UN/DESA Policy Brief #92: (Feb 2021) COVID-19 is accelerating the pace of digital transformation: implications for social inclusion

Reuters.com (22.12.2020)

Kenya’s parliament on Tuesday voted to end tax cuts put in place in April to cushion the economy from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, a move lawmakers said would help to plug revenue shortfalls but investors said would hamper a recovery. The tax cuts were introduced weeks after Kenya reported its first case of the coronavirus and aimed to shield East Africa’s richest economy.

apnews.com (01.03.2021) With the floodgates set to open on another round of unemployment aid, states are being hammered with a new wave of fraud as they scramble to update security systems and block scammers who already have siphoned billions of dollars from pandemic-related jobless programs.

aseanbriefing.com (18.02.2021) The House of Representatives in the Philippines have passed House Bill No. 8461 (HB 8461) which seeks to authorize the President to suspend the premium contribution hike to the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), in addition to House Bill No. 8512 (HB 8512), which provides the President the power to defer the scheduled hike in contributions to the Social Security System (SSS). Both PhilHealth and the SSS were mandated by existing laws to increase their premium rates in 2021.

ilo.org (23.02.2021)

Up to 17,000 garment workers in Lao PDR affected by the COVID-19 pandemic are to each receive two months’ emergency income support worth 900,000 LAK (approximately US$100). Eligible beneficiaries, of whom 85 per cent are women, will receive the cash transfers by the end of March.

Minesterioa de Economía y Finanzas (03.02.2021) As of February 1, 2021, the payment of the Bond Against Hunger reached more than 3.8 million Bolivians, covering 93% of the total universe of beneficiaries, with an outlay of Bs3,877 million, reported the Vice Minister of Pensions and Financial Services, Ivette Espinoza.

With the renewal of the commitment to re-employment, we are giving employees and companies more planning security and prospects for returning to work as soon as tourism can take off again, ”emphasize Tourism Minister Elisabeth Köstinger and Labor Minister Martin Kocher. Numerous employers - especially in the tourism industry - have given their employees a "re-employment commitment" - that is, the assurance that the job will be available as soon as it can be reopened.

ANSES (03.02.2021) Through Resolution 37/2021 published today in the Official Gazette, ANSES expanded its virtual procedures. Now you can manage online the request for the payment of fees, a one-time payment, the accrual of a pension benefit due to death and assistance for the start of the Honorary Pension of Veterans of War.

National Insurance Service (15.02.2021) The National Insurance Office wishes to advise the public that the February 15, 2021 payment deadline for January 2021 contributions, has been extended until March 2, 2021. Payments made after this date will attract interest. The public is reminded that contribution payments can be made online through EZpay+, via wire or bank transfer or placed in our drop boxes located at the Frank Walcott Building. For further payment information, please visit www.nis.gov.bb.

SuperSubsidio Colombia (25.11.2020) The family compensation funds offered a financial compensation of 160,000 Colombian pesos to unemployed persons approved by decree 801 of 2020. This is a different benefit from the one the Unemployment Protection Mechanism due to Covid-19 (Decree 488 of 2020). The benefit was awarded until November 30th and was payable for three months.