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 interim employment is still not counted towards short-time work compensation. This rule therefore applies until the end of the year.

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, survivors, or disability benefits, or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments; did not file a 2019 or 2018 tax return; have a qualifying child under age 17; and did not already enter information in the IRS’ Non-Filer Tool for themselves and at least one child.

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 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 for the full amount and Nu.

Ministry of Social Development (18.08.2020) We're working hard to make sure clients who are out of the country and are unable to return because of the COVID-19 pandemic are financially supported. When you leave New Zealand temporarily some payments stop straight away, some are paid for up to 28 days, and New Zealand Super and Veteran's Pension is paid for up to 26 weeks. Under a COVID-19 special assistance programme we're able to make your payments until you can return to New Zealand. This programme is currently only available until 20 October 2020.

Ministry of Social Development (17.08.2020) The Government has announced a new payment, the Resurgence Wage Subsidy. It’s a two-week payment for businesses who have had, or expect to have, a revenue drop of at least 40% because of COVID-19 for a continuous 14 day period between 12 August to 10 September compared to a similar period last year, and aren’t getting the Wage Subsidy, Wage Subsidy Extension or the Leave Support Scheme.

The subsidy is for 2-weeks from the day you submit your application, and will be paid at a flat rate of:

Ministry of Social Development (10.06.2020) The Wage Subsidy Extension is an 8-week payment for qualifying businesses who have had a 40% decline in revenue because of COVID-19 for a continuous 30 day period compared to a similar period last year.

blogs.worldbank.org (04.05.2020) One of Pakistan’s initial measures was to expand its national safety net institution, the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP), to direct additional support to its 4.5 million women beneficiaries. 

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.

Asean Briefing (05.08.2020) Under the fifth stimulus package, the government has extended its financial support for private sector employees, in particular, those in the garment, textiles, and footwear industries. Introduced under the previous stimulus package, companies who want to suspend employment contracts must first submit an application to the Ministry of Labor and Vocational Training (MLVT). The suspended employees are then eligible to receive monthly subsidies. This program has now been extended through the latest economic package until September 2020.