jadek-pensa.si (10.08.2020)

The main measures are, under certain conditions:

• A full compensation reimbursement of employees’ salaries who have been temporarily laid-off due to the employer’s inability to provide work due to the consequences of the new coronavirus epidemic in the amount of 80% of the basic salary, and the exemption of payment of contributions tied to salary compensations, both to the maximum mentioned amount;
• A full compensation reimbursement for employees’ salaries for their absence due to force majeure in the amount of 80% of the basic salary and exemption of payment of contributions relating to such salary compensations, both to the mentioned maximum amount;
• Exemption of the payment of contributions for retirement and disability insurance and the obligation of paying a crisis allowance in the amount of EUR 200 for working employees;
• Extraordinary assistance in the form of a basic monthly income for the self-employed (of 70% of the net minimum wage), religious servants and farmers (of 80 percent of full-time minimum wage to farmers or members of their farms suffering from COVID-19 disease due to their inability to work.); exemption for the payment of contributions for the self-employed, religious servants, partners and farmers;
• A right to compensation during the temporary absence from work due to illness or injury by obligatory health insurance from the first day of the absence onward.

euractiv.com (09.04.2020) Denmark has always prided itself on its “flexicurity” model that marries the free market with a welfare society, but in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has chosen another strategy. Like several other European countries, it chose to effectively fork over money to companies to pay the wages of their staff. “It is important for me here today to send a signal to companies: Keep on your employees,” Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said.

gov.si (24.03.2020) A set of measures to preserve jobs will be implemented:

•  a new regime of co-financing wages for temporarily laid-off workers will be established. All contributions for temporarily laid-off employees in the following two months – from entry into force to 31 May 2020 with the possibility of an extension if the situation continues – that must be paid into both the healthcare and pension insurance schemes will be covered by the state, and the insured persons' rights will be preserved. Affected self-employed workers will be exempt from the payment of contributions (also until May 31, 2020).
• Sick pay for all workers during the epidemic from the first day onwards will be covered by the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia, not the employer.
•  Persons employed and activated in sectors that are key in overcoming the epidemic will be rewarded with an increase in their basic salary by between 10% and 200%, based on the decision of their superiors, in the form of hazard pay and higher workload bonuses.

srbija.gov.rs (31.03.2020) The set of economic measures includes a total of nine measures, with an estimated effect of RSD 608.3 billion. Of these nine measures, three are fiscal policy measures, two are direct assistance to the private sector and measures to preserve the liquidity of the economy, and other measures include a dividend moratorium by the end of the year and fiscal stimulus - that is, a direct assistance to all citizens of legal age. All Serbian citizens of legal age (18+ years of age) will receive direct assistance in the amount of €100, for which about RSD 70 billion will be set aside from the state budget and added that this is a great sign of support and desire to bring a dose of optimism. The state will assume the payment of taxes and contributions on wages and thus it wants to encourage companies to keep all their workers and not lay off anyone.

aps.sn (06.04.2020)

L’Etat a décidé de prendre en charge les dépenses pour une valeur de 15, 5 milliards de francs Cfa pour le paiement des factures d’électricité des ménages abonnés à la tranche sociale pour un bimestre, soit environ 975 522 ménages. Un montant de 3 milliards est également alloué pour la prise en charge des factures d’eau de 662 000 ménages de la tranche sociale pour également un bimestre. (La tranche sociale, ce sont ceux qui sont dans la tranche inférieure ou égale à 250 kw/heure).

novissi.gouv.tg (08.04.2020) Le gouvernement togolais a annoncé ce jour, le lancement d’un programme destiné à aider les populations les plus vulnérables à faire face aux difficultés liées à la pandémie mondiale du Coronavirus. L’initiative dénommée « Novissi » (entraide en éwé), vise à soutenir les couches sociales les plus impactées par les mesures restrictives prises par le gouvernement afin d’enrayer la progression de la maladie dans le pays.

The Jakarta Post (13.04.2020) Indonesia’s preemployment card program, a social safety net offering aid similar to unemployment benefits, saw an immediate spike in interest within a few days of its launch, as 2.8 million people have lost their jobs nationwide as a result of businesses temporarily halting operations. Just a day after the program was launched on Saturday, 1.4 million people applied for benefits worth a total of Rp 3.5 million (US$223)  — to be given for four months — in the first registration phase, according to data from the Office of the Coordinating Economic Minister. The program, which was part of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s campaign pledge, initially aimed at providing Indonesian workers the necessary skills training for work. “Our objective is slightly shifting,” Denni Puspa Purbasari, the president director of the program’s management. “We initially wanted to reduce youth unemployment, but now we were also focusing on furloughed workers, those who have lost their jobs or small entrepreneurs who have lost customers.”

voaafrique.com (01.4.2020)

Pour lutter contre l'épidémie de coronavirus, le président du Niger Mahamadou Issoufou avait déjà annoncé la semaine dernière des distributions gratuites et des ventes à prix réduits de vivres pour soutenir les personnes vulnérables, et la prise en charge par l'Etat des factures d'électricité et de l'eau pour les tranches sociales pour les mois d'avril et mai.

Die BGHW hat eine Sammlung von Praxisbeispielen zur Bekämpfung der Corona-Infektionen aus dem HANDEL für den HANDEL auf ihrer Webseite veröffentlicht.  Diese Beispiele sollen Ihnen Anregungen geben, wenn Sie Lösungen für ähnliche arbeitstechnische Probleme suchen.

Hier geht's zum Download der Dokumente.

primeminister.kz (07.04.2020) For the period of the state of emergency, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, K. Tokaev, instructed to start making monthly payments to persons who lost income due to the state of emergency, in the amount of 1 wage (42,500 tenge). In total, at least 1.5 million of citizens can count on this assistance. The State Commission has expanded the circle of recipients of social benefits, including self-employed, who have lost their jobs, as well as some groups of socially vulnerable segments of the population. In total about 3 million Kazakhstanis will receive support in the amount of 42,500 tenge.

A new story book that aims to help children understand and come to terms with COVID-19 has been produced by a collaboration of more than 50 organizations working in the humanitarian sector, including the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and Save the Children.

Download the book here (in English) 

My Hero is You: all language versions

As countries introduce measures to restrict movement as part of efforts to reduce the number of people infected with COVID-19, more and more of us are making huge changes to our daily routines. The new realities of working from home, temporary unemployment, home-schooling of children, and lack of physical contact with other family members, friends and colleagues take time to get used to. Adapting to lifestyle changes such as these, and managing the fear of contracting the virus and worry about people close to us who are particularly vulnerable, are challenging for all of us. They can be particularly difficult for people with mental health conditions. Fortunately, there are lots of things that we can do to look after our own mental health and to help others who may need some extra support and care. Here are tips and advice that we hope you will find useful.

• Keep informed.
• Listen to advice and recommendations from your national and local authorities. 
• Follow trusted news channels, such as local and national TV and radio, and keep up-to-date with the latest news.
• Have a routine. Keep up with daily routines as far as possible, or make new ones.   Get up and go to bed at similar times every day.
• Keep up with personal hygiene.
• Eat healthy meals at regular times.
• Exercise regularly.
• Allocate time for working and time for resting.
• Make time for doing things you enjoy.
• more...

guineenews.org (06.04.2020) L'Agence Nationale d'Inclusion Economique et Sociale (ANIES) a mis en place un ensemble de mesures pour faire face à l'urgence COVID :
- un nouveau programme de transferts d'argent de 250.000 francs guinéens par mois pour 240.000 ménages (1,6 millions de personnes) dans différentes régions de la Guinée, y compris Conakry;
- l’État prendra à sa charge pour trois mois les factures des abonnés au tarif social de l’électricité et de l'eau à compter de ce mois d’avril;
- les échéances de paiement des factures d’eau et d’électricité pour l’ensemble des autres abonnés non commerciaux seront décalées de trois mois;
- les loyers sur les bâtiments publics et privés sont bloqués d’avril à décembre 2020.

thestar.com (09.04.2020) Since the Canada Emergency Response Benefit application process went live last Monday, many have remarked how easy it is to get approved. Every person who applies for the CERB will be automatically approved, whether they qualify or not. The application takes minutes and those who set up direct deposit will receive funds within a few days. The catch is that if it is later determined the applicant was not eligible, they will have to repay the funds when taxes for 2020 are due next spring.

nssfug.org (31.03.2020)

The National Social Security Fund (NSSF) of Uganda will allow Ugandian businesses/employers facing economic distress due to COVID-19 to reschedule NSSF contributions for the next 3 months without accumulating a penalty with effect from the 31st of March. However businesses that do not apply for this amnesty will be expected to continue honoring their statutory obligation to remit NSSF contributions by the 15th day of every month.

El Gobierno de México ha desarrollado una campaña de comunicación preventiva y reactiva contra el COVID-19. En la página web del gobierno mexicano (https://coronavirus.gob.mx) está disponible una variedad de documentos y videos para diferentes grupos objetivo, que educan e informan sobre el coronavirus. Aquí también encontrará otro material de la campaña, incluyendo un libro para ayudar a los padres a explicar a sus hijos la situación actual del coronavirus: 

Presentacion CSG-Medidas Seguridad Sanitaria (PPT)
Cuento  COVID para niños (PDF)
Información COVID para niños (PDF)
Flourograma Ciudadano (PDF)
​​​​​​​Manejo de desechos (PDF)
Mensajero Coronavirus (PDF)
Prepare su hogar para COVID-19 (PDF)
Semaforo de distancia social (PDF)

alqarn.dj (02.04.2020)

As part of the humanitarian and social response to preventive measures against the outbreak of the Corona epidemic and its efforts to reduce the social and economic impact of this epidemic on citizens, the Ministry of Social Affairs implemented a program to distribute food coupons. Thousands of food coupons have so far benefited thousands of needy families in various neighborhoods of the capital.

aljazeera.com (01.04.2020)
All workers who are isolated or quarantined who are receiving treatment shall receive their basic salary and allowances regardless of whether they are entitled to sick leave or not. Three billion riyals ($824m) were set aside to support companies in paying their employees.

iol.co.za (30.03.2020)

Rwanda has formulated a social protective plan for the delivery of free food to at least 20 000 households in the capital Kigali. The door-to-door delivery is meant to mitigate the impact of a lockdown implemented on March 21 by the government, aimed at limiting the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Anti-crisis shield - support from ZUS April 1 , 2020 Employment protection and reduction of burdens and maintaining financial liquidity in companies are the main goals of the regulatory package that make up the Anti-Crisis Shield. These regulations enter into force on April 1 this year. Among the solutions that are to prevent the effects of the coronavirus epidemic in Poland is the support provided by ZUS. What support can you get at ZUS? Exemption of small businesses registering up to 9 people for social security from contributions for March, April and May 2020 The state will take over the coverage of ZUS contributions for 3 months from entrepreneurs operating before February 1 this year. The exemption applies to contributions for the entrepreneur and the persons working for him. Self-employed workers with income up to PLN 15,681 (300% of average salary) who pay contributions only for themselves can take advantage of the exemption. The exemption applies to social security contributions, health insurance, Labor Fund, Solidarity Fund, FGŚP, FEP. Both the entrepreneur and the persons working for him will retain the right to health and social security benefits for the period of exemption from contributions. Entrepreneurs paying premiums for their own insurance and persons cooperating with them retain the right to benefits in the event of sickness and maternity if they were in voluntary sickness insurance on February 1, 2020. Companies which were in a difficult situation in December 2019 and did not pay the amounts due, including contributions collected by ZUS, will not benefit from the exemption from contributions. This is due to EU regulations. More details about this form of support and information on how to obtain it . Parking benefit for people who perform civil law contracts (mandate, agency contracts, and specific work contracts) The benefit is, in principle, PLN 2080 (80% of the minimum wage) and is unpaid and untaxed. In the case of persons performing civil law contracts whose sum of revenues from civil law contracts in the month preceding the month in which the application for parking benefit was submitted is up to PLN 1299.99 (less than 50% of the amount of the minimum remuneration for work in 2020), this parking benefit is entitled to the sum of remuneration under these contracts. The condition for obtaining a benefit is that the income in the month preceding the month of submitting the application does not exceed 300% of the average monthly salary from the previous quarter announced by the President of the Central Statistical Office on the basis of the provisions on retirement and disability pensions from the Social Insurance Fund applicable on the day of submitting the application. In addition, the contract must be concluded before February 1 this year. More details about this form of support and information on how to obtain it . Parking benefit for self-employed workers The benefit is, in principle, PLN 2080 (80% of the minimum wage) and is unpaid and untaxed. The condition for obtaining a benefit is that the income in the month preceding the month of submitting the application does not exceed 300% of the average monthly remuneration from the previous quarter announced by the President of the Central Statistical Office on the basis of the provisions on retirement and disability pensions from the Social Insurance Fund applicable on the day of submitting the application. In addition, the business must start before February 1 this year. Revenue in the month preceding the month of submitting the application must fall by at least 15% compared to the previous month. You do not need to suspend your business, but the benefit is also available to self-employed workers who suspended it after January 31 this year. if the income from this activity from the previous month did not exceed 300% of the average monthly remuneration from the previous quarter announced by the President of the Central Statistical Office on the basis of the provisions on retirement and disability pensions from the Social Insurance Fund applicable on the day of submitting the application. Self-employed persons settling in the form of a tax card who benefit from the VAT exemption will receive a parking allowance of PLN 1,300. More details about this form of support and information on how to obtain it .  Discount in the payment of premiums without a prolongation fee - deferment of payment or installment of contributions due The relief applies to all contribution payers. Applies to contributions for the entrepreneur and the persons working for him. It does not matter since the payer has been operating. The size of his company does not matter. Self-employed workers can also take advantage of the discount. The relief applies to contributions from January 2020. Thanks to the relief, you can pay contributions to ZUS in the long run. If the payer submits the application before the date of payment of contributions, he will not bear any costs associated with the discount. If the application is submitted after the deadline for paying contributions, ZUS will calculate interest for late payment on the day of submitting the application. More details about this form of support and information on how to obtain it .

labourwise.co.za (09.04.2020) The Unemployment Insurance Fund said on Wednesday that the allocated National Disaster Benefit Fund would only pay workers whose salaries had been docked until the end of the lockdown.

presidencia.go.cr (16.03.2020) Se mantienen las transferencias monetarias de Avancemos y Crecemos, ayudas económicas del INA, así como los servicios de alimentación para los estudiantes.

eluniverso.com (21.03.2020) El Gobierno dará un bono de contingencia de 60 dólares a quienes viven del día a día y por la emergencia sanitaria de coronavirus no pueden salir a trabajar. El presidente Lenín Moreno, en cadena emitida la noche del viernes, detalló quiénes lo recibirán: quienes se dedican al comercio informal, la crianza de animales, quienes venden comida en la calle, quienes se dedican a la peluquería, costura, panadería, los pequeños agricultores, las trabajadoras del hogar, los mecánicos, albañiles y carpinteros. La ayuda será para quienes no superan ingresos de 400 dólares mensuales y será el Ministerio de Inclusión Económica Social (MIES) la institución que contacte a los beneficiarias a través de llamada, mensaje o visita.

The ILO Bureau for Workers' Activities (ACTRAV) has published a coprehensive analysis of  Government responses to COVID-19. 

Governments' Responses to COVID-19 (Countries A-L)
Governments' Responses to COVID-19 (Countries M-Z)