Workers providing contract services to the Government (e.g. cleaning and
food supply to public institutions) will receive a wage replacement. This will
benefit 80,000 workers costing RM110 million (US$27 million). The
Government will also extend these service contracts for one month reflecting
the duration of the Movement Control Order which has restricted the
movement of all individuals and workers outside of essential services.
Over in Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, President Buhari in an address last Sunday ordered financial intervention schemes be rolled out for the vulnerable. Lagos state and other states are rolling out state-level interventions. Sadiya Farouk, minister of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development, confirmed on Monday that the ministry has commenced cash transfer to poorest households in the country to cushion effect of the COVID19 pandemic.
Through the national insurance plan for the B40, mySalam, patients of
COVID-19 can apply for an income replacement of RM50/day for up to 14 days. This initiative will also be extended to the B40 who are quarantined as
persons under investigation (of COVID-19 symptoms).
Amount of days of childcare leave for 2020 has been increased. With one
or two children (up to 12 years), each parent receives 20 care days (amount
doubled from 10 days per year). Single caregivers and parents of children
with chronical diseases have an extended number of days of childcare
allowance.
The Government announced that in collaboration with all telecommunications
companies in Malaysia, all mobile internet subscribers will be given free
internet access from 1 April 2020 until the end of the Movement Control
Order.
The Norwegian government will pay unemployment benefits in advance. Thus, those who have lost their income will be able to get money into their account quickly, without having to wait for processing of the unemployment benefit application.
A discount on the electricity bill – previously announced at 2% - will be
increased according to electricity consumption. The discount will range from
15% to 50%.
Employees will retain 100 % of their pay up to 6G (G = the National Insurance basic amount. 1G is NOK 99 858 per May 1 2019) from day 3 up to and including day 20 of the layoff period. The changes are effective from 20 March, but further details will not be formally in place until next week. Employees will receive any money they are owed once the technical solutions are available and NAV has processed their applications. Employees who have been laid off and are still receiving pay from their…
The B40 community that own ‘rent-to-own’ units of the PPR will be given a
payment deferral of six months from April 2020 to September 2020. This will
benefit 4,649 households, amounting to RM5.7 (US$1.4) million.
Launch of “Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme” providing Rs12,000/family and benefit 67 million individuals (10 million families). There are three categories of beneficiaries: 4.5 million existing “Ehsaas Kafaalat” beneficiaries (all women) already getting Rs.2000 will get extra Rs.1000 emergency relief (total=Rs.3000) for the next 4 months; 3M affected households will be identified through the national socioeconomic database (eligibility threshold will be relaxed upwards); and those with income…
The B40 community that are renting public housing for the urban poor, the
Citizen Housing Project (PPR) will be exempted from rent for six months.
The sum of these forgone payments is RM3 million (US$0.75 million). The
Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will be making the same exemption for
public housing in its jurisdiction, benefiting 40,000 renters. The Government
will also provide a rent exemption to premises owned by the Federal
Government such as school canteens, kindergartens,…
Working citizens over 65 who have chosen a self-isolation regime will be able to get sick leave from April 6-19. Appointment of temporary disability benefits in connection with quarantine will not require citizens to fill out any documents. Payment of sick leave will come to citizens directly from the funds of the Social Insurance Fund.
The Government will allocate RM25 million (around US$6 million) to be
channeled to vulnerable groups including the elderly and children in shelters,
the disabled, and the homeless. The Government will work with NGOs and
social entrepreneurs to distribute food, medical care equipment and shelter.
Social insurance contributions have been reduced for small and medium-sized
businesses from 30 to 15% on the portion of wages that is above the
minimum wage. This measure is being introduced for a long time to
encourage employers to raise wages, but the expectation is these reduced
contributions will be made up later by employers.
Civil servants will be given a one-off cash transfer of RM500 per person in April 2020. This will benefit 1.5 million workers. Public pensioners will also be given a one-off cash transfer of RM500 per person in April 2020. This will benefit 850,000 pensioners.
A higher level for the sick leave pay will be introduced. Sick leave payments
will be equal to at least one minimum wage 12,130 (US$152) per month until
the end of this year, as well as automatic prolongation of benefits without
beneficiaries having to file additional paperwork. Prior to this change, cash
sickness benefits were calculated on the employee's length of service and
salary. Previously, some employees were entitled in the past to very low
payment for sick leave.
The Malaysian government has budgeted RM10 billion to provide one-off
cash transfer to depending on income level
- RM1600 to 4 million households earning <RM4000/month
- RM1000 to 1.1 million households earning RM4000-8000/month
- RM800 to 3 million single individuals aged 21+ earning
<RM2000/month
- RM500 to 400,000 single individuals aged 21+ earning RM2000-
4000/month
The government will also provide a special monthly critical worker allowance
of RM400 (US$100) for medical doctors and other medical personnel, as well
as RM200 (US$50) for the military, police, civil defense, immigration, firefighters, and members of the voluntary force directly involved in implementing the lockdown.
The Government of the Russian Federation has approved a new maximum amount of unemployment benefits. It will be 12130 rubles. The decision shall enter into force upon publication of the document. Beneficiary recipients whose benefit amount was limited to the maximum amount will be recalculated taking into account the new established maximum. These citizens will receive increased benefits in April. Previously, the maximum unemployment benefit was 8 thousand rubles per month.
Healthcare personnel will have their special monthly allowance increased from 400 ringgit (US$91) to 600 ringgit (US$137) and a special allowance of 200 ringgit (US$45)
Latvia may introduce an unemployed persons aid benefit. This support would be paid if a person fails to find a job after the end of the period of payments of unemployment benefits.
This solution was discussed during a meeting of the government work group for support of entrepreneurship and the employed on Wednesday, 15 April.
It is expected that an insured person who receives unemployed person benefit in accordance with the Law on Unemployment Insurance will have the right to request…
The Supporting Employees with Transfer of Cash (SET Cash) programme will also provide temporary cash transfers to individuals from any sector where it can be verified that they lost their employment since March 10 when the first COVID case was confirmed here.
This will provide temporary cash transfers to registered businesses in the hotel, tours, and attractions industries based on the number of workers under the $1.5 million income tax threshold who they keep employed. The businesses must be licensed by the Jamaica Tourist Board.
Have decided to raise all the benefits, incl pensions, other contributory and non-contributory benefits by 10%. However, this is a measure that was in COVID package, but will not disappear after COVID is gone.
"The Public Services Regulatory Commission has recognized the coronavirus as force majeure when utility payments can be delayed without the
consequence of light, water or gas outages."
In kind support in the form of free grocery packages is planned for large
families with children, persons with disability and other vulnerable
families.
The Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan and National Information Technologies JSC launched a bot in the Telegram messenger to apply for benefits.
The government will also provide a 1.3 trillion won worth of
electricity bill payment deferral, which will be given to 3,200,000 small businesses and 1,570,000 low income households for three months from April to June.
The state of Uttar Pradesh will provide compensation to poor workers via
online payments if they lost their job due to the pandemic. Vegetable vendors,
construction workers, rickshaw pullers, autorickshaw drivers, and temporary
staff at shops will be targeted by this measure.
The Korean social insurance agency will allow for payout of industrial accident insurance to workers who are tested positive for COVID-19. A deduction of health insurance premium payments by 50% is planned for low-income households.
In order to maintain employment stability of foreign employees and manpower for employers, the Ministry of Employment and Labor announced changes to procedures of the Employment Permit System (EPS). Measures include the extension of job search period for foreigners who applied for a workplace change or need to reenter South Korea, especially those from countries with a high risk of COVID-19.
Cash transfers of Rs 500 ($6.5) for 3 months from April to June to 200M
women with a Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) (financial
inclusion) account
The Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL) has announced its first-ever decision to increase the employee retention subsidy to maximum 90%, regardless of industry. This provisional measure is for three months (April to June) and intends to encourage all companies affected by COVID-19 to retain employees.
To provide relief to farmers affected due to the lockdown, the Centre on Thursday said it will transfer in the first week of April the first installment of Rs 2,000 to each of 8.69 crore beneficiaries under the PM-KISAN scheme.
"Farmers receive Rs 6,000 annual from PM-KISAN. We will now be giving the first installment of that as a front-loaded matter, so that at the beginning of the year they will get Rs 2,000".
Increased by 250% of existing indirect employment-cost subsidies (to W400,000 per worker) in the event an employee reduces work hours for
COVID-19-related family care, coupled with relaxing eligibility criteria (e.g. the minimum employment duration from 6 months to 1 month).
Rs1000 to all beneficiaries under the National Social Assistance Program
(NSAP) for elderly, widows and disabled receiving social pensions (35M
beneficiaries)
South Korea has allocated a nearly 20 trillion won support package to respond to the COVID-19 outbreak. This includes giving parent employees up to 5 days of childcare leave along with the pay of 50,000 won per day, respectively54.
The government committed US$100 million to support preparedness and response. Additional funds have been earmarked to address availability of test kits, pharmaceuticals, equipment, and bed capacity.
The Government is providing up to $100,000 to eligible small and medium sized businesses, and not‑for-profits (including charities) that employ people, with a minimum payment of $20,000. Under the enhanced scheme from the first package, employers will receive a payment equal to 100 per cent of their salary and wages withheld (up from 50 per cent), with the maximum payment being increased from $25,000 to $50,000. In addition, the minimum payment is being increased from $2,000 to $10,000. The…
