senado.leg.br (14.07.2020) The presidential decree increases the maximum deadlines for the two situations (suspension of contract or reduction of wages) to 120 days: For the proportional reduction of working hours and wages, 30 days are increased, going from the current 90 days to 120 days in total; For the adoption of the temporary suspension of the employment contract, there are 60 more days, going from the current 60 to 120 days in total.

KPMG (26.05.2020) On May 26, the Chamber of Deputies approved a bill that transfers R $ 3 billion from the Union for emergency actions aimed at the cultural sector during the pandemic of the new coronavirus, such as the payment of an emergency income of R$ 600 to informal professionals in the field.

agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br (03.07.2020) The federal government issued a decree authorizing the National Institute of Social Security (INSS) to pay prepayments for sickness benefits and the Continuing Benefit Benefit (BPC). The measure, published in an extra section of the Official Gazette (DOU) of this Thursday (2), determines that the advances will be paid until October 31.

Despite the buzz, artificial intelligence (AI) appears to be not finding as much traction in businesses as we would expect. On the surface, it seems most companies do not understand the use cases that would lead them to invest heavily in AI. But the story is more complicated than it first appears.  

ec.europa.eu (16.07.2020) The European Commission presents Guidelines to ensure the protection of seasonal workers in the EU in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. It provides guidance to national authorities, labour inspectorates, and social partners to guarantee the rights, health and safety of seasonal workers, and to ensure that seasonal workers are aware of their rights. Cross-border seasonal workers enjoy a broad set of rights, but given the temporary nature of their work, they can be more vulnerable to precarious working and living conditions.

africa.cgtn.com (28.07.2020) Zambia on Tuesday launched an emergency COVID-19 social cash transfer scheme to help vulnerable communities affected by the pandemic.

UNDP (23.07.2020) This paper provides estimates for a Temporary Basic Income (TBI), a minimum guaranteed income above the poverty line, for vulnerable people in 132 developing countries. A TBI amounts to between 0.27 and 0.63 per cent of their combined GDPs, depending on the policy choice: i. top-ups on existing average incomes in each country up to a vulnerability threshold; ii. lump-sum transfers that are sensitive to cross-country differences in the median standard of living; or, iii. lump-sum transfers that are uniform regardless of the country where people live.

The North Africa Post (04.08.2020) Morocco will expand social welfare protection to all its citizens within five years through a gradual approach, said Finance Minister Mohammed Benchaaboun, after King Mohammed VI urged in the State of the Nation speech on July 29 speeding up such a national project. Benchaaboun said the plan will proceed gradually with the first phase (2021-2023) focusing on the generalization of mandatory health insurance and family allowances followed by a second phase (2024-2025) to enlist citizens in pension funds and launch unemployment benefits.

boliviaemprende.com (14.04.2020) Se establece el Plan de Emergencia de Apoyo al Empleo y Estabilidad Laboral, con el fin de otorgar recursos a las empresas legalmente constituidas y que sus trabajadores estén registrados en el Sistema Integral de Pensiones a fin de permitir un apoyo en el pago de los salarios de los trabajadores de las empresas, dada la emergencia sanitaria nacional y cuarentena total.

periodicobolivia.com.bo (01.04.2020) El Decreto Supremo 1293 del 1 de abril, en su artículo 6 (Flexibilidad laboral) parágrafo I señala que, de manera excepcional y temporal, se reducirá la jornada laboral para el sector público y privado y que el Ministerio de Trabajo, Empleo y Previsión Social, emitirá la reglamentación correspondiente.