Published: May 2020
By: Jay Patel, Research Assistant for Income Security Policy

The U.S. workers’ compensation system in its current form is complex, opaque and fragmented. Unlike other social insurance programs, it is wholly administered at the state level, and there is neither federal oversight nor any federal mandate that sets out minimum standards. As a result, there is substantial variation across states in levels of both coverage and benefits. Moreover, compensation differs for job-related injuries versus illnesses.

Nikkei (29.05.2020) On the 29th, the Pension Reform Law was enacted, which includes such provisions as a lowering of the starting age for public pension benefits to 75. Increase the amount of pension you receive by delaying receipt of benefits. The government will also review the "working-age pension," which reduces some of the pensions of the working elderly, in an effort to encourage the elderly to work. The application of employee pensions to part-time workers will also be expanded in a phased manner.

The International ORP Foundation in cooperation with the Vision Zero Business Council has hosted a series of three Vision Zero Webinars. The  webinars have shown how important a participatory approach to safety and health at work really is during the COVID-19 pandemic. The three webinars are available on YouTube:

Webinar 1: Vision Zero in times of Covid-19 (I)

ICLG.com Briefing (05.05.2020) Decision No. 01/19, dated 30/03/2020 (“Decision”), approved by the Government of Republic of Kosovo, has enacted the Emergency Fiscal Package.

Payment of monthly assistance in the amount of one hundred and thirty (€130) Euros to citizens who lose their jobs due to the public health emergency situation, for April, May and June, amounting up to four million (€4,000,000.00) Euros;

ICLG.com Briefing(05.05.2020) Decision No.. 01/19, dated 30/03/2020 (“Decision”), approved by the Government of Republic of Kosovo, has enacted the Emergency Fiscal Package.

 ICLG.com Briefing (05.05.2020) Decision No. 01/19, dated 30/03/2020 (“Decision”), approved by the Government of Republic of Kosovo, has enacted the Emergency Fiscal Package.

Financial support for business organisation under financial distress due to the downfall of their business activity that resulted from the public health emergency situation, as follows:

Covering of the value of pension contributions with regard to the measures foreseen under this Decision for April and May, amounting to eight million (€8,000,000.00) Euros.

ICLG.com Briefing (05.05.2020) Decision No. 01/19, dated 30/03/2020 (“Decision”), approved by the Government of Republic of Kosovo, has enacted the Emergency Fiscal Package.

Financial support for business organisation under financial distress due to the downfall of their business activity that resulted from the public health emergency situation, as follows:

• Covering of expenditures for the monthly salaries in the amount of one hundred seventy (€170) Euros for April and May, a measure amounting to forty-one million (€41,000,000.00) Euros;

 ICLG.com Briefing (05.05.2020) Decision No. 01/19, dated 30/03/2020 (“Decision”), approved by the Government of Republic of Kosovo, has enacted the Emergency Fiscal Package.

Payment of an additional sum of thirty (€30) Euros per month to all beneficiaries of social assistance and pension schemes who receive a monthly payment lower than one-hundred (€100) Euros, for April, May and June, provided that they are beneficiaries of only one scheme.

ICLG.com Briefing (05.05.2020) Decision No. 01/19, dated 30/03/2020 (“Decision”), approved by the Government of Republic of Kosovo, has enacted the Emergency Fiscal Package.

Double payment of the social assistance scheme to all beneficiaries of social assistance schemes for April and May, a measure amounting to seven million six hundred fifty thousand (€7,650,000.00) Euros, including payments executed for March;

 Ministry of Finance and Transfers (21.05.2020)  The Kosovo Treasury has executed the payment of all pension and social schemes for over 310 thousand beneficiaries, a few days before the regular time, due to the pandemic situation and in respect of the official holiday of the Great Eid.