activity by facilitating the circulation of money within the Territory.

Government of the Republic of Benin (10.09.2020) The Council of Ministers took specific measures in the agricultural sector strongly affected by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. These measures have a total cost of 100 billion CFA francs distributed as follows:  - 50 billion CFA francs intended to refinance banks and MFIs on the basis of their agricultural loan portfolios - 35 billion CFA francs intended for guarantee at 50% the loans of agricultural promoters and entrepreneurs  - 15 billion CFA francs for the subsidization of the interest rates of the credits set up for the benefit of the beneficiaries.

The Guardian (24.09.2020) The chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has announced a replacement for the coronavirus job retention scheme based on a German-style system of wage subsidies. Faced with the prospect of rising job losses this autumn when furlough closes at the end of October, and tougher restrictions on the economy as the pandemic worsens, the “job support scheme” forms the backbone of his winter economy plan. 
The government will contribute towards the wages of employees who are working fewer than normal hours, and will cover 22% of worker pay for six months.  

ilo.org (26.08.2020) A new ILO policy brief shows how public employment services are using technology to increase the help available to people whose jobs have been affected by COVID-19.

ilo.org (23.09.2020) A new ILO analysis of the labour market impact of COVID-19 reveals a “massive” drop in labour income and a fiscal stimulus gap that threatens to increase inequality between richer and poorer countries.

KMPG (15 March 2020) Modified social security rules are to apply for the period of March-June 2020 for certain sectors—the hospitality and tourism sector; entertainment, film industry, and performing art sector; the sport services sector; the event organization sector; and the gambling section. The changes provide that employers in these sectors will not be liable to pay the employer part of social security contributions (17.5% + 1.5%) with respect to employment income paid to employees for the period March-June 2020. Moreover, employees will only be liable to pay 4% healthcare social security contribution on their employment income received during the March-June 2020 period (instead of the aggregated 18.5% social security contribution). Nevertheless, the upper limit of the healthcare social security contribution will be HUF 7,710 a month.

crowe.com (16.04.2020) As part of the economy recovery plan easing the economic issues caused by the COVID-19 outbreak, the Hungarian Government has announced an economy protection plan, with a focus on maintaining research and development jobs. The original regulation was amended by Government Decree 141/2020. (IV. 21.). The subsidy is available from the 16th of April. According to the modified regulation if an employer employs R&D employees, one subsidy application per corporate site may be submitted to the government office (defined by the geographical location of the employer’s headquarter/registered site) during the so-called emergency situation or within 1 month after the emergency situation ended.

Ilo.org (17.09.2020) Closing the social protection coverage gap, worsened by COVID-19, will require additional sources of financing.

EU Reporter (27.08.2020) German coalition parties agreed on Tuesday (25 August) to extend measures to cushion the effects of the coronavirus crisis on Europe’s biggest economy at a cost of up to €10 billion, including prolonging a short-time work scheme and freezing insolvency rules, write Andreas Rinke, Holger Hansen and Madeline Chambers and Joseph Nasr in Berlin. 

Das Kurzarbeitergeld soll wegen der Coronakrise bis Ende Dezember 2021 und damit auf 24 Monate verlängert werden. Das haben die Spitzen von Union und SPD beschlossen.

As a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, rent concessions have been granted to lessees. Such concessions might take a variety of forms, including payment holidays and deferral of lease payments. On 28 May 2020, the IASB published an amendment to IFRS 16 that provides an optional practical expedient for lessees from assessing whether a rent concession related to COVID-19 is a lease modification. Lessees can elect to account for such rent concessions in the same way as they would if they were not lease modifications. In many cases, this will result in accounting for the concession as variable lease payments in the period(s) in which the event or condition that triggers the reduced payment occurs.