An entitlement to two weeks’ unpaid pandemic leave has been introduced for private sector state system employees. New flexibility provisions enabling employers and employees to agree to an employee taking twice as much annual leave at half pay or to agree for the employee to take annual leave in advance have also been implemented.
The new provisions were implemented through the COVID-19 General Order issued by the Western Australian Industrial Relations Commission to assist private sector…
2020-04-14
Cash sickness benefits,Safety and health at work,Unemployment
The Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB) provides financial support to post-secondary students,and recent post-secondary and high school graduates who are unable to find work due to COVID-19.
This benefit is for students who do not qualify for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) or Employment Insurance (EI).
From May to August 2020,the CESB provides a payment to eligible students of:
$1,250 - For each 4-week period
$2,000 - For each 4-week period,if you have dependants or a…
The Hong Kong government will,through the Hong Kong employers,cover 50% of employees’ salaries for six months. The subsidy for each Hong Kong employee will be capped at HKD 9,000.
The Employment Support Scheme (“ESS”) - as this measure was called - is estimated to cover 260,000 Hong Kong employers and over 1.5 million employees.
Tranche 1 will assist employers in paying their employees wages from June 2020 to August 2020.
Tranche 2 will assist employers in paying their employee wages from…
The Special Plan to Support the Unemployed is addressed to any person who is registered as a regular unemployed person in its Employment Service Register and received unemployment benefits,for which he has exhausted the right to be paid either in January,February,March,April 2020,May 2020,or June 2020.
The Special Allowance will be equal to € 360 for a period of one month and will not be provided for any period during which the unemployed received unemployment benefit,sickness benefit,…
The government on Thursday announced it would spend A$1.5 billion ($1.1 billion) to substantially extend a program to subsidise the wages of apprentices. The funds will more than double the number of apprentice workers covered,to around 180,000 across all industries and to run until March next year,instead of September as originally planned.
2020-07-15
Employment,Cash transfers,Employment of young workers
Cabinet on Wednesday approved measures set to support the economy until October in light of the coronavirus pandemic with a budget of €150 million.
The four schemes offer wage subsidies to support employers in specific sectors impacted by COVID-19. Special attention is given to the tourism sector.
The % of employees that will be covered,% of Salary Subsidy and prerequisites vary according to the different plans.
1. Special Plan for Hotel Units and Tourist Accommodation
2. Special…
The V.I. Department of Human Services is offering working parents and guardians relief during the COVID-19 pandemic via a Federal Block Grant program that provides a child care subsidy for children up to 12 years old.
At Tuesday’s Senate Finance Committee hearing,Human Services Assistant Commissioner Michal Rhymer-Browne said the department is waiving income requirements for child care assistance for parents who need to return to work amid the COVID-19 outbreak. The department is utilizing a…
The Pretoria high court judge Selby Baqwa ruled on 19 June that the R350 Special Covid-19 social relief grant be extended to asylum seekers and special permit holders from Lesotho,Angola and Zimbabwe.
The families of all frontline healthcare workers who died from Covid-19 while carrying out their duties will be eligible for a retrospective compensation package,Health Minister Stephen Donnelly announced tonight.
The National Nutrition Agency (NaNA) on Monday announced a US$10 million Nafa Quick package aimed at contributing to the mitigation of the social and economic impact of COVID-19 on the population.
Nafa Quick is a government programme with the objectives of providing cash transfers (D1,500 per month) and behavioural change activities to poor households in 30 districts in the country; in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The money will be distributed to 83,000 households in 30 districts within…
There is a new apprenticeship incentivisation scheme which will provide a €2,000 payment to support employers to take on new apprenticeships in 2020.
This is part of July stimulus package,the largest-ever cash injection for Irish economy (more than €5 billion in cash,along with €2 billion in loan guarantees for businesses).
The Government has opened applications to the Restart Grant Plus Scheme,which aims to help SMEs adapt and reopen following Covid-19 restrictions.
In this new round of the Restart Grant Plus Scheme,SMEs will now be able to apply for grants of between €4,000 and €25,000 as they reopen or adjust their business.
The scheme,which provides grants to assist businesses as they reopen,is a key part of the Government’s €7.4bn July Stimulus package.
Main differences between old scheme and Restart Grant…
The Ministry of Human Rights has launched Eid relief packages for coronavirus affected transgenders with the support of the United Nations Development Program( UNDP) and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
According to the Human Rights Ministry,the beneficiaries were identified through a preliminary socio-economic rapid need assessment for coronavirus to address and cater to the most vulnerable transgender persons,led and driven by the transgender community.
A total of 120 ration bags will…
Unions have seized on a decision by the national industrial tribunal to give paid pandemic leave to aged care staff,arguing some casual employees will go to work sick because they do not work the regular hours needed to qualify for the payment.
Aged care workers across Australia will be given the paid pandemic leave to encourage them to stay home if they have symptoms of the coronavirus after Victoria recorded its highest daily case numbers during the pandemic on Monday.
Residents and workers…
Australia will introduce a pandemic leave payment for workers who have run out of sick leave but need to be quarantined because they have been directed to stay at home due to the novel coronavirus,Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Monday (Aug 3).
The announcement comes as the country deals with a second wave of infections.
The payment will be a A$1,500 (US$1,067) for a two-week pandemic leave period.
The payment will be available to workers in Victoria who need to self-isolate for 14 days but…
Lagos state authorities say they are determined to safeguard the lives of health care workers who risk getting infected in the line of duty. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced that a COVID-19 allowance would be made available to emergency healthcare workers in the state. The governor also said health and life insurances have been procured for health workers. By 21 July 2020,a total of 720 health workers were infected in the state.
2020-08-08
Health,Cash transfers,Prevention of occupational risks
The grant is available for self-employed or members of a partnership who have been adversely affected by coronavirus (COVID-19). Beneficiaries will get a taxable grant based on their average trading profit over the 3 tax years: 2016 to 2017; 2017 to 2018; 2018 to 2019. The grant does not need to be repaid but will be subject to Income Tax and self-employed National Insurance.
sciencedirect.com (05.05.2020) One of the most effective ways that the Korean government rapidly dispersed these daily updates is emergency SMS messages. All citizens receive daily alert messages through their mobile phones from their local authorities. The alert message arrives with a 40–60 db…
One of the most effective ways that the Korean government rapidly dispersed these daily updates is emergency SMS messages. The government provided free smartphone apps and flagged infection areas with text alerts for testing and local cases. Other free mobile applications have been used for contact tracing.
2020-03-03
ICT has played a vital role in fighting against COVID-19 in Korea.
Mobile devices were used to support early testing and contact tracing.
Advanced ICT was particularly useful in disseminating key emergency
information on virus and helping to maintain extensive ‘social distancing’.
The test results…
Health promotion,Health insurance,E-services,Communication
oecd.org (16.04.2020) Provision of a subsidy to individuals who need to be isolated (both self-isolation and hospitalisation) to support their living costs and penalises those who are suspected to be infected if they refuse to receive diagnostic test or subsequent treatment or go through self-…
Provision of a subsidy to individuals who need to be isolated (both self-isolation and hospitalisation) to support their living costs and penalises those who are suspected to be infected if they refuse to receive diagnostic test or subsequent treatment or go through self-isolation.
2020-04-16
Korea provides tests and subsequent treatment free of charge to patients and the cost is covered by central and local governments and the health insurance public corporation. South Korea also provides a subsidy to individuals who need to be isolated (both self-isolation and hospitalisation) to…
oecd.org and mhis.or.kr (02.02.2020) Korea provides tests and subsequent treatment free of charge to patients and the cost is covered by central and local governments and the health insurance public corporation (the National Health Insurance covers 80% and the central government the remaining 20%).
Korea provides tests and subsequent treatment free of charge to patients and the cost is covered by central and local governments and the health insurance public corporation (the National Health Insurance covers 80% and the central government the remaining 20%).
2020-02-03
“Zero” Out-of-Pocket Payment
01
> A verage cost of COVID-19 treatment is approximately 8,000 USD in
Korea. But the cost is “0” for patients. When a suspicious case or a case
recommended for medical examination is found in Korea, National Health
Insurance covers 80% and the Government covers 20…
pension.gov.sa (03.09.2020) The Public Pension Agency has implemented training programs for its employees during remote working so as to better cater their customers during the confinement period.
The Public Pension Agency has implemented training programs for its employees during remote working so as to better cater their customers during the confinement period.
2020-04-06
See pdf sent by the PPA from Saudi Arabia (also added as a complete pdf).
Public Pension Agency (28.04.2020) The call center is fully prepared and staffed (remotely) throughout the month of Ramadan to receive all incoming calls, and to deal with them as determined by the nature of the required service throughout the week from Sunday to Thursday from ten in the morning…
The call center is fully prepared and staffed (remotely) throughout the month of Ramadan to receive all incoming calls, and to deal with them as determined by the nature of the required service throughout the week from Sunday to Thursday from ten in the morning until four in the evening, and from nine in the evening until one in the morning, and on Friday from one in the evening until five in the evening and from nine in the evening until one in the morning. They also implemented providing…
Help Age Asia (2020) As part of an Asia-Pacific regional initiative, HelpAge International and partner organisations are producing bimonthly briefs to summarise trends in the situation of older people and responses to their situation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Luego que esta tarde la Cámara de Diputadas y Diputados aprobara el proyecto de reforma constitucional que permite retirar el 10% de los fondos de pensiones de las cuentas de capitalización individual obligatoria, la Superintendencia de Pensiones (SP) emitió dos oficios con instrucciones con el…
To help provide financial relief during the COVID-19 pandemic, Chile's president approved a law on July 24 that allows participants of the country's mandatory individual account pension program to withdraw up to 10 percent of their account balances; for most participants, the minimum withdrawal amount is 35 Unidad de Fomentos (UFs) and the maximum is 150 UFs. (The minimum is lower for those with account balances under 350 UFs. The UF is an index that…
Reuters (14.09.2020) A collective failure by political leaders to heed warnings and prepare for an infectious disease pandemic has transformed “a world at risk” to a “world in disorder”, according to a report on international epidemic preparedness.
(May 2020) The readiness of PPA enabled it to continue providing services electronically immediately after suspending the attendance in wokplaces. Thus, PPA managed to adopt the method of working remotely for all employees (+700 employees) participate in this new method of work, by taking an…
2020-09-04
Risk management,Information and communication technology,ISSA institution
Finnish Centre for Pensions (02.04.2020) The European Commission has published instructions regarding the mobility of workers in EU during the exceptional circumstances caused by the corona epidemic. The Commission states that the regulations on the coordination of social security systems continue…
The European Commission has published instructions regarding the mobility of workers in EU during the exceptional circumstances caused by the corona epidemic. The Commission states that the regulations on the coordination of social security systems continue to be valid. The temporary exceptional circumstances do not change the social security status of mobile workers. The instructions by the Commission are indicative and they do not, in individual cases, bind the authorities in the Member…
2020-09-02
Due to the corona virus, many who work abroad now telecommute from their home country. The telecommuting may affect which country’s social security is applied to the worker.
Because of the exceptional circumstances caused by the corona epidemic, work abroad has changed in unforeseen ways. If you…
Federal Department of Economics, Education and Research (26.08.2020) Bern, - Additional hours that are built up outside of short-time working phases should not have to be temporarily deducted from lost work. This was decided by the Federal Council on August 26, 2020. In addition, income from…
Two provisions of the AVIV Unemployment Insurance Ordinance remain valid:
The extra hours that have accumulated outside the short-time work phase still do not have to be deducted.
The income from interim employment is still not counted towards the short-time work allowance.
This amendment to the Unemployment Insurance Ordinance comes into force on September 1, 2020 and is valid until December 31, 2020.
2020-08-26
Bern, 08/26/2020 - Additional hours that are built up outside of short-time working phases should not have to be temporarily deducted from lost work. This was decided by the Federal Council on August 26, 2020. In addition, income from interim employment is still not counted towards short-…
UNAIDS (26.08.2020) UNAIDS is calling on governments to strengthen HIV-sensitive social protection responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.
People living with HIV and tuberculosis (TB) are being significantly impacted by COVID-19. Modelling has estimated the potential catastrophic impacts of the COVID-…
UNDP (August 2020) The COVID-19 Global Gender Response Tracker monitors policy measures enacted by governments worldwide to tackle the COVID-19 crisis, and highlights responses that have integrated a gender lens. It includes national measures that are directly addressing women’s economic and social…
The Health System Response Monitor (HSRM) has been designed in response to the COVID-19 outbreak to collect and organize up-to-date information on how countries are responding to the crisis. It focuses primarily on the responses of health systems but also captures wider public health initiatives.…
P4H Network (05.08.2020) Governments can indeed be very creative in designing schemes for supporting private business: postponing tax collection, reshaping accounting rules, subsiding or tax-exonerating some costs, etc. These schemes and solutions are not developed for the health sector, some…
The Oxford Supertracker is a global directory of over 100 policy trackers and surveys related to COVID-19. This novel collection is designed to assist researchers and policy-makers in keeping track of a rapidly growing number of data sources. You can search and identify relevant…
IMF (26.08.2020) In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries have created dedicated extrabudgetary funds (EBFs) to mobilize resources and streamline emergency spending measures. A recently published IMF Note discusses the role these funds can play in the current crisis. The note…
Social Security Administration (18.08.2020) The IRS has extended its deadline to September 30, 2020, for people to provide information to the IRS using its Non-Filer Tool at www.irs.gov/coronavirus/non-filers-enter-payment-info-here. People should do this if they: receive Social Security retirement…
The IRS has extended its deadline to September 30, 2020, for people to provide information to the IRS using its Non-Filer Tool at www.irs.gov/coronavirus/non-filers-enter-payment-info-here.
Project Syndicate (19.08.2020) COVID-19 has decimated livelihoods worldwide, squeezing the middle class and pushing low-income households into abject poverty. Social-protection programs such as Pakistan's Ehsaas Emergency Cash offer not only a path forward during the pandemic, but also valuable…
who.int (24.07.2020) The COVID-19 pandemic has affected older people disproportionately, especially those living in long-term care facilities. In many countries, evidence shows that more than 40% of COVID-19 related deaths have been linked to long-term care facilities, with figures being as high as…
brookings.edu (19.08.2020) The financial response to the Covid crisis demonstrated the inability of the federal government to rapidly get money to people during times of crisis. It took between three weeks and three months for Americans to receive a single penny of their emergency impact payments,…
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (21.08.2020) "Kokoronomimi" is a portal site which provides comprehensive information and support for worker's mental health. It provides mental health care counselling services via chat and SNS to people who are anxious or stressed by Covid-19 .
"Kokoronomimi" is a portal site which provides comprehensive information and support for worker's mental health. It provides mental health care counselling services via chat and SNS to people who are anxious or stressed by Covid-19 .
2020-08-21
Health,Information and communication technology,Service quality,COVID-19
UNSDG (July 2020) The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed serious fault lines and vulnerabilities in societies, institutions and economies all around the world. The Arab region, home to 436 million people, initially kept transmission and mortality rates lower than the global average but more recent…
Development Pathways (2020) The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a truly global shock: the necessary measures taken to control the spread of the virus have resulted in a major economic and human crisis. The crisis is unprecedented and requires unprecedented measures. By providing families with cash…
National Provident Fund (01.04.2020) To support all employers in Fiji, the statutory FNPF employer contribution is halved from 10 percent to 5 percent effective from 1 April 2020 to 31 December 2020. This expected to provide a $130 million relief to employers for the next 9 months. The employee…
FNPF employer contribution is halved from 10 percent to 5 percent effective from 1 April 2020 to 31 December 2020. The employee Contribution is reduced from 8 percent to 5 percent effective from 1 April 2020 to 31 December 2020.
National Provident Fund (30.03.2020) The Fund has decided to waive renewal certificate submissions for all Pensioners whose certificates were due in March, April, May or June and pay based on the presumption of life. This decision was implemented in light of preventative measures against COVID-19…
The National Provident Fund has decided to waive renewal certificate submissions for all Pensioners whose certificates were due in March, April, May or June and pay based on the presumption of life. This decision was implemented in light of preventative measures against COVID-19 to discourage our senior members from visiting public open or crowded places.
National Provident Fund (10.08.2020) FNPF members who are on reduced hours and reduced wage rate can apply for Phase 3 commencing 10 August 2020. Government top is applicable in Phase 3 for members who have insufficient General Account balance. The amount per member is from $220 to $880 for members…
FNPF members who are on reduced hours and reduced wage rate can apply for Phase 3 commencing 10 August 2020. The amount per member is from $220 to $880 for members who are on reduced working hours/day per week depending on reduced days. The amount is $550 for members whose wage/salary rates per hour is reduced up to 50%, and $1.110 for members whose wage/salary rates per hour is reduced by more than 50%.
2020-08-10
COVID-19 Withdrawal Scheme - Phase 3
FNPF members who are on reduced hours and reduced wage rate can apply for Phase 3 commencing 10 August 2020.
Government top is applicable in Phase 3 for members who have insufficient General Account balance.
Phase 3 will provide two…
National Provident Fund (09.06.2020) FNPF members who have been Unemployed from 1 October 2019 or have just become Unemployed or are on Leave Without Pay can apply for Phase 2 of the COVID-19 Withdrawal Scheme commencing 9 June 2020. The amount is $1,100 (Government top up applicable) or $880 for…
FNPF members who have been Unemployed from 1 October 2019 or have just become Unemployed or are on Leave Without Pay can apply for Phase 2 of the COVID-19 Withdrawal Scheme commencing 9 June 2020. The amount is $1,100 (Government top up applicable) or $880 for members who received $220 on 5 June (Fully funded by Government).
2020-06-09
FNPF members who have been Unemployed from 1 October 2019 or have just become Unemployed or are on Leave Without Pay can apply for Phase 2 of the COVID-19 Withdrawal Scheme commencing 9 June 2020.
Submission modes
There are only two accepted methods of submissions:
1. myFNPF app Download…
National Provident Fund (26.05.2020) More than 7,000 Fiji National Provident Fund pensioners will receive a COVID-19 relief payment today,Tuesday 26 May 2020. The payment, which ranges from $300 to $900, will be disbursed directly to the Fund’s active pensioners. Chief Executive Officer Jaoji Koroi…
More than 7,000 Fiji National Provident Fund pensioners will receive a COVID-19 relief payment today,Tuesday 26 May 2020. The one-off payment, which ranges from $300 to $900, will be disbursed directly to the Fund’s active pensioners.
Druk Gyalpo's Relief Kidu (20.07.2020) The Relief Kidu has been extended for three months, from July to September 2020. Bhutanese who have been displaced by the coronavirus pandemic and are currently residing in Bhutan are eligible for the Druk Gyalpo’s Relief Kidu. The displaced group…
The Relief Kidu has been extended for three months, from July to September 2020. Bhutanese who have been displaced by the coronavirus pandemic and are currently residing in Bhutan are eligible for the Druk Gyalpo’s Relief Kidu. The displaced group includes those who have been laid off, placed on unpaid leave or on reduced pay from businesses as well as self-employed individuals who have lost their earnings either partially or completely. The Kidu amount has been revised to Nu. 10,000…
2020-07-20
Unemployment,Extension of coverage,Cash transfers,COVID-19
Recognizing that the skilled trades has been one of the hardest hit sectors during the pandemic, the Ontario government is providing grants for apprentices to purchase tools, protective equipment and clothing for their trade. The Ontario Tools Grant Program will help up to 11,600 apprentices. New eligible apprentices will also get help purchasing the equipment they need to start their careers. $2.5 million will be allocated for 2020-21 and $7.5 million for 2021-22.The funding amounts will be…
