regiones.gov.co (12.04.2020) Decreto 538. Artículo 13. Requisitos para inclusión del Coronavirus COVID-19 como enfermedad laboral directa. Elimfnense los requisitos de que trata el parágrafo 2 del artículo 4 de la Ley 1562 de 2012 para incluir dentro de la tabla de enfermedades laborales, el Coronavirus COVID- 19 como enfermedad laboral directa, respecto de los trabajadores del sector salud, incluyendo al personal administrativo, de aseo, vigilancia y de apoyo que preste servicios en las diferentes actividades de prevención, diagnóstico y atención de esta enfermedad. Las entidades Administradoras de Riesgos Laborales -ARL-, desde el momento en que se confirme el diagnóstico del Coronavirus COVID-19, deben reconocer todas las prestaciones asistenciales y económicas derivadas de la incapacidad de origen laboral por esa enfermedad, sin que se requiera la determinación de origen laboral en primera oportunidad o el dictamen de las juntas de calificación de invalidez.

voxeu.org (01.04.2020) Short-time work is a subsidy for temporary reductions in the number of hours worked in firms affected by temporary shocks. Evidence suggests that it can have large positive effects on employment and can be more effective than unemployment insurance or universal transfers. This column discusses how the COVID-19 crisis – with its mandated reduction in hours of work and massive liquidity crunch for firms – is a textbook case for the use of short-time work. Taking into account available evidence and the current situation, it proposes guidelines to effectively implement short-term work.

voxeu.org (07.04.2020) Due to the global spread of COVID-19, Austria, like many other countries, is facing a massive increase in unemployment. To mitigate the skyrocketing number of unemployed persons, social partners have developed a new model of subsidised short-time work that could become an international role model. The Austrian model allows a temporary reduction in working hours up to 90% while maintaining the employment relationship and granting almost full public wage compensation. This measure can help to bridge the economic outfall as it helps to stabilise demand and fosters a fast return to pre-crisis economic activity. 

treasury.gov.my (27.02.2020) The effects of COVID-19 reverberate beyond the tourism industry. Malaysian businesses, especially exporters are affected by supply chain disruptions involving factories and ports in China. Therefore, the Government will carry out immediate measures to boost local consumption growth to cushion the effect of negative external factors, while protecting local Malaysian jobs. These measures include: First : the minimum Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contribution by employees will be reduced by 4% from 11% to 7%, with effect from 1 April 2020 to 31 December 2020. This will potentially unlock up to RM10 billion worth of private consumption. Malaysian workers have the option to opt out from the scheme and maintain their contribution rate. Second : a payment of RM200 to all Bantuan Sara Hidup (BSH) recipients scheduled for May 2020 will be brought forward to March 2020. Third : an additional RM100 will be paid into the bank accounts of all BSH recipients in May 2020. Subsequently, an additional RM50 will be channelled in the form of e-tunai.

pmo.gov.my (06.04.2020) The additional measures are: First, the wage subsidy programme announced on 27 March will be expanded from RM5.9 billion to RM13.8 billion, an increase of RM7.9 billion. Under this additional initiative, all companies with local employees earning a monthly salary each of RM4,000 and below will receive wage subsidies as follows: For companies with a workforce of more than 200 people, we will provide a wage subsidy of RM600 per month for every retained worker. However, the maximum number of workers that a company is eligible to claim for will be increased from 100 to 200 employees.

ssa.gov (03.04.2020) The Department of the Treasury (Treasury) announced on April 1 that Social Security beneficiaries who are not typically required to file tax returns will not need to file an abbreviated tax return to receive an economic impact payment. The IRS will use the information on the Form SSA-1099 to generate $1,200 economic impact payments to Social Security beneficiaries who did not file tax returns in 2018 or 2019.

rappler.com (15.04.2020) Just like many COVID-19 patients fighting for their lives, what the Philippine economy needs right now is a sturdy ventilator for life support. But at the rate government is distributing aid, our economy’s ventilator seems dismally broken. On March 25, President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act. This chiefly authorized him to marshal resources to fight COVID-19. That law also mandated government to hand out disaster relief. Specifically, it provided for a monthly “emergency subsidy” to help tide over 18 million households whose incomes and livelihoods have been diminished (or totally swept away) by the pandemic. But this aid program, no matter how well-meaning, is too little, too slow, and too politicized.

World Economic Forum (06.04.2020) The COVID-19 pandemic has helped widen global usage for chatbot technology. After the pandemic, the use of chatbots for healthcare applications will continue to grow. Public and private stakeholders must come together to maximize these benefits while minimizing risks.

nis.gov.bb (11.03.2020) NIS pensioners can have their pensions deposited to their bank and credit union accounts. Your pension can be issued for a four-week period instead of the two-week intervals to which you are accustomed.

ec.europa.eu (02.04.2020) The new instrument for temporary Support to mitigate Unemployment Risks in an Emergency (SURE) is designed to help protect jobs and workers affected by the coronavirus pandemic. It will provide financial assistance, in the form of loans granted on favourable terms from the EU to Member States, of up to €100 billion in total. These loans will assist Member States to address sudden increases in public expenditure to preserve employment. Specifically, these loans will help Member States to cover the costs directly related to the creation or extension of national short-time work schemes, and other similar measures they have put in place for the self-employed as a response to the current coronavirus pandemic.

theglobeandmail.com (15.04.2020) The federal government expanding the Canada Emergency Response Benefit to include people making up to $1,000 a month, seasonal workers and people whose EI [employment insurance] has run out. 

noticias.anses.gob.ar (11.04.2020) La ANSES informa que los beneficiarios del Ingreso Familiar de Emergencia (IFE) que están comunicando desde hoy su número de Clave Bancaria Uniforme (CBU), comenzarán a cobrar los 10.000 pesos a partir del próximo 21 de abril y hasta el 5 de mayo inclusive. Cabe destacar que las acreditaciones se realizarán todos los días hábiles del período indicado en los CBU aportados por los titulares del beneficio extraordinario creado por el Gobierno nacional.

touteleurope.eu (10.04.2020) Le 9 avril 2020, les ministres des Finances de l’Union européenne ont approuvé la proposition de la Commission européenne de financer une partie du chômage partiel dans les Etats membres, à hauteur de 100 milliards d’euros. En quoi consiste cette mesure ? Pourquoi l’idée d’un mécanisme de réassurance chômage au niveau européen refait-elle surface dans le cadre de la crise sanitaire ?

pmo.gov.my (27.03.2020) The Government will introduce the Wage Subsidy Programme to assist employers in retaining their workers. Through this programme, the Government will provide salary of RM600 per month to every employee for 3 months. This programme is dedicated to workers earning less than RM4,000 and employers experiencing more than 50% decrease in their income since 1 January 2020. This measure is estimated to benefit 3.3 million workers with an allocation of RM5.9 billion.

dol.georgia.gov (13.04.2020) United States: The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) is updating its current systems to distribute federal unemployment funds as part of the CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) bringing economic relief to many Georgians. It includes:
- The Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program, or FPUC, provides an additional $600 weekly payment to any individual eligible for any of the Unemployment Compensation programs - State and Federal.
- Pandemic Unemployment Assistance or PUA, is the program that will provide unemployment benefits to those not ordinarily eligible for them. This includes individuals who are self-employed, gig workers, 1099 independent contractors, employees of churches, employees of non-profits 501C3s, or those with limited work history who do not qualify for state unemployment benefits (application is done online).
- The Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation program, or PEUC, allows for up to an additional 13 weeks of benefits added to the end of regular unemployment benefits. 

pressoffice.gov.bz (03.04.2020)

On Friday, April 3, 2020, the Government of Belize launched the COVID-19 e-Services Portal through which persons may apply to receive benefits from the COVID-19 Unemployment Relief Program. This Program will provide $150.00 every two weeks for three months to persons (employed and self-employed) who have been laid off as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. This program will also provide $100.00 every two weeks for three months to persons who were unemployed prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and are now experiencing even more difficult circumstances. These latter persons will also be referred to the Ministry of Human Development for consideration for further assistance through the social programs operated by that Ministry. The program doesn't apply to persons receiving benefits from other government or social security programs.

pio.gov.cy (16.03.2020) Payment of a Special Unemployment Benefit:

• For employees who qualify for unemployment benefit under the Social Insurance Law, at 60% of the value of the insurance units, in accordance with the above legislation.
• For employees who are not eligible under the Social Insurance Law and are insured with the Social Security Fund in January 2020 will be paid a Conditional Benefit, the amount of which will be determined by a subsequent decision.
• The maximum amount that may be paid as a Special Unemployment Benefit for a period of one month may not exceed € 1,214.
• The Special Unemployment Benefit is not paid for any period during which the employee receives unemployment benefit, Special Sick Leave Allowance, Sick Leave Allowance, Special Leave of Absence Allowance or other similar benefits from the Social Security Fund.

pio.gov.cy (15.03.2020)

The “Support Programme” includes the following measure on sickness cash benefits: 

Granting of “sickness benefit” of an average of €800 per month to workers who are dealing special health issues, cases of compulsory absence from work, persons over 63 years of age up to 65 years of age, who do not receive statutory pension and continue to work.
For the purpose of supporting self-employed workers, the sickness benefit will be granted the same way it does for employees, from the fourth day.

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.