GroundUp (29.04.2020) Introducing the new “Covid-19 grant” announced by President Cyril Ramphosa will pose a huge challenge. But South Africa can learn from Namibia, which introduced an emergency grant at the beginning of April and within three weeks had paid out nearly 580,000 people. The Covid-19 Social Relief of Distress grant of R350 per month, together with the R500 per month supplement to each Child Support Grant (CSG) recipient, provides for the first time a social safety net for able-bodied working-age adults. These reforms amount to a temporary basic income grant payable to anyone without formal employment.

World Economic Forum (30.04.2020) Pakistan's government are offering labourers, who are out of work due to the coronavirus lockdown, a chance to earn money by planting trees. The project is part of Pakistan's existing initiative to plant billions of trees to counter the effects of climate change.

samoagovt.ws (07.04.2020) Six-month moratorium on contribution payments for Hospitality Sector Employers in the hospitality sector will be permitted to postpone their contributions payments for the six-month period January to June 2020 to be payable only in July 2020. The total value of this assistance is $2.6 million tala.

Additional Measures of Social Support for Families with Children

The amendments specify and complement clauses of the Executive Order On Additional Measures of Social Support for Families with Children concerning monthly payments to such families, as well as the introduction of additional one-off payment for each child aged between 3 and 16.

In particular:

RUB 10,000 will be paid for each minor. The President introduces unconditional support for families with children, regardless of their income level or whether their parents have a job. Each child under 16 years of age will be paid  RUB 10.000, based on a simple electronic application from parents or guardians.

In total, 27 million Russian children will receive such support. This payment does not cancel, but complements previously entered support measures. RUB 5.000 thousand a month for children under 3 years of age will be paid not only to those who have the right to maternity capital, but also to all families with such children (from April to June); one-half of the subsistence minimum for children from 3 to 7 years of age from low-income families (from June 1-one-time for all previous months, that is, on average, RUB 33.000  per child, then-monthly) and RUB 3.000 per month for each minor child of their families, where one or both parents lost their jobs (from April to June). In addition, the amount of child benefit has been doubled.

news.bloombergtax.com (05.05.2020) The Russian Federal Tax Service April 20 announced reduced insurance contribution rates for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), effective April 1. The announcement includes information on: 1) a reduction in the social insurance rate to 15 percent for salaries exceeding the current monthly minimum wage of 12,130 rubles (US$160), applicable to accrued payments exceeding the minimum wage threshold; 2) a 10 percent compulsory pension insurance rate; 3) a 5 percent compulsory health insurance rate; and 4) a 0 percent compulsory social insurance rate for temporary disability or related to maternity.

112.international (08.04.2020) In Ukraine, pensioners who have reached 80 years of age will be paid compensation for pensions in April. This was reported by the press service of Ukraine’s Pension Fund. Payment in the amount of up to 18 dollars commenced on April 7. "From April 1, 2020, pensioners who are 80 years of age or older are entitled to a monthly compensation payment of up to 500 hryvnias (18 dollars). Pension supplements will be paid to pensioners whose pension does not exceed 9205 hryvnias (339 dollars). At the same time, after such payment is made, the pension may not exceed the specified amount," the message said.

gestion.pe (26.03.2020) El presidente Martín Vizcarra anunció que se suspenderá el aporte a las Administradoras de Fondos de Pensiones (AFP) durante el mes de abril, ante la ampliación del estado de emergencia en el Perú para frenar los contagios de coronavirus.

ssa.gov (April 2020) The government deferred the due date for employers' social security contributions: those originally due in March are now due in July, while those due in April are now due in September. (Employers contribute 20 percent of monthly covered payroll to finance OASDI programs, cash sickness and maternity benefits, and family allowances.)

laprensa.com.bo (02.04.2020) La Autoridad de Fiscalización y Control de Pensiones y Seguros (APS) instruyó la suspensión de las contribuciones para las jubilaciones, tomando en cuenta las restricciones de desplazamiento por el estado de emergencia sanitaria en el país.

bopa.ad (18.04.2020)

It is established that all insured persons who have been diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2, as well as those who have been affected by an isolation measure to prevent the spread of the virus and who are unable to work, have the right to receive financial benefits for temporary disability under the conditions determined by the Social Security Act in the event of an accident at work or occupational disease. It is not a question of granting SARS-CoV-2 the character of an occupational disease, which is not the case, but only of exceptionally applying this scheme for the purposes, exclusively, of the economic benefits for temporary disability, and with a limited character in the time. The Law also establishes that salaried people and people who carry out a self-employed activity who have maintained their activity during the period of the health crisis have the right to receive economic benefits for 100% temporary disability, as long as they have not contracted a private insurance that covers them. However, this provision is restricted to people working in the health and socio-health fields.

bopa.ad (18.04.2020)

The paid leave in case of absence to take care of dependent children while the educational and extracurricular leisure centers are compulsorily closed is also regulated, with the same requirements as provided for in Law 3/2020. However, given that from the entry into force of the new Law and as activities are opened and schools are not opened, there will be an increasing number of people who will be able to take part in them, s 'establishes that the compensation paid by the Government may not exceed the minimum interprofessional wage.

bopa.ad (18.04.2020)

The first chapter affects the measures in labor matters and includes in the first place almost all the provisions introduced in this area by Law 3/2020. Thus, the principle of continuity of employment contracts is maintained despite the suspension of the activity of companies due to the health emergency situation; the non-application of the procedure for the suspension of employment contracts due to fortuitous event or force majeure in the event of the temporary suspension of the company's activity, and the fact that they are considered without effect if they have been requested; the non-application of the advance notice period to modify working hours until the Government puts an end to the health emergency situation and during the following fourteen calendar days, and the company's right to change the employee's duties,

IOSH have launched a series of webinars for occupational safety and health professionals on the Covid-19 situation.

Government of Malta (30.04.2020) Social security contributions payments which fall due in March up to and including June 2020 are deferred. Settlement period is to be announced.

KPMG Global (11.05.2020) Deferring payments of social security contributions relating to the first six months of 2020 for an additional six months from the original due dates.

Terms and time limits for processing procedures of public sector entities are suspended, unless they involve the exceptions set out in Royal Decree 463/2020 of 14 March, which declared the state of alarm. The computation of time limits shall be resumed when validity of the aforementioned royal decree or, if applicable, the extensions thereof, ends.

El Consejo de Ministros aprueba el Real Decreto-Ley de medidas sociales en defensa del empleo

El texto, que plasma el Acuerdo Social en Defensa del Empleo, firmado ayer en La Moncloa, prorroga los ERTE por fuerza mayor hasta el 30 de junio y establece condiciones para que las empresas reanuden su actividad, estableciendo en 6 meses el compromiso de mantenimiento del empleo

Se impedirá acogerse al ERTE a las empresas domiciliadas en paraísos fiscales y no será posible el reparto de dividendos durante el ejercicio fiscal que corresponde al expediente

La exoneración de cuotas de la Seguridad Social se mantiene para las empresas sujetas a ERTE y se articulan tramos que incentivan el retorno a la actividad siguiendo las medidas sanitarias

Se acuerda crear una Comisión Tripartita para el seguimiento de medidas y para la consulta de posibles prórrogas de los expedientes de regulación temporal de empleo

primeminister.kz (31.03.2020)

On March 31, the president announced to index the amount of pensions, state benefits and targeted social assistance by 10% due to rising inflation.

lavanguardia.com (29.03.2020) Por lo que respecta a las cuotas a la Seguridad Social, para pequeñas y medianas empresas (PYMES) nuevas medidas anuncian que se podrá aplazar el pago de la cotización de abril, con un 0’5% de intereses, y se concederá una moratoria de seis meses para el pago de las cuotas de mayo, junio y julio.

The WHO information network for epidemics (EPI-WIN) publishes Corona Virus Updates in regular intervals, each time looking at a different risk or risk group. 

elcorreo.com (13.05.2020) El Real Decreto-Ley disminuye las reducciones de cuotas de las que se beneficiaron durante marzo y abril muchas empresas acogidas a este tipo de expediente de regulación. A esas firmas se les exoneraba de abonar las cotizaciones sociales de sus trabajadores si tenían menos de 50 empleados, y se les reducía en un 75% a las que tuvieran plantillas superiores a esa cifra. Ahora el escenario es el siguiente: la reducción de las cotizaciones baja al 60% en mayo y al 45% en junio para las empresas pequeñas. Y al 45% y el 30% respectivamente para las de 50 o más empleados. Las exoneraciones son más generosas para las empresas que reincorporen a parte de su plantilla. La quita en las cotizaciones de los trabajadores que vuelvan a sus puestos es del 85% en mayo y el 70% en junio (para las firmas con menos de 50 empleados) y del 60% y el 45% respectivamente en el caso de las empresas con 50 o más trabajadores.

ssa.gov (marzo 2020) Los empleadores que reduzcan temporalmente el horario de trabajo de los empleados o suspendan los contratos de trabajo están exentos del pago de la totalidad o parte de sus contribuciones a la seguridad social. El gobierno cubrirá el 100% de estas contribuciones para los empleadores con menos de 50 empleados, y el 75% para aquellos con 50 o más empleados.

National Insurance Institute (13.05.2020) Adjustment grant to the 67-year-old and older: Those who have reached the age of 67 and who is fired or whose employer issued it to the USSR in March, April or May 2020 following the Corona crisis may be eligible for grants if he meets the eligibility conditions. The amount of the grant is determined by your income from retirement pension. The maximum amount is NIS 2,000 for March, and  NIS 4,000 for April and May.

The Financial Express (24.04.2020) NPS withdrawal for COVID-19: In view of hardships faced by people due to Coronavirus pandemic, the Pension Fund Regulatory Development Authority of India (PFRDA) has allowed account holders to make partial withdrawals from the National Pension System (NPS).

“In view of the decision of Government of India, which has declared COVID-19 as a pandemic, It has been decided to declare “COVID-19” as a critical illness which is life-threatening in nature. Hence, in view of the above, the partial withdrawals shall be permitted to fulfil financial needs of the subscribers."

The partial withdrawal can be made for a maximum of three times during the entire tenure of subscription.

The Financial Express (27.03.2020) National Social Assistance Program: The Union government will provide three months' pension in advance to the poor senior citizens, widows and persons with disabilities in first week of April. The program is run by the Union Rural Development Ministry. Apart from the above, an ex gratia amount of Rs 1,000 over the next three months will be given in two instalments to these beneficiaries, according to the announcement by Finance Minister.