Published_SS_Monitor_covid19

Japan: Abe adopts universal $930 handout as walls close in

Submitted by pmassetti on

Nikkei Asian Review (16.04.2020) Japan plans to send a cash handout of 100,000 yen ($930) to every resident, regardless of income, to lessen the economic blow from the coronavirus pandemic after an earlier income support scheme met with resistance.

Regions / Country
japan
Topics
Cash transfers

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OECD: Report: Tax and fiscal policy should continue to support households and businesses through containment, then shift to bolstering recovery

Submitted by pmassetti on

oecd.org (14.04.2020) Tax and fiscal policy responses are playing a critical role in limiting the hardship caused by containment measures, and should continue to do so as governments seek to support households and businesses, protect employment and pursue economic recovery from the global pandemic, according to new OECD analysis.

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Contribution collection and compliance

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Malaysia: Introduction of i-Lestari Withdrawal

Submitted by pmassetti on

kwsp.gov.my (23.03.2020) Employees Provident Fund (EPF) says that EPF members may apply for the i-Lestari Account 2 Withdrawal Scheme beginning 1 April 2020. They can expect their savings to be deposited into their bank accounts from 1 May 2020.

Regions / Country
malaysia
Topics
Old-age pensions
Cash transfers

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Colombia: Modificación de entrega de servicios del proyecto 1000 días para cambiar el mundo

Submitted by mmarquez on

regiones.gov.co (17.03.2020) De acuerdo con el memorando del 17 de marzo de 2020, se desarrollón una lista de orientación de entrega de complementación alimentaria y seguimiento nutricional en la modalidad de 1.000 días ara cambiar el mundo como medida de contingencia para la prevención, manejo y contención de la infección respiratoria causada por el COVID-19.

Regions / Country
colombia
Global challenges
Topics
Family benefits
Children
Service delivery
Document Type

Uzbekistan: Paid sick leave for quarantined workers

Submitted by cambrosio on

mfa.uz (20.03.2020) Parents (persons replacing them, guardians, trustees) quarantined due to infection with a coronavirus infection or suspected infection, as well as persons caring for their child under the age of 14, are paid sick leave in the amount of 100 percent of the salary. One working parent for household is given a paid leave for the duration of schools and kindergartens shutdown without affecting the regular annual paid leave schedule.

Regions / Country
Uzbekistan
Global challenges
Topics
Health

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Building effective short-time work schemes for the COVID-19 crisis

Submitted by pmassetti on

voxeu.org (01.04.2020) Short-time work is a subsidy for temporary reductions in the number of hours worked in firms affected by temporary shocks. Evidence suggests that it can have large positive effects on employment and can be more effective than unemployment insurance or universal transfers. This column discusses how the COVID-19 crisis – with its mandated reduction in hours of work and massive liquidity crunch for firms – is a textbook case for the use of short-time work.

Topics
Employment

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Mitigating mass layoffs in the COVID-19 crisis: The Austrian short-time model

Submitted by pmassetti on

voxeu.org (07.04.2020) Due to the global spread of COVID-19, Austria, like many other countries, is facing a massive increase in unemployment. To mitigate the skyrocketing number of unemployed persons, social partners have developed a new model of subsidised short-time work that could become an international role model. The Austrian model allows a temporary reduction in working hours up to 90% while maintaining the employment relationship and granting almost full public wage compensation.

Regions / Country
austria
Topics
Unemployment

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Malaysia: Contributions to the Employees Provident Fund will be reduced

Submitted by mmarquez on

treasury.gov.my (27.02.2020) The effects of COVID-19 reverberate beyond the tourism industry. Malaysian businesses, especially exporters are affected by supply chain disruptions involving factories and ports in China. Therefore, the Government will carry out immediate measures to boost local consumption growth to cushion the effect of negative external factors, while protecting local Malaysian jobs. These measures include: First : the minimum Employees Provident Fund (EPF) contribution by employees will be reduced by 4% from 11% to 7%, with effect from 1 April 2020 to 31 December 2020.

Regions / Country
malaysia
Global challenges
Topics
Pensions
Contribution collection and compliance

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Chatbots provide millions with COVID-19 information every day, but they can be improved - here’s how

Submitted by pmassetti on

World Economic Forum (06.04.2020) The COVID-19 pandemic has helped widen global usage for chatbot technology. After the pandemic, the use of chatbots for healthcare applications will continue to grow. Public and private stakeholders must come together to maximize these benefits while minimizing risks.

Global challenges
Topics
E-services
Service quality

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Barbados: Anticipation of pension payments

Submitted by mmarquez on

nis.gov.bb (11.03.2020) NIS pensioners can have their pensions deposited to their bank and credit union accounts. Your pension can be issued for a four-week period instead of the two-week intervals to which you are accustomed.

Regions / Country
barbados
Global challenges
Topics
Old-age pensions
Service delivery
Document Type