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.

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.

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.

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.