Social Protection and Jobs Responses to COVID-19: A Real-Time Review of Country Measures “Living paper” version 16 (February 2, 2022) Ugo Gentilini, Mohamed Almenfi, Hrishikesh TMM Iyengar, Yuko Okamura, John Austin Downes, Pamela Dale, Michael Weber, David Newhouse, Claudia Rodriguez Alas, Mareeha Kamran, Ingrid Veronica Mujica, Maria Belen Fontenez, Muhammad Ezzat, Sandra Asieduah, Vikesh Ramesh Mahboobani Martinez, Gonzalo Javier Reyes Hartley, Gustavo Demarco, Miglena Abels, Usama Zafar, Emilio Raul Urteaga, Giorgia Valleriani, Jimmy Vulembera Muhindo and Sheraz Aziz 1 Acknowledgments This team is grateful to Michal Rutkowski for his precious guidance. This version benefited enormously from contributions by Aysenur Acar, Aysenem Agabayeva, Hanan Ahli, Nazanin Akhgar, Haleem Hassan Kashkol Al-Kazali, Amel Allahoum, Andrew Allieu, Sulaiman Al Maazmi, Noora Al Qassi, Elena Andreeva, Colin Andrews, Edward Archibald, Temilade Aromolaran, Jehan Arulpragasam, Angela Elzir Assy, Ashiq Aziz, Indra Baatarkhuu, Reena Badiani-Magnusson, Yusuf Bafozoda, Sarah Bailey, Paul Bance, Anna Baranova, Mehdi Barouni, Roland Berenger Berehoudougou, Martina Bergthaller, Anush Bezhanyan, Sharon Corinne Benzoni, Mira Bierbaum, Gaston Mariano Blanco, Mark Blecher, Christian Bodewig, Stefanie Brodmann, Lucia Solbes Castro, Hugo Brousset Chaman, Carmen Burbano, Dimitriy Bychkov, Yoonyoung Cho, Tungalag Chuluun, Francesca Ciardi, Emmanuelle Collet, Sarah Coll- Black, Facundo Cuevas, Matthew Cummins, Pamela Dale, James Damon, Louise Moreira Daniel, Marie-Christina Dankmeyer, Benedicte Leroy De La Briere, Gustavo Demarco, Anastasiya Denisova, Malin Linnea Sofia Ed, Randa El-Rashidi, Gerardo Escaroz, Fatou Fall, Maliha Fanning, Olesia Feoktistova, Katharina Maria Fietz, Gabrielle Fox, Nicholas Freeland, Luis Frota, Carlos Galian, Jordi Jose Gallego-Ayala, Maria Concepcion Steta Gandara, Sara Giannozzi, Elena Glinskaya, Elisaveta Gouretskaia, Rebekka Grun, Sabina Guliyeva, Sibusiso Gumbi, Melis Guven, Courtney Hallink, Mahdi Halmi, Siddharth Hari, Lisa Hannigan, Gonzalo Javier Reyes Hartley, Abu Yadetta Hateu, Alessandra Heinemann, Sayaka Iha, Himanshi Jain, Guillaume Hingel, Johannes Hoenigl, Maddalena Honorati, Armenuhi Hovakimyan, Su Su Htay, Roberto Iacono, Adina-Maria Iorganda, Kumiko Imai, Buthaina al-Iryani, Aylin Isik- Dikmelik, Marijana Jasarevic, Mustafa Kadhim Mohammed, Amjad Zafar Khan, Alex Kamurase, Sandor Karacsony, Dmitri Karasyov, Abu Kargbo, Selma Kazic, Irina Kulenovic, Yasuhiro Kawasoe, Ayaba Gilberte Kedote, Nurzanty Khadijah, Qaiser Khan, Johannes Koettl, Julian Alexander Koschorke, Mona Korsgard, Adea Kryeziu, Varsha Kumar, Francesca Lamanna, Aleksandar Lazovski, Matthieu Lefebvre, Kook Hee Lee, Phillippe George Leite, Louisa Lippi, Edward Lloyd Evans, Ana Veronica Lopez, Christina Lowe, Mattias Lundberg, Vikesh Ramesh Mahboobani, Mattia Makovic, Iftikhar Malik, Alicia C. Marguerie, Jonathan Marskell, Ana Georgina Marin Espinosa, Alessandra Marini, Erica Mattellone, Erkin Mamadaliev , Shea McClanahan, Karla McEvoy, Cem Mete, Andrei Mikhnev, Steisianasari Mileiva, Natalia Millan, Emma Mistiaen, Anita Mittal, Khalid Ahmed Ali Moheyddeen, Miriam Montenegro, Matteo Morgandi, Harry Edmund Moroz, Emma Mercedes Monsalve Montiel, Ingrid Veronica Mujica, Mack Capehart Mulbah, Lindi Mzankomo, Martien Van Nieuwkoop, Desislava Enikova Nikolova, NIFI (Research Institute of Finance, Moscow), Nga Nguyet Nguyen, Noel Muller, Anthony Njage, Mongolmaa Norjinlkham, Marina Novikova, Marija Novkovic, Foluke Adetola Ojelabi, Yuko Okamura, Yulia Olenik, Vitorino Mello Oliveira, María Laura Oliveri, Ayanle Mohamed Omar, Junko Onishi, Ian Orton, Mirey Ovadiya, Efsan Nas Ozen, Clemente Avila Para, Truman Packard, Karuna Pal, Robert Palacios, Montserrat Pallares-Miralles, Ekaterina Pankratova, Ioanna Pantelaiou, Ana Pantelic, Jasmina Papa, Clemente Avila Parra, Kenia Parsons, Nathalie Pazmino, Luca Pellerano, Remy Pigois, Ariel Pino, Juul Pinxten, Lucian Bucur Pop, Aleksandra Posarac, Nadine Poupart, Ana Prodanovic, Pamela Pozarny, Yeqing Qu, Rodrigo Quintana, Mateo Enrique Prada Quintero, Lourdes Rivera, Nina Rosas Raffo, Amanina Binti Abdur Rahman, Zandile Portia Ratshitanga, F. Zehra Rizvi, Ruth Reyes Rodriguez, Luz Stella Rodriguez, Mba Minko Djekombe Rony, Pedro Rosas, Friederike Uta Rother, Solene Rougeaux, Monica Rubio, Mira Saidi, Manuel Salazar, Marijana Šalinović, Glayson dos Sonya Sampson, Gevorg Sargsyan Indhira Santos, Karin Schelzig, Achim Schmillen, Anita Schwarz, Sirma Demir Seker, Karin Seyfert, Maheshwor Shrestha, Ivan Shulga, Nuno Cunha Meira Simoes, Karan Singhal, Benjamin Kakule Sivasima, Charles Chilufya SJ, Andrius Skarnulis, Oleksiy A. Sluchynskyy, Danilo Smolovic, Rene Antonio Leon Solano, Tayana Charisse Oliveira de Souza, Tayllor Spadafora, Federico Spano, Maya Stern-Plaza, Victoria Strokova, Shalika H. Subasinghe, Anna Sukhova, Changqing Sun, Kalilou Sylla, Claudia Zambra Taibo, Caroline Tassot, Caroline Anne Isabelle Tassot, Emil Tesliuc, Mauro Testaverde, Samman Thapa, Stefan Thewissen, Andrei Tretyak, Julieta Trias, Dea Tusha, Fiona Stewart, Gulsana Turusbekova, Emre Uckardesler, Silas Udahemuka, Uladzimir Valetka, Rashiel Velvarde, Fabio Veras, Andrea Vermehren, Thomas Walker, Dewen Wang, Michael Weber, Asha Williams, Penny Williams, Briana Wilson, Natalia Winder-Rossi, Gelila Woodeneh, Yuliya Yafimenka, Ruslan Yemtsov, Soonhwa Yi, Usama Zafar, Alketa Zazo, Nahla Zeitoun, Lansong Zhang, Yukun Zhu, Roman Zhukovskyi, Mustapha Ziroili, Rocco Zizzamia, and Maria Zlatareva. Pamela Dale is with UNICEF, while the other authors are with the World Bank. The paper presents preliminary findings from ongoing analysis and only reflects the personal views of the authors. For information and feedback, please contact Ugo Gentilini (ugentilini@worldbank.org). 2 Table of contents Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................. 5 Social assistance...................................................................................................................................................... 9 Social insurance .................................................................................................................................................... 17 Labor market (supply) programs .......................................................................................................................... 18 Annex 1. Social assistance: deep dive by intervention ......................................................................................... 27 Cash transfers .................................................................................................................................................... 27 In-kind transfers ................................................................................................................................................ 35 School feeding ................................................................................................................................................... 39 Waivers and subsidies in utilities, goods, services, and financial obligations .................................................. 42 Public works ...................................................................................................................................................... 48 Annex 2. Planned versus actual cash transfers coverage rates ............................................................................. 52 Annex 3. Rate of increase in cash transfer benefit size relative to pre-Covid level ............................................. 53 Annex 4. Methodology for estimating social assistance and cash transfers coverage.......................................... 54 Annex 5. Coverage of cash transfers .................................................................................................................... 56 Annex 6. Timeliness of cash transfers .................................................................................................................. 62 Annex 7. Overview of social protection measures by component........................................................................ 65 Annex 8. Measures by countries and territories.................................................................................................... 75 Figures Figure 1. Social protection and labor measures planned/implemented, cumulative and net additions (January 2020-January 2022) ................................................................................................................................................ 5 Figure 2. Average weekly measures introduced by tracker updates ....................................................................... 5 Figure 3. Social protection and labor measures by component, region, and country income ................................ 6 Figure 4. Extension of social protection and labor programs (number of programs) ............................................. 6 Figure 5. Social protection and labor spending, 2020-2021 (USD per capita) ....................................................... 8 Figure 6. Social protection and labor spending by income group, 2020-2021 (% of GDP) ................................... 8 Figure 7. Social protection and labor spending by region, 2020-2021 (% of GDP)............................................... 9 Figure 8. Duration of cash transfer programs ....................................................................................................... 10 Figure 9. Size of cash transfer benefits (% of monthly GDP/capita).................................................................... 11 Figure 10. Size of cash transfer benefits ($/capita)............................................................................................... 12 Figure 11. Coverage of cash transfers by country income and regions (% population) ....................................... 13 Figure 12. Coverage of top 10 cash transfer programs by number of beneficiaries (left) and share of the population (right) .................................................................................................................................................. 14 Figure 13. Number of cash transfer programs by payment method ..................................................................... 14 Figure 14. Response speed by adaptation and database (number of days) ........................................................... 16 Figure 15. Speed of response by payment modality ............................................................................................. 16 Figure 16. Distribution of programs by countries’ income group ........................................................................ 19 Figure 17. Percentage of countries with at least one of the selected labor policies by income group.................. 19 Figure 18. Distribution of programs by level of informality ................................................................................ 20 3 Figure 19. Percentage of countries with at least one of the selected labor policies by level of informality......... 20 Figure 20. Distribution of labor market supply-side programs by main target group .......................................... 24 Figure 21. Percentage of countries with at least one of the income support policies by level of informality ...... 25 Figure 22. Percentage of firm liquidity policies by target sector .......................................................................... 26 Tables Table 1. Social protection and labor spending by income group and region, 2020-2021 ...................................... 7 Table 2. Social assistance measures...................................................................................................................... 10 Table 3. Status of social assistance programs ....................................................................................................... 11 Table 4. Adaptations in cash transfers .................................................................................................................. 12 Table 5. Number of cash transfer beneficiaries by payment method ................................................................... 15 Table 6. Social insurance measures ...................................................................................................................... 17 Table 7. Labor market measures ........................................................................................................................... 18 Boxes Box 1. Income support policies for economically active persons ........................................................................ 24 Box 2. Labor market demand policies .................................................................................................................. 26 4 Introduction As of January 2022, a total of 3,856 social protection and labor measures were planned or implemented by 223 economies. This constitutes a net increase of 523 measures, or 15.6%, since the last update in May 2021 (figure 1). While noteworthy, such increase is the lowest among net additions observed over previous semesters. In fact, the global pace of measures’ introduction over January 2020-January 2022 has been slowing down: from a peak of 180 measures/week in March 2020, about 16 weekly measures are currently introduced (figure 2). Figure 1. Social protection and labor measures planned/implemented, cumulative and net additions (January 2020-January 2022) Figure 2. Average weekly measures introduced by tracker updates 5 By accounting for an average of 61% of social protection and labor measures, social assistance continues to represent the most prevalent form of support across regions and country income groups, followed by supply-side labor market programs (20%) and social insurance (19%) (figure 3). Even in high-income settings, social assistance represents half of enacted measures. The peak of social assistance is reached in South Asia and low- income countries, where they account for 78% of the social protection and labor portfolio in those contexts. Figure 3. Social protection and labor measures by component, region, and country income 100% 15% 14% 11% 90% 19% 25% 22% 17% 20% 15% 15% 18% 20% 11% 26% 80% 8% 7% 17% 24% 15% 70% 18% 24% 19% 19% 19% 60% 26% 23% 50% 40% 77% 78% 78% 30% 64% 60% 59% 62% 61% 70% 63% 61% 49% 50% 20% 10% 0% Social assistance Social insurance Labor market Social assistance Social insurance Labor market Out of total social protection and labor measures, 2,796 had information on dates (73% of total); 16% of them extended programs over 2020-21. Figure 4 shows an increasing reliance on program extension for the large majority of the observed period. Figure 4. Extension of social protection and labor programs (number of programs) 6 Data on social protection and labor program spending is available for 23% of programs in our inventory. Over 2020-2021, countries invested a total of over $3 trillion in those interventions (table 1). Such current level of expenditures represents around 18% of overall stimulus packages, and it is about 4.5 times higher than the estimated level of social protection spending during the Great Recession of 2008-09. The United States accounts for a large majority of global social protection spending (64%). In line with the distribution of measures, most of spending takes the form of social assistance which represents over 65% of investments. Table 1. Social protection and labor spending by income group and region, 2020-2021 Average Countries Social assistance Social insurance Labor markets Total spending USD/capita HIC (n=71) 1,762,195,333,142 600,119,442,415 213,539,424,364 2,575,854,199,921 716 LIC (n=24) 5,666,914,202 n.a. 20,693,462 5,687,607,664 8 LMIC (n=45) 76,897,684,743 10,558,643,437 7,171,793,482 94,628,121,662 45 UMIC (n=54) 123,957,634,154 194,073,682,184 6,298,899,219 324,330,215,558 145 AFR (n=45) 14,574,407,914 4,331,266,979 101,674,068 19,007,348,960 28 EAP (n=34) 348,397,989,478 176,875,399,808 42,022,664,602 567,296,053,888 687 ECA (n=51) 152,749,959,607 7,788,474,320 119,747,065,082 280,285,499,008 287 LAC (n=38) 49,419,744,009 12,934,584,200 1,232,470,503 63,586,798,712 285 MENA (n=16) 17,735,478,089 1,218,006,236 4,870,312,243 23,823,796,568 173 N. America (n=2) 1,362,830,897,714 592,003,902,305 56,973,647,966 2,011,808,447,985 4,130 SAR (n=8) 23,009,089,430 9,600,134,191 2,082,976,064 34,692,199,685 46 Total (n=194) 1,968,717,566,240 804,751,768,037 227,030,810,528 3,000,500,144,805 $314 There are stark differences when considering spending in per-capita terms: high-income countries have spent a level over 90 times higher than low-income countries – i.e., about $715 and $8 per capita, respectively (figure 5, left side); regionally, per capita spending ranges from about $28/capita in Sub-Saharan Africa to 4,130/capita in North America (figure 5, right side). 7 Figure 5. Social protection and labor spending, 2020-2021 (USD per capita) 6000 6000 Average $/capita 5000 5000 4129.90 4000 4000 $/capita $/capita 3000 3000 2000 2000 715.62 687.04 1000 1000 313.63 286.61 269.38 313.63 172.89 45.05 144.83 45.74 27.53 7.78 0 0 LIC LMIC UMIC HIC Global In general, countries have devoted an average of 2% of GDP on social protection Covid responses, ranging from about 1.3% in low-income countries to 2.5% in high income settings (figure 6, left side). There is high variance also within country income groups: for instance, on the upper end of the spending curve, an upper middle income country like Fiji spent almost 35% of GDP; while in lower middle income settings, Micronesia invested 11% of GDP. Among low income contexts, Somalia stood out with its allocation of about 7% of GDP (figure 6, right side). Figure 6. Social protection and labor spending by income group, 2020-2021 (% of GDP) 2.5% 2.5 40% 2.1 2.0 34.6% 2.0% 1.7 30% 1.5% Average % GDP 1.3 20% 1.0% 11.2% 9.6% 0.5% 10% 7.1% 0.0% 2.5 2.1 1.3 1.7 LIC LMIC UMIC HIC Average 0% (n=25) (n=45) (n=54) (n=65) (n=187) LIC LMIC UMIC HIC 8 A similar heterogeneity is observable in spending across regions. North America’s expenditures reach 7.4% of GDP while the Middle East and North Africa only devote an average of 1.1% of GDP to Covid-related social protection and labor responses. In addition to East Asia with the mentioned outlier exceed 30% of GDP, other regions like North America, Latin America and the Caribbean as well as Europe and Central Asia have countries that spent, as an upper level, about 10% of GDP (figure 7). Figure 7. Social protection and labor spending by region, 2020-2021 (% of GDP) 40% 8% 7.4% 34.6% 6% 30% Average % GDP 4.6% 4% 20% 2.0% 10.3% 9.6% 1.8% 1.7% 9.2% 2% 1.4% 1.2% 10% 7.1% 1.1% 4.6% 7.4% 1.4% 3.9% 4.5% 1.7% 1.1% 1.2% 0% 1.8% 0% The reminder of the tracker will examine social assistance, social insurance, and labor market programs, including discussing them in respective sections. For social assistance, we hereafter offer an update of key facts and trends, supplemented annex 1 presenting a deep dive into country experiences organized by social assistance intervention. Social assistance In terms of social assistance component sub-categories, cash transfer programs are the most widespread social assistance intervention: these include 962 measures in 203 countries, or nearly 25% of total social protection and labor measures and 41% of overall social assistance: if also social pensions are included, hence raising the tally to 1,023 measures, those shares of cash-based measures would be soar to 26.5% and 43.5%, respectively (table 2). In-kind transfers also keep representing an important share of social assistance: food transfers in the form of unconditional transfers and school feeding account for about 20% of social assistance. 9 Table 2. Social assistance measures N. of N. of Sub-component measures countries Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) 962 203 Social pensions 61 48 Sub-total (all cash-based measures) 1,023 In-kind food/voucher schemes 393 151 School feeding 93 74 Sub-total (all in-kind measures) 486 Utility and financial obligation support 764 187 (waiver/postponement) Public works 76 48 Total 2,349 218 The average initial duration of the overall set of cash transfers measures is 4.5 months (figure 8). Such duration is estimated out of 206 measures. For 50 of those, information is available on extension, which resulted in an average of 6.3 months (ranging from 1 month in countries like Azerbaijan and Greece to 23 months in Bhutan and Brazil). In several cases, extensions were surrounded by uncertainty on whether and when they would be enacted. For example, Indonesia’s unconditional cash transfer program (BLT Dana Desa) was implemented from April to June 2020. Its extension (until September 2020) was reported on June 3 of that year. Jersey’s Covid cash transfer (CRESS) was initially operated over the same period, i.e., April-June 2020. On June 30, the program was eventually extended until August 31. In the Maldives, the Income Support Allowance – which also ran over the same April-June period – was extended (or reintroduced) in October, or after the program lapsed, until December 2020. Figure 8. Duration of cash transfer programs 18 months 16 months 12 months 11 motnhs 10 months 9 months 7 months 6 months 5 months Average = 4.5 months 4 months 3 months 2 months 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 Number of programs Our database provides information on two important indicators of program “status”: (i) progress in implementation – or “actual” beneficiaries those reached in practice as opposed to those “planned” to be reached – and (ii) overall state of the programs (whether they are planned, ongoing or ended). In terms of the former metric, data for the largest 50 programs shows that the difference between planned and actual coverage rate is 10 minimal, namely 0.38 percentage points (see annex 2, as well as discussion on coverage in paragraphs ahead). With regards to the other indicator (ii), a total of 49% of cash-based transfer programs (and 72% of total social assistance) present information on their status: at the time of finalizing this global tracker update, 21% of cash- based transfers were still active (a rate mirrored for social assistance overall) (table 3). In practice, it is possible that the rate may be slightly lower given the absence of status information for about one-fifth of social assistance programs. Table 3. Status of social assistance programs Planned Ongoing Ended Total with Total % % program measures measures active status info with measures program status Cash transfers (conditional and 6 96 366 468 962 49% 20% unconditional) Social pensions 0 10 15 25 61 41% 40% Cash-based measures 6 106 381 493 1,023 48% 21% in-kind food/voucher schemes 4 21 132 157 393 40% 13% School feeding 3 8 10 21 93 23% 38% Total in-kind measures 7 29 142 178 486 37% 16% Utility and financial obligation 4 77 226 307 764 40% 25% support (waiver/postponement) Public works 2 14 15 31 76 41% 45% Total 32 361 1,287 1,680 2,349 72% 21% Note: active rate = ongoing/total with status info The database offers information on the adequacy of transfers. The size of cash transfer programs represents an average of 30% of monthly GDP per-capita 1 (figure 9). In absolute terms, monthly transfers were on average $256, ranging from $525 in high income countries to $42 in low-income settings (figure 10). How does such level of generosity compare to pre-Covid benefit size? Based on data from 56 programs, Covid-related cash transfer responses increased average generosity by almost 70% (annex 3). Figure 9. Size of cash transfer benefits (% of monthly GDP/capita) 80% 80% 71% 68% Average % monthly GDP percapita 60% 60% 47% 40% 40% 32% 30% 30% 30% 25% 25% 26% 17% 18% 20% 13% 20% 0% 0% HIC LIC LMIC UMIC Global (n=64) (n=24) (n=40) (n=52) mean (n=180) 1 Note that such GDP-related information is, of course, distinct from the overall GDP analysis conducted for spending levels: in the latter case, the denominator is annual GDP; in the case of adequacy the denominator is monthly GDP. 11 Figure 10. Size of cash transfer benefits ($/capita) Average monthly transfer (USD) 800 737 600 525 476 400 266 256 227 225 178 166 200 50 72 42 0 North ECA MNA EAP SAR LAC AFR HIC UMIC LMIC LIC Sample America (n=47) (n=13) (n=30) (n=8) (n=38) (n=40) (n=64) (n=52) (n=40) (n=24) average (n=4) (n=180) Regions Income group Programs have been adapted in various ways (table 4). Most of cash transfers have been expanded horizontally to reach more people. This was pursued almost entirely via new programs: 672 such measures were enacted (13 of which provided on a universal basis), compared to 55 extending the coverage of existing programs. About 48% of new programs were one-off transfers. Benefit levels were increased in some form in 146 cases. A total of 39 programs provided both horizontal and vertical expansion, while administrative simplifications were implemented in 50 programs. Table 4. Adaptations in cash transfers N. of programs N. of countries Vertical Vertical expansion 79 61 Additional payment 64 43 Vertical expansion and admin simplification 3 3 Sub-total 146 90 Horizontal Existing programs 55 45 New programs 672 186 one-off (targeted) 312 112 one-of (universal) 12 12 multiple payments (universal) 1 1 multiple payments (targeted) 347 159 Sub-total 727 192 Vertical and horizontal Vertical and horizontal expansion 35 28 Vertical, horizontal expansion and admin simplification 4 4 Sub-total 39 32 Administrative adaptations Admin simplification 35 30 Advanced payment 15 14 Sub-total 50 43 Note: adaptation categories are not mutually exclusive. 12 In terms of coverage, we present data for direct beneficiaries actually reached by 124 cash transfer programs (142 social assistance programs) based on administrative data. Overall, over 1.39 billion people were covered by social assistance programs over 2020-2021; this is a level slightly higher than for cash transfers alone, which cover around 1.36 billion people 2. In terms of country regional and income classifications, about half of the population in North America and East Asia and Pacific received at least one cash transfer payment, while one-tenth did so in Africa. In Middle-income countries, about one-fourth of the population was covered. Low-income countries have single digit coverage (figure 11). Figure 11. Coverage of cash transfers by country income and regions (% population) 51% 49% 50% 50% 44% 40% 40% 33% 30% 30% 25% 24% 23% 19% 20% 20% 15% 10% 10% 8% 10% 0% 0% HIC (n=22) UMIC LMIC LIC (n=15) EAP NAC LAC MNA ECA SAR AFR (n=40) (n=31) (n=20) (n=1) (n=22) (n=11) (n=21) (n=6) (n=27) Figure 12 presents the top-10 programs by coverage number and rates: the PMJDY program in India reached 200 million people, while the US CARES stimulus checks, Japan’s universal transfers and Pakistan’s Ehsaas all reached over a hundred million people. Since a total of 13 economies provided universal transfers to the full or adult population, the top-10 rankings include those experiences (expect Peru’s Bono familiar which was a quasi- universal program). Annex 5 lays out the full list of 124 programs for both indicators. 2 Numbers are 1,395,513,097 for social assistance and 1,357,175,244 for cash transfers (see Annex 4 for methodology and complementary ways for estimating coverage). Note that coverage data provided in the text uses “actual” rates across the analysis. 13 Figure 12. Coverage of top 10 cash transfer programs by number of beneficiaries (left) and share of the population (right) PMJDY (India) Universal one-off transfer (Timor-Leste) 100 200,000,000 CARES Act stimulus check COVID-19 relief funds (Korea, (United States) 162,000,000 Rep.) 100 Universal $930 cash handouts (Japan) 116,520,000 Spend local card (Jersey) 97 Ehsaas Emergency Cash Triple stimulus voucher Programme (Pakistan) 115,680,417 (Taiwan, China) 96 Dibao (China) 83,900,000 Grant to Every Citizen (Israel) 96 Social Amelioration Program Universal $930 cash 74,379,759 93 (Philippines) handouts (Japan) Auxilio Emergencial 1 (AE1) Universal Cash transfer 68,300,000 89 (Brazil) (Tuvalu) COVID-19 relief funds (Korea, Universal one-off payment 51,606,633 89 Rep.) (Serbia) Village Funds Unconditional Bono Familiar Universal 42,453,980 88 Cash Transfers (Indonesia) (Peru) Bono Familiar Universal The Cash Payout Scheme 29,076,779 88 (Peru) (Hong Kong) - 100,000,000 200,000,000 80 90 100 Number of beneficiaries % population With regards to payment modalities, we present data from 202 cash transfer programs with relevant information available (figure 13). When measured in terms of number of programs globally, digital payments constitute the majority of transfers (58%), followed by a combination of manual and digital payments (22%) and purely manual transfers (19%). Aside from high-income countries where the share of digital transfers is unsurprisingly high (68% of all cash payments), low-income countries present the highest share of digital payment relative its overall number of programs compared to lower- and upper-income countries – i.e., 63.1%, 49% and 62.8% respectively. Figure 13. Number of cash transfer programs by payment method 50 44 45 40 37 Number of programs 35 30 24 25 21 20 17 15 15 13 11 10 8 5 6 5 1 0 HIC LIC LMIC UMIC HIC LIC LMIC UMIC HIC LIC LMIC UMIC Both Digital Manual Note: “digital payments” include fully functional account, limited purpose account, and electronic non- account-based solutions; “manual payments” encompass checks and physical cash disbursements. 14 The landscape changes when examining the number of direct beneficiaries actually covered via digital payments. Note that not all programs for which there is information on payment modalities may also present data on beneficiaries: in fact, this data is available for 107 programs (96 of which in low- and middle-income countries). In total, 763 million people are reached by digital cash transfers, or 62% of all cash transfers with available information (table 5) 3. Among beneficiaries covered digitally, almost two-thirds, or 481 million people, are located in lower-middle income countries. India’s PMJDY scheme, Pakistan’s Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme and the Philippines’ Banyanihan-1 response drive those numbers with 200, 115 and 59.7 million beneficiaries, respectively. China’s Dibao (83.9 million people), Brazil’s Auxilio Emergencial-1 (68.3 million) and Turkey’s Pandemic Social Support Program (25.2 million) are among the largest digital schemes in upper middle-income countries. The highest-coverage digital program in low-income countries is Malawi’s cash transfer scheme implemented as part of the National Covid-19 Preparedness and Response Plan. Such scheme reached 1.3 million people. Table 5. Number of cash transfer beneficiaries by payment method Payment Income group Number of Number of modality programs beneficiaries (direct, actual) LIC 12 5,544,567 Digital LMIC 18 481,276,790 UMIC 20 247,204,804 HIC 9 29,087,574 Total digital 59 763,113,734 Manual LIC 4 4,165,501 LMIC 12 158,894,825 UMIC 8 12,014,063 Total manual 24 175,074,389 LIC 2 3,786,979 LMIC 13 92,741,725 Both UMIC 7 26,560,155 HIC 2 162,372,231 Total both 24 285,461,090 Grand total 107 1,223,649,213 Version 16 of our database offers new information on speed of response, or timeliness of assistance (see annex 6). This is defined as the number of days between the announcement of a cash transfer program and its first payment. Based on data from 98 programs, we estimate that an average of 26 days passed between program announcement and payment. The vertical extension of benefits took 18 days as opposed to the 30 entailed by horizontal expansion (figure 14, left side). Looking at the range of days in the vertical segment, one program, Tekoporã in Paraguay, was able to augment benefits the same day of announcement (zero days). Countries that had an existing social registry responded faster than others (11 days). Yet, social registries alone were likely an insufficient mechanism to ensure coverage expansion. In fact, the utilization of other complementary databases is a widespread strategy: in a number of circumstances, these may have been tapped for the first time for cash transfer payments (whether new databases generated for that purpose, or existing databases used for difference purposes). Hence, they took a longer time for disbursements, i.e., between 19 and 36 days (figure 14, right side). 3 The estimates follow the same method as for coverage calculation, including counting the highest coverage program based on administrative data. 15 Figure 14. Response speed by adaptation and database (number of days) 120 119 119 120 100 100 102 102 87 80 80 Number of days 67 60 60 40 40 35 36 30 27 26 25 26 20 17 18 20 19 12 13 15 7 11 4 2 0 0 0 3 3 3 0 2 2 Social Other Other New Total Registry databases databases enrollment sample (n=5) (n=24) & new (n=14) (n=47) enrollment (n=4) When comparing the speed of digital versus manual payments, the former modality was faster, but not by a significant amount of time – i.e., 21 versus 23 days, respectively. As in the case of additional databases used for identifying new beneficiaries, the narrow lead of digital payments could be due to their novel nature in a number of contexts, including possible time for set-up (figure 15). Figure 15. Speed of response by payment modality 70 64 64 60 50 Number of days 42 40 30 22 23 20 21 19 15 10 10 2 0 0 0 Both (n=9) Digital (n=27) Manual (n=9) Sample Total (n=45) 16 Social insurance Countries have invested significantly in social insurance responses to the pandemic. Over 2020-2021, a total of 719 measures have been recorded (table 6). While reported separately, measures implemented in the realm of pensions are closely related to contributions waivers. Combined, their represent half of Covid-related social insurance measures. Table 6. Social insurance measures Sub-component N. of measures N. of countries Paid sick support 149 87 Healthcare insurance support 68 51 Pension 96 63 Social security contribution 261 115 waiver/subsidy Unemployment benefit 145 88 Total 719 179 Because of their significance, it might be important to further examine pensions and related measures concerning early withdrawals of pension savings; contribution waivers, holidays, or subsidies; additional benefits; and their administrative adjustments. Some countries with a component of savings in their pension systems (mandatory or voluntary) provided early access to withdraw savings in an effort to provide a quick response to the pandemic effects, sacrificing the long- term income protection provided by the schemes. While voluntary schemes tend to provide some level of flexibility with certain conditions, mandatory schemes traditionally prevent any sort of early access to savings until eligibility conditions are met. The cases of Australia, Chile, and Peru are the most salient examples of early withdrawals from pension savings, with Chile and Peru in particular allowing withdrawals in up to three separate instances. In order to reduce the burden of employers, countries adopted contribution waivers or subsidies, usually accompanying other tax measures, such as reduction or postponement of tax payments. In Defined Benefit or PAYG schemes these measures affect the funding of the pension agency, while in funded schemes they directly affect the future pension of participants. This was the most commonly observed measure in our review of country experiences, perhaps because it is easy to implement, does not imply a direct cost (although it has implicit costs) and complements well with other measures implemented to reduce labor costs to employers. It is observed in 115 countries with up to 261 different measures. Many countries provided additional benefits to current pensioners, such as top-ups, one-off payments, increased indexation or higher minimum pensions. In most cases these benefits were financed by general revenues, but some countries used pension system resources, affecting the level of funding in the pension schemes. Additional benefits were observed in 63 countries, with 96 measures. One-off pension top-ups were implemented in countries such as Argentina, Czech Republic, Serbia, and Turkey. Permanent pension increases were observed in Cameroon, Egypt, Georgia, and Uzbekistan. Given the lockdowns imposed to fight the spread of the virus, many pension systems had to adapt their administrative systems and delivery mechanisms to ensure continuity of services. Introducing remote payment mechanism and allowing a third party to collect benefits were the most common measures, while the use of digital technologies and online platforms is still rare in the area of pensions in developing countries. Our review has 17 collected 15 instances of delivery or administrative adjustments in 13 countries that were widely announced. However, it is possible that pension systems had to introduce many more administrative adjustments in their operations that are not captured in this review. Pension delivery was modified in countries such as Algeria, Armenia, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Uruguay, while Brazil introduced the possibility to present proof of life using a mobile app. Labor market (supply) programs The analysis presented in this section focuses on four types of labor supply policies that have been instrumental in supporting workers. These allowed them to maintain their income and provided flexibility in the employer- worker relationship throughout the pandemic: (i) wage subsidies, (ii) labor market regulations, (iii) shorter work time arrangements 4 and (iv) activation policies which refer to training and placement assistance. By design, these types of policies typically target formal sector workers. However, they have been implemented by countries throughout the course of the pandemic, irrespective of their income group or level of informality. To better understand how countries have used these four policy types to target both formal and informal workers, this section briefly examines countries’ policy responses through the lens of informality. The section also discusses how these policies have been used to target other vulnerable groups. Boxes 1 and 2 at the end of this section examine additional labor policies implemented over the past two years to help firms and workers cope with the adverse economic impacts of COVID-19. Most countries have introduced supply-side labor market policies, with 187 countries and territories announcing 788 policies of the four selected policy types over 2020-2021 (table 7). Globally, about 84 percent of countries introduced at least one of these policies. Across income groups, the percentage stands at 76 percent of LICs, 83 percent of LMICs, 83 percent of UMICs, and 88 percent of HICs, which means that HICs have implemented these types of policies slightly more frequently. Table 7. Labor market measures Sub-component N. of measures N. of countries Wage subsidy 233 117 Activation (training) measures 140 77 Labor regulation adjustment 284 134 Shorter work time benefits 131 89 Total 788 187 Of the 788 policies introduced, 36 percent are labor regulation adjustments, around 17 percent are shorter work time arrangements, approximately 30 percent are wage subsidies, and 18 percent are activation measures (figure 16). The distribution of programs, however, varies across income groups. LICs have heavily relied on labor regulatory adjustments and shorter work time arrangements, whilst HICs have preferred wage subsidies in addition to labor regulatory adjustments (figures 16 and 17). The preference for labor regulatory adjustments and shorter work time benefits decreases with countries’ income level, whereas wage subsidies are favored by UMICs and HICs. The percentage of activation measures is relatively similar across income groups. 4 Shorter work time arrangements refer to regulatory changes to work time and working conditions. They differ from subsidies that allow firms to reduce working time because they do not require monetary compensation. They are addressed separately from other labor market regulatory changes as they are the most commonly used by the countries considered. 18 Figure 16. Distribution of programs by Figure 17. Percentage of countries with at countries’ income group least one of the selected labor policies by income group Note: Graphs based on 788 programs implemented by 187 countries and territories, including 22 low-income countries (LIC), 39 lower-middle-income countries (LMIC), 49 upper-middle-income countries (UMIC), and 77 high-income countries (HIC). This includes 140 activation measures; 233 wage subsidies; 284 labor regulations, and 131 shorter work time arrangements. Countries introduced new policies tailored to combat the negative effects of the pandemic and adapted their existing policies. Overall, two thirds of the Labor Market supply-side policies introduced were new, whereas the remaining third were adaptations of existing policies. Even two years into the pandemic, countries are still responding to its unprecedented economic impact by implementing new programs. They are also continuously extending policies introduced earlier in the crisis to prolong their support to workers and firms as the pandemic unfolds. More than 20 percent of the selected policies have been extended, with some being extended more than 6 times. These policy extensions can be of different types. In some cases, they consist of an extension of the time that beneficiaries can receive a benefit, while in others, these extensions are accompanied by additional changes to a specific policy (e.g., modifying the amount of the benefit, the target group or the conditions for eligibility). Out of the four policy types, wage subsidies were extended the most, with over 36 percent of programs being extended at least once. The majority of the selected labor market policy types have targeted wage workers, the self-employed and unemployed. For programs where data is available, over 73 percent of the selected labor policies were directed at wage workers, whereas around 11 and 9 percent were aimed at the unemployed and self-employed, respectively. 5 The self-employed and unemployed benefited mainly from activation measures and wage subsidies for the maintenance and creation of employment. On the other hand, wage workers benefited mostly from labor regulation changes and shorter work time benefits in addition to wage subsidies. By design, most of these programs target workers in the formal sector, yet they have been introduced in countries with varying degrees of informality. In order to be eligible for wage subsidies or covered by labor regulations, workers typically need to have a formal work relationship. This can exclude a significant portion of the labor force in countries with large informal sectors. Lockdowns and closure of businesses pose a magnified threat to the livelihoods of informal workers, as they typically lack access to formal social benefits, have less savings, and are employed in sectors that were hit hard by the economic downturn such as retail and manufacturing. Therefore, it is important to also examine countries’ policy responses to the pandemic through the lens of informality. For 5 These figures are based on the 635 policies out of the total policies being reviewed which specified the target worker type. 19 this analysis, countries have been classified into terciles according to their pre-pandemic informality levels. All four types of supply-side policies were used across all terciles, although in varying degrees (figures 18 and 19).6 A strong, negative correlation exists between informality and per capita GDP which can explain the similarity in the patterns seen across informality levels and income groups. It should be noted, however, that countries with similar per capita GDP can have considerably different informality levels. Figure 18. Distribution of programs by Figure 19. Percentage of countries with at level of informality least one of the selected labor policies by level of informality Note: Graphs based on 554 programs implemented by 122 countries and territories, including 39 low informality countries, 37 medium informality countries, and 46 high informality countries. This includes 90 activation measures; 158 wage subsidies; 206 labor regulations, and 100 shorter work time arrangements. Wage subsidies, which are mainly aimed at helping formal workers maintain and continue their employment relationships and encourage job creation, were favored by countries with low rates of informality. They were implemented in 88 percent of countries in this tercile (figure 19). For example, Germany introduced a new restart premium to be paid to companies towards personnel costs to bring employees availing short-time work benefits back towork earlier and hire new employees. Through the Incentivo ATIVAR.PT, the government of Portugal implemented hiring subsidies of around EUR 5,000 (~USD 6,085) per employee, specifically targeted at young workers and the long-term unemployed. Croatia announced a scheme to support employers organized as sheltered workshops, integrative workshops, and employment units for people with disabilities, which had experienced a decrease in turnover of at least 50 percent, with a monthly allowance of up to HRK 4,000 (~USD 645) per eligible employee. In countries with high and medium informality levels, wage subsidies were less prevalent, with 32 percent and 52 percent of countries introducing these, respectively (figure 19). This could be explained by the need for large fiscal resources for implementation and the larger share of informal workers in the labor force who are typically not reached through such measures. Such countries usually prefer to use other measures to support workers, like cash transfers which allow them to have a wider reach outside the formal sector, depending on their social protection landscape. 6 Out of the 223 countries and territories examined in this paper, 139 countries and territories had informality data available and were categorized into terciles according to their informal employment rate from the latest year available before the pandemic. The informality data mainly used is from ILOSTAT and is supplemented by data from Women and men in the informal economy: a statistical picture (third edition) (ILO). 20 Nonetheless, some countries with both high and medium rates of informality still introduced wage subsidy programs that specifically targeted informal workers. For example, Tonga delivered subsidies to both formal and informal workers who had lost their jobs or faced reduced hours of work due to the pandemic and managed to cover 5,326 workers from 673 businesses (over 13 percent of the labor force). Some wage subsidy programs aimed at informal workers incentivized the formalization of labor and enabled informal workers to receive social security benefits. For instance, Timor-Leste granted a one-time subsidy to informal workers and the self- employed who were not registered with the social security system if they registered themselves and maintained social security contributions for a certain amount of time. Similarly, Jordan launched a wage support program, Tadamon 2, which targeted uninsured businesses not registered with the Social Security Corporation, and those who had been contributing for less than a year. Employees of eligible businesses could receive a monthly unemployment allowance for three months on the condition that their employers retained them and partially funded the allowance. Countries also adapted their labor market regulations and introduced shorter work time arrangements to help firms survive the pandemic and enable employees to retain their jobs. Examples include changes to severance payment obligations, hiring flexibility, dismissal procedures, modifications to leave policies and remuneration, as well as occupational health and safety. These policies were widely implemented by 63 percent of low informality countries, 60 percent of medium informality countries and 55 percent of high informality countries. They constitute the most frequently used policy for medium and high informality countries (figure 19). Shorter work time arrangements have been addressed separately, as they also constitute a widely used regulatory policy during the pandemic. In turn, these have been introduced by 56 percent of low informality countries, 45 percent of medium informality countries, and 36 percent of high informality countries (figure 19). Out of the selected labor policies, labor market regulations and shorter work time arrangements make up a large share of the policies implemented by the countries in each tercile, particularly in high informality countries where they comprise the majority of the policies (figure 18). Surprisingly, the prevalence of such measures, largely is high in countries with large informal sectors, even though these policies are largely aimed at formal sector workers and might not have the same reach in such contexts. This could represent a commitment to protect formal workers from economic hardship in a situation where allocating fiscal resources through other policies such as wage subsidies could pose budgetary strains, particularly for high informality countries. However, the enforcement and compliance of labor regulations can be challenging in developing countries. To provide flexibility to workers and firms during the pandemic, shorter work time benefits were extensively used across the globe to allow for alternative arrangements or schedules vis-a-vis the traditional working day and week. For example, Spain announced that workers had the right to a reduction in working hours, up to 100 percent, if they were required to care for dependent relatives due to illness, age or disability. Similarly, Italy granted parents with at least one child under the age of 14 the right to perform agile working. 7 Even in high and medium informality settings, the policies were largely targeted at formal workers and encouraged firms to adopt flexible arrangements. Due to the nature of their work, it would be difficult for such policies to reach informal workers. Nicaragua allowed firms to adopt teleworking or remote work on the condition that they would not reduce employees' wages and Djibouti also introduced a policy that allowed enterprises to adopt alternative working arrangements to protect their workers’ contracts such as teleworking, paid leave, and partial activity in case of inactivity due to the pandemic. 7 Agile working enables employees to work without any limitations on location or fixed working hours to provide flexibility and improve productivity. 21 The other main types of regulatory adjustments implemented involved occupational health and safety in the workplace and remuneration. Measures concerning health and safety regulations in the workplace included the introduction and enforcement of workplace safety protocols to prevent contagion. While these measures were not specifically targeted at informal workers, they were sometimes directed at sectors which have a large share of informal workers. For example, Honduras introduced specific guidelines for a wide range of economic sectors, such as construction, restaurants and tourism, among others. Policies regarding remuneration were aimed at easing business continuity and targeting specific groups through additional pay. In Namibia, the Stimulus and Relief Package provided for the relaxation of labor regulations to avoid major retrenchments and business closures by allowing employers to negotiate a temporary reduction of salaries and wages during the crisis period. In Slovenia, frontline workers were rewarded with an increase that ranged between 10 and 200 percent in their basic salary, in the form of hazard pay and bonuses. Other changes in labor regulations included severance payment obligations, dismissal and hiring procedures, or leave modifications. Due to the nature of these measures, they were primarily directed at the formal sector, even in countries with high rates of informality. Bulgaria allowed employers to hire workers who were on unpaid leave from other firms without the authorization of the previous employer, unless it was expressly prohibited in the original contract. El Salvador announced that workers who were quarantined due to the pandemic or unable to return to the workplace due to migration or health restrictions could not be dismissed or subjected to a reduction in their wages. Countries have also introduced activation measures to support jobseekers and other groups to search and find jobs or improve their skills and employability. They have adapted or created new programs to train and reskill workers and jobseekers during a time of decreasing economic activity, closure of businesses, and soaring unemployment. They have also adjusted their public employment services (PES) by offering new digital tools for online labor market intermediation, which facilitate job matches between workers and employees. These measures formed a key part of the global response to the pandemic. They were implemented by 54 percent of low informality countries, 40 percent of medium informality countries, and 21 percent of high informality countries (figure 19). They made up 18 percent of policies implemented by both low and medium informality countries and 11 percent of policies introduced by high informality countries (figure 18). Activation measures, namely training and placement assistance, were primarily targeted at jobseekers which could explain the similarity in the distribution across informality levels as the pandemic impacted employment, albeit to varying degrees, across the globe. The relatively lower proportion of activation measures in high informality countries could be due to budgetary constraints and a preference for other types of policy interventions. Activation measures were used more commonly in countries with low and medium informality. Seychelles established the Seychelles Employee Transition Scheme (SETS) to support workers made redundant following the economic impacts of COVID-19 by aiding their re-entry into the labor market through retraining, up-skilling, and providing temporary work placement services. In the Republic of Korea, the eligibility requirements of the Job Search Promotion Subsidy were also relaxed to include non-standard contract employees and freelancers. Belgium set up a platform to facilitate job matching between employers and students working part-time, especially in the hospitality and non-food sectors. Some countries introduced activation measures which also catered to informal workers. Indonesia adapted the design of the Kartu Prakerja (Pre-Employment Card) program on account of the pandemic and doubled the initial budget. The program targets both informal and formal workers affected by the crisis and offers vocational training with monetary benefits in the form of cash and non-cash credit. Some policies were not specifically targeted at 22 informal workers, however, they were directed at groups such as youth which make up a significant proportion of the informal labor force in emerging and developing economies. In fact, in addition to targeting both formal and informal workers, countries also allocated resources in targeting other groups who were disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. For example, more than 18 percent of the policies implemented by countries were used to support and protect vulnerable groups. Youth, migrants, and other groups such as jobseekers and parents were among the groups most targeted by these labor market policies. Out of the selected policies, around 32 percent were aimed at youth, 28 percent at migrants, around 8 percent at women, around 14 percent at farmers, and 41 percent have been directed at other vulnerable groups such as parents, people with disabilities, jobseekers, and elderly people, among others (figure 20). 8 Countries have designed specific new policies to reach these vulnerable groups. The main policies directed at youth were activation measures and wage subsidies. The government of Maldives introduced a training program targeted at the young population, to allow them to develop skills, mainly in the sectors of tourism, construction and ICT. The United Kingdom launched the Kickstart Scheme, a financial support program to encourage job placements and hiring of young people by covering 100 percent of the minimum wage. Other groups such as parents, elderly people, jobseekers, and people with disabilities received support from governments mainly in the form of activation measures, wage subsidies, and adjustments in labor regulations. Under the SGUnited Skills Program, Singapore aimed to support 30,000 jobseekers with subsidized training courses to help them acquire industry-relevant skills. In Uzbekistan, the government prohibited the termination of the employment contract of employees who had children infected with COVID-19 or quarantined under their care. It also urged employers to transfer workers, especially elderly people, persons with disabilities and chronic diseases to flexible working hours or work-from-home arrangements. Migrants were the primary group benefiting from labor regulations in the form of work permit adjustments. Luxembourg concluded agreements with France and Belgium to allow cross-border workers from these countries to telework without suffering from financial tax disadvantages during the COVID-19 crisis. The governments of Austria, Cuba, Mauritius, Panama, and Spain among others, extended the duration of employment permits for migrants for up to one year. Farmers were also mainly targeted through labor regulatory adjustments related to occupational health and safety. Turkey put a regulation in place to manage the working conditions and accommodation of seasonal agricultural workers. Women also benefited from targeted wage support in addition to labor regulation measures. In Chile, the Employment Subsidy program delivered greater benefits if firms re- hired women with suspended contracts. 8 These figures are based on the 145 policies out of the total policies being reviewed which specified the target group. 23 Figure 20. Distribution of labor market supply-side programs by main target group Note: Graph based on 145 programs which specified the target population group implemented by 70 countries and territories, including 4 low-income countries, 8 lower-middle-income countries, 21 upper- middle-income countries, and 37 high income countries. This includes 54 activation measures; 35 wage subsidies; 44 labor regulations, and 12 shorter work time arrangements. The ‘other’ category refers to groups such as jobseekers, parents, people with disabilities, and elderly people. In sum, countries across the globe have relied on wage subsidies, labor regulatory adjustments, shorter work time arrangements, and activation measures to help their workers during the pandemic. All of these policies have been used by countries irrespective of their income group or level of informality. However, their income group and level of informality has influenced the mix of policies that they have chosen to implement. Countries in the lowest informality tercile have favored wage subsidies, whereas high and medium informality countries have preferred labor regulatory adjustments and shorter work time arrangements. The prevalence of activation measures has been relatively similar across the informality terciles. Other labor market policies intended to support both workers and firms in the formal and informal sectors have also been implemented by countries over the past two years. Boxes 1 and 2 discuss additional policies aimed at supporting the income of workers and firms. Box 1 briefly looks at how countries’ level of informality relates to income support policies aimed at workers such as cash transfers to economically active persons, public works programs, and unemployment benefits and Box 2 briefly summarizes the role of policies that are specifically targeted at supporting firms. Box 1. Income support policies for economically active persons Countries implemented a variety of income support policies to help economically active persons cope with the negative economic impact of the pandemic. In addition to wage subsidies, countries relied on cash transfers to economically active persons, unemployment benefits and public works programs to reach out to formal and informal workers, the self-employed, and the unemployed. Cash transfers to economically active persons were adopted in countries of all levels of informality and they constituted the most prevalent income support policy in countries of high and medium informality and the second most common income support policy in countries with low informality levels (figure 21). They were mainly aimed at reaching informal workers and non-salaried workers, however, some benefits also targeted formal workers and the unemployed. For example, in Burkina Faso, the government implemented cash transfers targeted at informal sector workers such as fruit and vegetable vendors who had been adversely affected by the pandemic. 24 Through the Rao Mai Ting Gun (No One Left Behind) scheme, Thailand directed monthly cash handouts of 5,000 baht (~USD 166) to informal workers, temporary employees, contractors, and self-employed workers who had lost their jobs due to the pandemic and were not covered by the social security system. Portugal announced a financial support scheme with a monthly allowance of EUR 438 (~USD 533) for the self-employed which was later extended to include workers in the informal sector and those with irregular contracts. Iceland and France extended a one-off bonus to frontline healthcare workers. Unemployment benefits and wage subsidies traditionally rely on formal channels to reach workers. Not surprisingly, countries with lower informality rates were more likely to utilize unemployment benefits and wage subsidies the most, with 73 and 88 percent of countries implementing at least one of these policies, respectively. They were also adopted by 50 and 52 percent of countries with medium informality, respectively. Within countries with high informality levels, 32 percent introduced wage subsidies, while only 5 percent used unemployment benefits (figure 21). Wage support programs and their adaptations have been examined in detail in the discussion of labor market supply policies. Unemployment benefits were adapted in various ways to address the effects of the pandemic including adjusting the amount and duration of existing benefits and relaxing the eligibility requirements to support those who previously did not qualify. For example, Albania doubled the amount of its unemployment assistance, and Vietnam provided employees without labor contracts or those who were self-employed with financial support. Public works programs have often been used to reach informal workers. This is consistent with their prevalence in high informality settings, as around 36 percent of countries in the high informality tercile adopted such policies, whereas only 12 and 19 percent of countries in the low and medium informality terciles introduced them (figure 21). Nepal announced that informal workers who had lost their livelihood as a result of the pandemic could participate in the Prime Minister Employment Program and receive a subsistence wage. The government of Cambodia implemented a cash-for-work program to create short-term employment opportunities in rural infrastructure and agriculture for people who had lost their jobs due to the economic impact of COVID-19. Figure 21. Percentage of countries with at least one of the income support policies by level of informality 25 Box 2. Labor market demand policies In addition to the selected labor market policies, countries across the world have put in place several initiatives to mitigate the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on firms, micro and small businesses, and entrepreneurs. In the 223 countries reviewed, a total of over 1,700 demand-side policies were implemented globally until May 2021 to alleviate the adverse effects of mandatory closures and lockdowns on firms, ease their burden of financial commitments and keep their business operations active. These measures were introduced in 91 percent of the countries considered. These policies were aimed at helping businesses stay afloat by providing firms and entrepreneurs with additional liquidity. Tax relief (e.g., deferrals of corporate taxes, VAT and fiscal obligations) and credit facilities (e.g. subsidized loans and lower interest rates) were the two main instruments used worldwide, with 71 and 67 percent of countries implementing these types of policies, respectively. Payment facilities on existing loans (e.g. loan payment deferrals and interest rate reductions) were also offered to companies in around half of the countries. Companies also received assistance for the payment of utilities and rent. Finally, entrepreneurs were also supported with grants, subsidies, access to capital, and other forms of financial support. Many of these policies were directed at all companies, irrespective of their economic sector. Some policies were aimed at supporting specific sectors that were hit hardest by the pandemic, like tourism, agriculture, transportation, restaurants, and arts and entertainment (figure 22). For each of these sectors, countries implemented tax relief, payment facilities, credit facilities, and utilities and rent support policies. For example, the government of Uzbekistan exempted the payment of land and property taxes paid by firms in the tourism sector, including tour operators, travel agents and those involved in hotel services. The government of Canada provided support to Farm Credit Canada to allow for an additional CAD 5 billion (USD 3.9 billion) in lending to producers, agribusinesses, and food processors affected by the pandemic. In Brazil, the Banco do Brasil suspended the payment of loan interest for up to four months for airlines. In Equatorial Guinea, the reduction in electricity bills paid by small firms, such as restaurants, discotheques, bars, and casinos, ranged between 25 and 50 percent. To benefit from the aid provided by governments, firms in many cases were required to fulfil one or more conditions. These included demonstrating a loss of revenue due to COVID-19 over a specific threshold, a commitment to retain their employees, and compliance with tax and social security contribution requirements, among others. Figure 22. Percentage of firm liquidity policies by target sector Note: Graph based on 466 firm liquidity support programs implemented by 147 countries and territories, including 13 low-income countries, 32 lower-middle-income countries, 45 upper-middle-income countries and 57 high-income countries, which specified the target economic sector. The ‘other’ category mostly includes other service sectors. 26 Annex 1. Social assistance: deep dive by intervention Cash transfers Following a stylized lifecycle framework, governments have implemented an array of cash transfer programs. For instance, countries have either newly introduced or vertically expanded the existing programs for new-born children. Governments such as Georgia, North Macedonia, Turkey, Slovenia, and Singapore have targeted parents of new-borns to help them defray the cost of raising a child amidst the pandemic. Singapore, for example, introduced a special one-time “baby bonus”, in addition to their already existing package of benefits to new parents. Countries have provided childcare allowances and child grants directed at families with children below 18. Myanmar and others 16 countries 9 have implemented a one-time targeted cash transfers to pregnant women and women with children (below 3 years old.). Eighty-two other countries (such as Argentina, etc. 10) have provided childcare benefits to parents with children below 18, but with different additional criteria. Armenia, China and others 4 economies 11 are paying childcare subsidies for parents who need to return to work due to their professional demands (e.g., frontline workers). Next, some governments – such as Bulgaria and Canada, among 12 others 12 – offered cash transfers to parents who experienced income loss or reduction due to additional childcare responsibility during school or childcare facility closure. For example, Malta introduced childcare benefits for private sector employees who took unpaid leave for childcare, which resulted in the reduction of salary. Similarly, Poland provided additional 14 days of childcare allowance to parents with children below 8 years of age. Finally, some governments, such as Cook Island and other 11 countries 13, provided universal childcare allowances. For example, Iceland, on 21 June 2020 announced a one-off childcare payment to all families with children below 18. Wherein, parents with an average monthly income below ISK 927,000 in 2019 received ISK 40,000 per child, while those with higher income received ISK 20,000 per child. Students studying in schools and universities (including abroad) received grants, living allowances and scholarships. Countries like Lebanon and Benin have taken steps to prevent dropouts. In Benin, for example, the government and UNICEF supported families with girl child(ren) between 9 and 15 years of age. The program intended to reduce child marriage and continue schooling during pandemic by providing cash transfers with complementary training. Similarly, during school closures, countries provided cash transfers to compensate for the absence of school feeding programs (see section on school meals). For example, the state government of Bihar, India, provided cash transfer for each day of school closure to every child who was receiving a school- based transfer for uniforms. Similarly, in preparation for the new academic year, back-to-school allowances, uniform and school grants and other living allowances were also provided to ensure continuity of children’s 9 Such as Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, Egypt, Rwanda, Kenya, Armenia, Sudan, Turkey, Vietnam, Lao PDR, Indonesia, Uganda, Russia, Kosovo, Serbia 10 Such as Argentina, Angola, Anguilla (UK), Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Cayman Islands, China, Congo, Cook Island, Costa Rica, Curaçao, Estonia, Eswatini, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Japan, Jersey, Jordan, Kenya, Lao PDR, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Myanmar, Nepal, Netherlands, New Caledonia, North Macedonia, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Russian, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, St. Lucia, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, United States, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Virgin Islands (U.S.), West Bank and Gaza, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 11 Guyana, Jordan, Netherlands and Virgin Island 12 Germany, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Poland, Spain, South Korea, Switzerland. 13 Such as Georgia, Iceland, Mongolia, Montenegro, Russian 27 learning (e.g., Bolivia and 16 economies 14). For instance, Malaysia enabled online learning by providing cash assistance to purchase smart devices for families with children belonging to the bottom 40 percent of the income distribution. Uzbekistan gave cash assistances to school-aged children (below 18 years) hailing from poor families to meet their education-related expenses. Next, Botswana continued to provide cash transfers to cover living expenses of students during lockdown. Similarly, several countries have used student relief funds to support their students studying abroad (e.g., Cyprus, Gambia, and other 8 countries 15). Cyprus, for example, paid allowance for affected students studying abroad and could not return home due to suspension of flights. During lockdowns, border closures, travel bans, and suspension of commercial flights, countries have provided financial assistance to their citizens who were stranded and helped them to return home 16. A few countries, such as Kiribati, Mongolia, and other 7 countries 17, helped their stranded citizens in a foreign land with financial assistance. Similarly, Thailand and Philippines assisted their citizens who were working abroad to return home. Beyond international workers, the sudden lockdown also affected domestic workers within the country, especially migrant labourers. Hence, China, India and 6 others 18 had taken active steps to disperse cash to affected populations. For instance, India’s Bihar state 19 transferred money to bank accounts of workers stranded in other states due to lockdown. Cash transfers were provided to offset the negative impact of pandemic-related closures, which varied across industries and countries, depending on the participation of their workforce in that specific industry. In Myanmar, for example, textile, garments, and footwear industries are the three major export-sectors. Therefore, cash transfers were targeted at informal and self-employed workers from those industries. More generally, 41 and 23 countries 20 targeted at people working in “tourism, hospitality and transportation”, and “agriculture, fishing and aquaculture” industries, respectively. Workers engaged in cultural and creative industries received cash transfers in 16 countries 21, mostly in the Europe and Central Asia region. A large share of cash transfers was directed at informal, self-employed, and unemployed workers in various sectors which were severely impacted by the pandemic. A total 133 (out of 201) countries across the globe have provided cash transfers to informal, self-employed, and unemployed people, which constitutes around 30% of the total 962 cash transfer programs. Cash assistance targeted at self-employed workers was implemented in 77 countries (with 119 programs) covering about 142.6 million self-employed workers (including their family 14 Botswana, Canada, Fiji, France, Guyana, Hong Kong, Ireland, Malaysia, North Macedonia, Russian, Saint Pierre and Miquelon (France), Singapore, Tonga, Tunisia, Tuvalu, and Uzbekistan 15 Lesotho, Maldives, Micronesia, St. Kitts and Nevis, Timor-Leste, and Trinidad and Tobago 16 As discussed in the section of labor market interventions, those social assistance measures should be interpreted within the wider context of international migration. This also includes governments of “sending” countries coordinated with those of “receiving” countries to ensure that international workers received their pending wages and benefits from their employers, and facilitated job search at home. 17 Micronesia, Senegal, Serbia, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Tuvalu 18 Malaysia, Moldova, Myanmar, Seychelles, Tajikistan and Ukraine 19 The program was implemented remotely and at scale, and without pre-existing databases. It used a “digital first” identification and payments approach to transfer funds. 20 For tourism, transportation and hospitality: Albania, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Cameroon, Cayman Islands, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Gambia, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Hong Kong, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Italy, Korea, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao SAR, Malaysia, Montenegro, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Singapore, Sint Maarten (Dutch part), South Africa, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Syrian Arab Republic, Taiwan, Tunisia, Turks and Caicos islands, and Vietnam. For agriculture, fishing and aquaculture: Belize, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Dominica, Egypt, Gambia, Ghana, India, Italy, Kosovo, Macao SAR, Mauritius, Montenegro, Netherlands, Northern, Mariana Islands, Philippines, Portugal, Sri Lanka, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Thailand, and Uzbekistan. 21 Culture and creative industry: Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Italy, Kenya, Mauritius, North Macedonia, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe. 28 members). A total of 97 programs was aiming at informal workers, including 28 programs dedicated to such workers and 69 providing them cash transfers alongside other vulnerable groups. In total, 129.5 million informal workers were covered via informality-specific programs and 126.9 million via programs reaching a broader array of people, including informal workers among them. Informal and self-employed workers belong to wide range of industries. For example, Ghana, Pakistan and Jordan have implemented cash transfers for daily wage workers; Lesotho provided cash transfers for factory workers; Hong Kong, India and Syria have implemented transfers for construction workers; India and other countries 22 have provided cash transfers to street Vendors and rickshaw pullers; Argentina and others 23 provided financial assistance to tour operators and guides; Germany and other economies 24 provided cash assistance to artists, authors and other freelancers. Among workers receiving unemployment support 25 there are some notable differences. Countries such as Greece and Israel provided unemployment allowances. And some others, such as Canada, Malaysia, and Jamaica, assisted recent graduates who failed to find work due to Covid-19 related reasons. Others provided unemployment support to those who lost their job or income due to lockdown, lay-off, and downsizing. A cash transfer program in Sierra Leone targeted informal and self-employed workers (mainly traders), with the intent to allow them to re-invest in their businesses after the lockdown was lifted. Cash transfers were also targeted at poor and vulnerable families, who are at risk of falling into poverty. Fifty- eight countries (e.g., Angola, etc. 26) have provided cash assistance to poor and vulnerable people. Belize, for example, implemented a temporary cash transfer to poor families who were not covered by any other social assistance programs. Similarly, countries made payments to other vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities 27, single parents 28, and elderly 29. These also includes transfers made to foster families and homes or temporary custody 30 that took care of disabled people, orphan children and old-age people during the pandemic. Cash assistance in five countries (Jordan, Kenya, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uganda) reached 5.1 million people refugees 31. 22 Among them, Macao, Malaysia, St. Vincent, and St Maarten. 23 Grenada, Egypt, North Macedonia, Vietnam, Macao SAR, Czech Republic, Taiwan, etc. 24 Estonia, Finland, etc. 25 These are non-contributory in nature and therefore, fall under social assistance. 26 Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Congo (Democratic Republic of), Congo (Republic of), Côte d'Ivoire, Dominica, Ecuador, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Guam, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iran, Jordan, Kenya, Korea, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao PDR, Liberia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Palau, Peru, Philippines, Russian Federation, São Tomé and Principe, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Uganda, United Kingdom, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, and Vietnam. 27 Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Costa Rica, Dominica, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, France, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Montenegro, Myanmar, Palau, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Syrian Arab Republic, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, West Bank and Gaza, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. 28 Curaçao, Egypt, Grenada, Iceland, India, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Malta, New Zealand, North Macedonia and Spain, Turkey. This includes single mother, divorced, widow, etc. 29 Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Colombia, Cook Island, Costa Rica, Egypt, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Lesotho, Lithuania, Malaysia, Palau, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tonga, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, and Zambia. 30 in many countries, such as Anguilla (UK), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Czech Republic, Eswatini, India, Kenya, Lithuania, Russian Federation, Sierra Leone, South Africa, St. Lucia, and Tunisia, transfers for managing month expenses. 31 Countries often supported refugees as part of a broader set of vulnerable groups (e.g., Tajikistan). 29 Frontline workers across the globe received cash assistance as a symbol of appreciation for their efforts during these testing times. Healthcare sector workers in many countries 32 around the world received honorary payments (either one-time or monthly top-ups). For example, on 13 April 2020, Brunei announced a monthly special allowance of B$400 for doctors, nurses, paramedics, ambulance drivers, and hospital cleaners and security guards. Malaysia and Seychelles provided additional transfers to their immigration, customs and related workers. Similarly, Peru, Timor-Leste, Tuvalu and Malaysia rewarded their military, police and civil defence. Some other countries provided bonuses to their civil servants (e.g., Cayman Islands, France, Malaysia, and Zimbabwe). Cash transfers were also motivated as festive, leisure or recreational bonuses. A few countries granted assistance during festive seasons (e.g., Greece for Easter; Chile, Ireland and Venezuela for Christmas; Algeria and Iran for Ramadan), while others provided for leisure and recreation (e.g., Germany, Iceland, Poland). Such grants were targeted at particular sections of the population, typically using the socioeconomic and demographic condition. Ireland focused on long-term unemployed; Greece targeted people who lost their job in the month before Christmas; Germany, Iceland and Ireland directed assistance to low-income populations; Germany and Ireland targeted children. For example, Germany’s “Catch-Up Program” aimed to support low-income families with children by transferring a one-off leisure bonus of 100 euro per child (Kinderfreizeitbonus). Prior to this, government also offered subsidized vacation stay at certain accommodation facilities 33. Governments also provided additional assistance to people with a higher risk of Covid-19 due to comorbidities. As mentioned earlier, countries have provided cash assistance to elderly or senior citizen due to their vulnerability. Governments often had the facility of home delivery of cash for such population (e.g., Grenada). There were other special transfers made to people suffering from diseases such as HIV or tuberculosis (e.g., Myanmar, St Lucia, and Tajikistan), chronic kidney (Sri Lanka), and other diseases (e.g., Cuba 34). During lockdowns, cash assistance was provided to alleviate the burden of staying-at-home orders. Government provided cash assistance to people living in lockdown-imposed areas or regions, e.g., Azerbaijan, Fiji, and other 6 countries 35. In Malaysia, for example, the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council provided advance payment and a one-off top-up to its monthly beneficiaries in response to lockdown measures. Governments provided financial support to people who were infected by Covid-19. The Philippines and other 9 countries 36 compensated for people who were tested positive for Covid-19 while on duty (e.g., frontline works and others). For example, India’s Delhi government provided assistance of Rs 5,000 per person (and maximum of 10,000 per family) to Covid-positive construction workers in the city. Similarly, Australia and other 7 countries 37 have provided assistance for those who were asked to self-isolate. For example, UK’s Test and Trace Support Payment Scheme provided a cash assistance of £500 to low-income individuals who were asked to self- isolate by the NHS and were unable to work from home. Finally, 13 governments 38 provided cash transfers to support families with the expenses related to funerals and last rites. Bangladesh, for example, announced that doctors and other health care employees, administration officials, members of armed forces and law enforcement 32 Such as Albania , Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Central African Republic, Colombia, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Germany, Guatemala, Guyana, Iceland, Latvia, Malaysia, North Macedonia, Peru, Russian Federation, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Spain, Tajikistan, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uzbekistan, and Vanuatu. 33 In a way, this was a form of subsidy. In fact, guests were only expected to pay 10% of expenses for accommodation and meals at youth hostels and non-profit vacation homes. 34 Cuba has introduced a special transfer for sick people conditional on medical certificate. 35 Malaysia, Peru, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Turkey, Venezuela 36 Bangladesh, Belarus, Colombia, Fiji, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova, and Serbia. 37 Canada, Colombia, Czech Republic, Portugal, Serbia, United Kingdom, and Vietnam. 38 Argentina, Bangladesh, Côte d'Ivoire, Eritrea, Guam, Honduras, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyz Republic, Nepal, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines. 30 agencies, and other employees working during the pandemic, would be compensated if infected with or passed away due to the disease. Box A1 provide a summary of financial incentives for vaccinations. Box A1. “Cash for jabs” Governments have provided cash assistance in a variety of forms to incentivize people to take-up vaccination. Our database includes 55 cash-for-jab programs in 6 economies, namely Cambodia Japan, Russia, Serbia, United States, and Virgin Islands). Among the schemes, organizing lotteries and cash prizes were the most widely used mechanisms, including 26 programs in 3 countries. For example, New York State announced in May 2021 a new vaccination program that provided free NYS lottery scratch-off tickets to 18 and above individuals with a grand prize of $5 million 39. Next, direct cash was next popular incentive with 13 programs in Cambodia, Serbia, Japan, and US 40. For example, Japan 41 passed a supplementary budget which included a plan to distribute 1,000 Yen coupons to all its 30,000 residents eligible for vaccination. Similarly, Serbia offered 3,000 dinars (25 euros or $30) to all those who got their Covid-19 vaccine by May 31, 2021. The US also offered several$100 incentive programs 42. Finally, other methods to offer financial nudges include providing scholarships to go to universities (e.g., New York, Ohio, West Virginia); gift cards (e.g., California, Maine, North Carolina, Michigan); $100 saving bonds (e.g., West Virginia); and discount coupon (e.g., Japan). In terms of practical delivery of cash transfers, countries used several methods to raise awareness about programs and register potential beneficiaries. Programs were publicly announced through media and community to promote the awareness among potential beneficiaries (e.g., Pakistan and Bhutan). For example, Bhutan’s Druk Gyalpo’s Relief Kidu cash program was provided widespread publicity though television, radio, press and social media. Next stage is the intake and registration, where potential beneficiaries get registered. There are several ways of registration such as digital/online/web portal 43; self-registration via mobile platform (e.g., SMS) 44; manual registration at public local offices 45; manual registration via outreach/enrolment provided in mobile vans or similar initiatives 46; or some combination thereof. For example, Pakistan’s Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program asked the potential beneficiaries to send an SMS to be considered for the program). Next, Cape Verde’s Rendimento Social de Inclusão Emergencial (RSIE), for example, setup a new digital application and beneficiary management platform to register people who were previously not cover by social registry. Also, Covid-19 induced registration processes have become permanent in some countries (e.g., online application in Kosovo, digital registration in Honduras). Some countries have retained the need for verification (in the form of home visit or inviting the beneficiary to the government office) for first-time applicants. This included Cook Islands, Kosovo, and San Marino. Others, instead, simplified need assessments for first-time applicants. In case of Jordan (Takaful-3), for instance, verification of new applicants by a social worker was conducted virtually, instead of physical visit as in normal time. 39 Cash drawing or lottery was implemented in 18 US states: Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, and Washington state. 40 7 states: Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Maryland, Michigan, New Mexico, and Ohio 41 Specifically, in the Town of Miyashiro, Saitama Prefecture. 42 For example, Arkansas announced that executive branch state agency employees who get at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine by July 1, 2021 would receive a $100 bonus. Similarly, The New Mexico Department of Health announced a $100 incentive for New Mexicans who complete their vaccination series or receive a single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccination before June 17, 2021. 43 Bhutan, Cape Verde, Czech Republic, Guam, Honduras, Hong ong, Iraq, Jordan, Kosovo, South Africa, South Korea, Ukraine, West Bank and Gaza, etc. 44 Brazil, Pakistan, India, Togo, Ukraine, etc. 45 Bhutan, Hong Kong, Jordan, South Korea, Ukraine, etc. 46 Algeria, Côte d'Ivoire, Kenya, South Korea, Sudan, etc. 31 For existing beneficiaries, Kosovo and others 47 have simplified the process by suspending all the re-application and verification requirements – such as to visit government office, fill out the form, etc – thereby allowing to automatically extend 48 the social assistance benefits for existing beneficiaries whose benefits got expired. Kosova, for example, has suspended verification process for social assistance (and pensions) benefits of re-applicants until further notice.However, new applicants were required to complete full application process. This measure initially ended in July 2020 but was reactivated recently. Next, Ukraine automated the verification of information that the applicant indicates in the application, and the time taken to complete the registration process through a software is less than 5 minutes. Countries enriched their social registries with information collected during the pandemic. For example, Colombia’s Bogotá Solidaria en Casa, in addition to census data and local government data, used data from cell phone operators to identify its potential beneficiaries. Next, Ghana, Indonesia, Mali, Mauritania, and Nigeria have integrated (or planning to integrate) the information collected during Covid -19 into their social registry in an attempt to enrich it. In Indonesia, for example, beneficiary data collected from Bantuan Sosial Tunai (an emergency unconditional cash transfer program) has been integrated into the social registry. Brazil created the ExtraCad platform combining different information sources and databases. Governments relied on socioeconomic criteria with eligibility thresholds and exclusions pertaining to income, assets, and other measures of welfare. Depending on the program, countries have used a variety of assessment criteria or tools for selection. In case of demographic-category programs (such as childcare), demographic status was used. Similarly, for poverty-related programs, countries mostly used thresholds/cut-off (e.g., Belize, Fiji, Georgia, Jordan, Malaysia, and Singapore) and exclusion filters (e.g., Cook Islands, Malta, and Pakistan). For example, Pakistan’s Ehsaas Emergency Cash program 49 used exclusion criteria such as international travel, ownership of a car, and a 6-montly average phone bill above Rs.100050. Malaysia’s Prihatin Rakyat Economic Stimulus Package targeted individuals with income below certain eligibility threshold. Some other governments (such as El Salvador and Guatemala) used other proxies of welfare – e.g., electricity consumption – to identify beneficiaries. For example, Guatemala introduced the emergency cash transfer Bono Familia to reach 2.7 million households (80% of population) for a duration of 3 months: in such case, 90% of beneficiaries were targeted based on electricity consumption less than 200whz for areas with proper electricity access; the remaining 10% of beneficiaries were selected based on socio-economic characteristics. Togo considered poverty maps developed with innovative approaches, including big data and machine learning. Government relaxed eligibility criteria or suspended verification of the eligibility criteria enabling more people to benefit from the program. Bulgaria and Uzbekistan have modified demographic criteria of child benefit to enable more poor and vulnerable families. For instance, Uzbekistan increased the age limit of the child grant from 14 to 18 years old. Similarly, Belize and others 51 relaxed the eligibility threshold (by disregarding certain incomes and categories, or increasing the threshold) for registrants to receive allowances. For example, Belize’ BOOST cash transfer program relaxed the eligibility threshold to include vulnerable households above the poverty line. And North Macedonia 52 relaxed the eligibility criteria of guaranteed minimum income (GMI) scheme for materially deprived households, allowing the program to expand horizontally to 15,500 new households from the 47 Cuba, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyz Republic, Qatar, Russian Federation, Serbia, and Ukraine. 48 Although many countries have automatically extended the benefits to existing beneficiaries, there are still some countries which did not automatically renew/extend but required reapplication (e.g., Canada) 49 A hybrid targeting approach was adopted, combining emergency assistance for the known vulnerable (Ehsaas Kafaalat beneficiaries) with demand- based support for the “new poor”. The applicant’s poverty status was validated by cross-checking their Computerised National Identity Card numbers within the Proxy 50 Mean Test scoring band of 16.18 to 38. 51 Georgia, Kyrgyz Republic, North Macedonia, Singapore, Uzbekistan and United Kingdom 52 This ability to expand horizontally in response to a declaration of emergency has been institutionalized through a change in legislation. 32 informal economy and 30,000 existing beneficiaries. Similarly, Kyrgyz Republic relaxed their one asset-related eligibility filter which does not respond to transient poverty and prevents registrants from entering the poverty- targeted cash transfer programme for families with children. Next, government have suspended or reduced the eligibility proof requirements (such as reporting of income, wealth, etc.) for their cash assistance. For example, in Germany, parents who lost income due to the pandemic could receive easier access to child grant (Kinderzuschlag) with simplified eligibility requirement of one-month income proof instead of 6 months. Similarly, Kyrgyz Republic automatic renewal suspended the requirement to reveal or report income for low- income families and extended the standard one-year enrolment term for the poverty-oriented cash transfer. France waived the quarterly declaration of resources for its GMI. While determining the benefits amount for the cash transfer, some countries have increased their program benefit size (i.e., vertical expansion); some reverted back to normal, while a few made it permanent. As mentioned before, countries have increased the cash transfer benefit amount, but some reverted back to pre-pandemic levels. For example, Indonesia’s Program Keluarga Harapan program double the benefit level for 3 months (during April- June 2020), but as reported on Jan 2021, the program benefit level was back to normal. Others, like Brazil, Iceland, Iceland, New Zealand, and Moldova have either made such increase permanent or are planning to do so. Kosovo 53 and Albania 54 have doubled the value of the benefit and have continued to double the benefit on-and-off. In the enrolment stage, countries have enrolled people who were on waiting lists or were unsuccessful applicants of other programs. Brazil, Egypt, and West Bank and Gaza have enrolled people who were previously on waiting list of social assistance program. For example, West Bank and Gaza enrolled 10,000 new families who were previously on the waiting list of the Cash Transfer Programme (CTP) and notification regarding the payment was sent in the form of a text message. Some other countries have targeted and enrolled previously unsuccessful applicants. Albania, for example, provided cash assistance of 16,000 ALL per person to all unsuccessful applicants of the economic assistance program Ndihma Ekonomike since July 2019 (and who did not receive any assistance until April 2020). In other cases, e.g., Colombia’s Familias en Acción, programs have re-enrolled registrants who previously failed to comply with conditionalities. In the notification and onboarding stage, countries have notified the registrants regarding their application status; requested them for bank details; and also provided information about payment collection. Belize and others55 have used SMS to notify regarding the result of their application and to inform about their onboarding process. The Kuwaiti Zakat House/Fund, for example, sent text messages to all registered families to update their private data through an attached link. Similarly, Egypt notified accepted beneficiaries via a SMS regarding the location and time to collect their first payment and ATM card. This is done to avoid overcrowding and to ensure the safety of beneficiaries (see box A2 to learn about other measures taken at the payment centre). Countries have delivered cash transfer in a variety of ways. with some countries even incorporating it as a permanent measure. Countries provided cash/cheque in hand at post offices (e.g., Indonesia 56), banks branches (e.g., Egypt,), home (i.e., door-to-door deliver; Lao PDR, Montenegro); bank transfer (Bolivia, etc. 57) which can be withdrawn from ATMs. For example, Egypt’s Exceptional Cash Transfer provided benefit via post office for the first payment and also provided ATM card to withdraw money from the ATM for 2nd and 3rd payments. Brazil Egypt, Honduras, Rwanda, Togo, and Ukraine have institutionalized digital payments in full or in part. In Togo, 53 Emergency fiscal package provided for doubling of the payments issued to Social Assistance Scheme beneficiaries. 54 Economic assistance program Ndihma Ekonomike 55 Cost Rica, Egypt, India, Kuwait, Tongo, and Venezuela, etc. 56 Egypt, Fiji (vouchers to be redeemed at post office), Hong Kong, Montenegro 57 Cape Verde, Chile, Dominica, Hong Kong India, Israel, Paraguay, South Africa, Sudan, United States, Uruguay, 33 for example, before the pandemic payments were made over the counter, but with the pandemic payments were switched to digital payment and this will continue henceforth. Box A2. Social distancing protocols in cash transfers delivery In the case of Japan’s special cash transfer, beneficiaries were encouraged to fill application online and in person applications were only restricted to only special case in a attempt to avoid the spread of the virus. Also, in Philippines, “Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS)” program processed only limited application every day in order to adherence with the social distancing measures. Egypt sent SMS regarding payment collection details such as location and time of visit to avoid overcrowding and ensure the safety of beneficiaries. WFP, in Egypt, increased the number of distribution stations to avoid overcrowding. Inua Jamii beneficiaries, in Kenya, were required to maintain 1.5 meters of social distance, while standing in queue at the payment centers. Yemen’s Emergency Cash Transfer beneficiaries were requested to cover their nose and mouth, and maintain social distancing while queuing inside the payment sites. They were also requested to use the provided hand sanitizer before entering and after collecting their cash. Likewise, all project staff were using protective gear (such as masks and gloves). Finally, strong scheduling and crowd management mechanisms were put in place to prevent crowding at the payment sites. Montenegro’s Material security program processed the payments through post office and home deliveries, to enforce social distancing. Similarly, Grenada’s SEED program provided cash assistance delivery at home for elderly while rest of them had to collect it from allotted payment stations. Some countries such as India and Latvia used a unique way of dispersing money to its beneficiaries. For example, to maintain social distancing, India’s Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) program used last digit of the account numbers to provide the delivery of the cash transfer. For account numbers with last digit as 0 and 1 will get the money in their account on 3 April 2020, 2 and 3 will get on 4 April 2020 and so on. Similarly, Latvia’s childcare transfer dates for each child varied as the pay-out took place gradually according to the child's year of birth, starting with the oldest children. Countries are gradually reinstating previously waived conditionalities. Countries like Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Indonesia, and Tanzania have waived conditionalities in the first phases of the pandemic. Some of the conditions that were suspended include job search (e.g., Italy), requirement to attend job centre (e.g., UK), and health and education related co-responsibilities (e.g., Honduras). In economies like Brazil, Chile, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Norway, Panama, and Tanzania conditionalities are being reinstated. Some countries, like Argentina and others 58, have implemented some form of Covid-related conditional cash transfers such as quarantine and no domestic violence (e.g., Colombia), human capital development and economic (e.g., Congo), and training programs (e.g., Benin, Myanmar). There is also an unusual example of conditionality being linked to extension of benefits: Cook Island’s Emergency Hardship Fund had extended the eligibility period for support by 3 months, with an option for further extension of 3 additional months conditional on the fact that the recipients would participate in volunteer work or community service for at least 5 hours/week (or 20 hours/month). Due to the ongoing pandemic situation, there has been numerous extensions with some interesting transfer value and coverage evolution cases. Around 204 cash assistance programs across 108 countries were extended or re- introduced due to the persistent negative impact of Covid-19 on the life and livelihood of people. With these cases, it is observed that the cash transfers were initially decided and implemented for a specific period, but due to increase in the spread of virus and the duration of lockdown, governments have extended or re-introduced the program, which has already ended a while ago. In some countries with such extension, the coverage and/or transfer value evolved over time (see box A3). 58 Cayman Islands, Colombia, Cook Island, Eswatini, France, Gambia, Iran, Madagascar, Uganda, United Kingdom. 34 Box A3. Evolution of benefit size in Brazil and Australia Brazil’s Auxilio Emergencial was extended twice, and the benefit amount and coverage were reduced with each extension. The Auxilio Emergencial-1 (AE1) operated between April 2020 until August 2020 with five instalments of R$600 to beneficiaries of the conditional cash transfer program Bolsa Família (BFP), individuals over 18 years of age in the single registry (Cadastro Unico), and self-employed or informal workers who were not in the single registry but were impacted by pandemic. It reached 68.3 million people. This program was re- introduced as Auxilio Emergencial 2 (AE2) in September 2020 and lasted until December 2020. It introduced a monthly reassessment of the eligibility conditions and reduced the transfer value by 50% (i.e., R$300). Coverage declined to 56.8 million individuals. In April 2021, the program was re-established: the transfer value was further reduced to R$250, and additional eligibility criteria reduced coverage to 39.4 million direct beneficiaries. Brazil's Auxilio Emergencial Australia's Coronavirus income supplement 80.0 R$ 700.00 600 70.0 R$ 600.00 550 R$ 600.00 500 Tansfer value (AUD) 60.0 R$ 500.00 Coverage (million) Transfer Value (R$) 400 50.0 R$ 400.00 40.0 300 R$ 300.00 R$ 300.00 250 R$ 250.00 30.0 68.3 200 56.8 R$ 200.00 150 20.0 100 10.0 R$ 100.00 39.4 0 0.0 R$ 0.00 March - Sept Sept - Dec Dec 2020 - AE1 AE2 AE3 2020 2020 March 2021 Similarly, Australia’s Corona Virus Supplement gradually reduced the benefit amount. In March 2020, Australia announced a time-limited Coronavirus Supplement to be paid at a rate of AUD 550 on a fortnightly basis. The transfer was directed to recipients of the jobseekers payment, parenting payments, youth allowances and other payment types. This supplement was in place for six months (until Sept 2020) at a cost of AUD 14.1B. In July 2020, it was announced that Coronavirus Supplement woulf be extended from September 2020 until December 2020, but the payment amount would be reduced to AUD 250. On December 10, 2020, the government further extended the duration of the payment, but reduced the payment amount to a rate of AUD 150 until March 31, 2021. In-kind transfers Transfers provided in-kind have been provided in a diverse set of modalities and for different goals related to health, food access, food production, education, support during festivities, etc. High income countries tend to display a richer diversity in in-kind provisions, while low-income countries tend to rely relatively more on classic food backets (figure A1) 35 Figure A1. Type of in-kind transfers by income groups HIC Food basket 45 9 21 2 19 9 2 7 Hot meals Food Voucher/ food UMIC 67 5 11 5 36 11 6 3 card Supply side Health and hygiene kit LMIC 65 14 9 5 21 3 Health Voucher covid-19 incentives LIC 45 1 3 2 10 112 Educational/electronic transfers Other transfers 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 Number of programs Note: HIC stands for High Income Country, UMIC and LMIC represents Upper Middle-Income Country and Lower Middle-Income Country respectively and finally, LIC refers to Low-Income Country. Out of the total 115 countries that put inkind transfers in place, three-quarters provided food baskets containing dry rations and other basic food items such as rice, flour, beans, cereals, oil, salt, sugar, dairy products, etc. (table A1). Food backets were mainly targeted at the elderly, people with disability, pregnant women, children, people from informal sector who have lost their jobs, and unemployed people with children. Cabo Verde, for example, provided immediate food assistance to 22,500 families whose income was below minimum wage or without any source of income, as well as supporting 30,000 children from the most vulnerable households. Similarly, Nomadic people in Djibouti received food support, and Madagascar provided basic food items to people who live on daily wages, such as laundry workers, rickshaw pullers, transactional sex workers, university students, and the elderly. Table A1. In-kind programs during 2020-2021, (as % of countries implementing in-kind transfers) Food Health and hygiene Other in-kind transfers Vaccination- education/el Food Hot Food Supply Health and Health Other related ectronic basket meals Voucher side hygiene kit voucher transfers incentives transfers 75% 16% 20% 9% 42% 2% 3% 6% 8% One-sixth of countries which distributed in-kind assistance have implemented hot meals as an alternative to food baskets. A total of 24 countries (e.g., Bahamas) have introduced hot meals through community kitchen. Also, there were initiatives from restaurants targeted at people in quarantining sites: for example, Myanmar’s Yangon regional government, in collaboration with Italy and WFP, provided daily nutritious meals to over 16,000 people who were receiving medical and quarantine care at Aung Myint Moh treatment centre (see also Jamaica, Kuwait, Lao PDR, and UAE). Other programs reached low-income, homeless, and vulnerable people living in care homes. For Instance, in the Caribbean Netherlands (islands of Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba) hot meals were served at least once a week to vulnerable households through private restaurants. Similar arrangements were stablished 36 in the Dominica Republic, Jamaica, Iraq, Kuwait, Liberia, Philippines, St Maarten, and St. Lucia. The Delhi government in India provided free lunch and dinner to those at public shelters. In some cases, food commodities have been delivered to people’s doorstep. For example, Russia had set up hotlines for people above 60 to order medicine and food for home delivery. Comparable initiatives were recorded for Rwanda, Ghana and the Slovak Republic. Pandemic related logistical challenges have led countries to opt for alternative methods – such as food vouchers, food cards, and other tech-based solutions such as switching to digital vouchers and cash payments. For example, unemployed people in Antigua and Barbuda received food vouchers, which were redeemable in supermarket to buy food and other essential items. Similarly, Bahamas provided food voucher and emergency assistance to people who experienced reduced weeks and for those with disabilities. However, in some other countries (e.g., Gambia, Panama), ration (food transfer) was provided instead of vouchers in regions not presenting conducive implementation conditions. In-kind transfers were also provided to bolster food production. This occurred in 11 countries (i.e., Bhutan, Costa Rica, Dominica, Ethiopia, Fiji, Haiti, Marshall Islands, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Trinidad and Tobago). For example, Dominica, and Trinidad and Tobago introduced “backyard garden seeding programs” and “national seeding initiatives”, respectively. Similarly, the Philippines provided starter kit with a packet of assorted vegetable seeds to grow pocket garden, container garden and community garden. Haiti, opted for encouraging the plantation of tuber and cereals, and used unplanted arable land for increasing food supplies. Similarly, costa Rica started “seed donation initiatives” to small famers. There were, of course, other activities geared to enhance supply chains and augment the availability of food. Some of these programs go beyond the scope of this tracker, but they are worth mentioning. For example, India introduced special trains to transport food grains from the farmers to the market. Also, Ethiopia’s Addis Ababa city government purchased a stockpile of food/other essentials and distributed them to 800 retail shops. Other initiatives are more closely related to enhancing access to food: for instance, the Liberian government purchased excess food gain from farmers and distributed them to schools and other institutions. Sixty-four countries (42 percent) have provided medical and hygiene kits, making it the second most popular form of in-kind transfers in terms of number of countries implementing the program. These packages were mainly targeted at vulnerable people, including elderly, people with disabilities, low-income, pregnant women, children, and informal sector workers who lost their jobs, and people living at care homes. For example, St Lucia provided hygiene packages, including masks, sanitizers, and sanitary napkins, to 6,000 poor and vulnerable households. Similarly, hygiene kits were distributed to elderly and people with disabilities in West Bank and Gaza. In Belize, Covid-19 safety equipment was provided to fishing communities and the private sector engaged in seafood processing facilities. Syria leveraged trade unions to distribute sanitary baskets to workers at work sites across the country. To increase the COVID-19 vaccination take-up, governments have provided in-kind transfers as an incentive (e.g., Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and UK). For example, in the UK 18 to 30-year-olds were offered discounted takeaway meals and free travel to vaccination centers. Similarly, in Japan’s Gunma Prefecture, fully vaccinated people between the age 20 and 40 could participate in a lottery for a Subaru vehicle. Governments have provided education related transfers (e.g., Belize, Botswana, Eritrea, Grenada, Iran, Montenegro, Poland, Singapore, and St. Lucia). For example, Grenada first distributed e-devices, such as laptops, to secondary school students and teachers in October 2020; two months later, it had started expanding its e-device 37 transfers to primary school teachers. Similarly, Iran provided in-kind support for students during school closures (like wheelchairs, laptops and tablets). Inkind transfers were also provided to celebrate festivals, such as in Jordan, Kenya, Mauritania, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates, and United Kingdom. For example, Bangladesh provided 10 kg rice for free to 1 crore ultra-poor and destitute families 59 ahead of Eid-ul-azha. Jordan and Mauritania distributed food vouchers and fish, respectively, to vulnerable families during Ramadan. And Sudan provided Ramadan meals and Eid treats to low-income families (e.g., tea and wheelbarrow workers). A total of 104 programs contains information on source of financing. Out of these, 42 percent are externally financed and 37% are domestically funded. Around, 10% used private sources (such as private individuals, NGO donations, Zakat funds, etc.), while 4% of programs were funded by a combination of sources (only 1 percent of the programs relied on all the three sources). In terms of coverage, countries have expanded vertically and horizontally. Table A2 presents the top 10 in-kind programs by coverage. In terms of direct actual beneficiaries, the Banyanihan 1 program in the Philippines reached over 59.7 million people 60 by providing both food packs and non-food items (table A2). This was followed by Turkey, which covered 20.7 million people 61 through its door-to-door delivery of food and health kits using Vefa Social Support Groups 62. In terms of share of the population covered, Gambia’s National Covid- 19 food assistance programs reached 64% of the population. The program planned to be quais-0universal with a target of 84% of the population receiving rice, sugar and oil. Botswana’s food hamper program also covers close to 64% the population. Egypt’s food program was targeted at lactating, pregnant women and family with children below 2 years of age Table A2. Coverage of top-10 in-kind programs Country and program Number of beneficiaries Philippines (Banyanihan 1; Emergency Subsidy Program) 59,742,303 Turkey (door-to-door delivery of food and health kits) 20,700,000 Myanmar (food transfer) 16,895,177 Egypt (food package to pregnant, lactating women and families with 15,697,259 children <2yrs) Turkey (free potatoes and onions distribution) 14,249,598 Madagascar (Vatsy Tsinjo) 3,563,470 Colombia (Programa Colombia está contigo) 3,526,852 Afghanistan (National Plan for the Distribution of Baked Bread) 2,501,998 Iraq (National Campaign of NGOs and Volunteering Groups to Respond 1,891,976 to COVID-19 Impact) Gambia (National COVID-19 food assistance) 1,555,624 59 Families were required to meet at least four out of 12 criteria, to become eligible for receiving the assistance. The criteria include landless households or those who have only homestead; households dependent on daily wage labour; households dependent on women's income or begging; households with no income-generating assets; households headed by widowed, divorced or separated women; households headed by a freedom fighter with disability, and households without access to two full meals a day for most of the year. 60 From families classified as low-income households by their local government units but were not qualified to receive the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) 61 Primarily consisting of elderly and people with chronic disease, who were ordered to stay-at-home. 62 A voluntary group which was formed 11 days after the country reported its first coronavirus case in March 2020. 38 Country and program % population Gambia (National COVID-19 food assistance) 64% Botswana (Food Hamper Program) 64% Philippines (Banyanihan 1) 55% Eswatini (food parcel) 34% Myanmar (food transfer) 31% Djibouti (Household food security response to COVID-19) 26% Turkey (door-to-door delivery of food and health kits) 25% Gabon (solidarity fund) 23% Paraguay (Ñangareko) 18% Egypt (meal program) 15% Examples of local horizontal expansion include India’s Gujarat government, which expanded free grains even to “APL” families (above poverty line) and Indonesia’s new in-kind assistance program implemented for Greater Jakarta (Jabodetabek) residents. In terms of vertical expansion, examples include India’s Delhi government providing free rations with 50 percent more quantity than normal entitlements. Similarly, Guan increased the value of its food stamp by 15 percent. 63 A number of countries are scaling back to pre-covid levels. For example, over May-October 2020 Mongolia expanded its food support grant from a pre-Covid level of MNT 16,000 per adult and MNT 8,000 per child per month to MNT 32,000 ($11.2) per adult and MNT 16,000 ($5.6) per child per month. However, the transfer was scaled back vertically for adults to pre-covid level from Jan 1, 2021. School feeding 64 A total of 79 countries have implemented school feeding programs since the spread of pandemic. Albeit a small number, on-site meals have now operated in at least 7 countries. 65 This includes 5 economies where traditional on-side school feeding resumed (i.e., Ghana, India, Northern Mariana Islands, São Tomé and Principe, and Somalia) and 2 countries which continued to provide on-site hot meals without any suspension (i.e., Finland, and Bosnia and Herzegovina) (figure A2). 63 A variant is Argentina, which featured a “vertical adaptation”. The Ministry of Social Development ruled that families who have not yet received the Food Support Card (Tarjeta de alimentar) would receive the value of this amount through the Universal Child Allowance (AUH). The plan was to deliver more than 1,500,000 cards to 2,800,000 recipients. To date the food card has reached 1,100,000 people in 400,000 households. On April 29, 2020, the government announced an extra supplement for holders of the Food Support Card. Those families with one child received an extra bonus of $4,000 pesos while this extra amount was $6,000 pesos for families with two or more children $6,000 pesos. In December 2020 the benefit increased to $8,000 and $12,000, respectively. 64 The team is grateful to Edward Lloyd Evans and Carmen Burbano at WFP for their precious advice and courtesy in sharing data included in this section. 65 This consists of 5 countries which resumed on-site meals and 2 countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina and Finland) which continued to provide on-site hot meals without any suspension. 39 Figure A2. School feeding program before and during Covid-19 (2020-2021) 180 161 160 140 No. of countries 120 100 79 80 60 40 20 7 0 Total Total On-site meals 2019 (Pre COVID-19) 2020-21 (UNDER COVID-19) In fact, during school closures on-site meals were replaced by alternative modalities, including take-home rations (both dry food and cooked meals), food vouchers, and cash transfers (table A3) 66. Table A3. School feeding program modalities during 2020-2021 (% of total countries with those programs in place) Take-home ration/meals Food Vouchers and cash or top-up or On-site school feeding Food stamps special allowance Dry/ raw ration or food baskets or Cooked/ hot nutrition supplements meals 54 (68.4%) 20 (25.3%) 12 (15.2%) 15 (19.0%) 7 (8.9%) Note: Modalities are not mutually exclusive, as some countries have offered either multiple school feeding programs with different modalities or multiple modalities within the same program. Therefore, the total exceeds 100%. Out of 79 countries. In the database, 75 countries are classified under School Feeding Program, while 4 are classified under other instruments (e.g., cash transfer, in-kind), reflecting the adaptations introduced under the school feeding program. While take-home modalities existed prior to the pandemic, their share increased to become the most popular modality during school closure. In fact, these were implemented in over 83% of countries. The take-home-ration of dry/raw ingredients can contain food and nutrition supplements (e.g., Colombia and Virgin Islands); fresh food such as bread, eggs, yogurt, and fruits (e.g., Ireland and Bulgaria); food grains like rice and wheat (e.g., India); micronutrient, and mineral and vitamin-fortified bars and biscuits (e.g., Bangladesh, Libya, and Yemen). A total of 20 countries and economies have provided take-home hot or cooked meals 67. For example, Liberia changed from on-site meals to take-home-meals, similarly to the strategy adopted by Sierra Leone and Liberia during Ebola outbreak in 2014-16. Next, Nigeria employed 100,000 cooks to cook and deliver food to school going children at their homes during school closure In around 30% of countries in our sample, or 25 instances, inkind school feeding programs were converted into cash or vouchers, e.g., Brazil, Egypt, Malawi, Niger, Spain, and UK 68. Some programs offered amounts 66 After a pilot to keep school canteen open amid school closures, the government of Costa Rica switched to take-home-rations. 67 Burkina Faso, Cayman Island, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Israel, Japan, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Malawi, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Virgin Islands (U.S.). 68 Full list includes Anguilla (UK), Bahamas, Bolivia, Brazil, Cayman Islands, Colombia, Congo, Cook Islands, Egypt, Finland, France, Guam, India, Jamaica, Korea, Laos, Malawi, Mauritius, Niger, Spain, Syria, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom, Uruguay, and Zimbabwe. 40 equivalent to the cost of the meal, while others cash as a top-up to dry ration modality. The provision of cash and vouchers in lieu of inkind transfers was more prevalent (i.e., 19 out of 28 programs) in high- and upper-middle income countries (figure A3). Figure A3. School feeding program modalities by country income groups 45 No. of programs across differnt modalities 40 8 35 2 30 8 4 1 25 4 4 3 2 20 1 5 3 2 10 1 15 3 10 18 18 12 14 5 0 HIC LIC LMIC UMIC Dry/raw ingredient Hot meals On-site school feeding Cash Food voucher Alternative solutions – i.e., take-home-meal, food voucher and cash – were not mutually exclusive, and some programs entailed multiple modalities. For example, in Colombia and South Africa schools had the choice of selecting their preferred delivery approach based on prevailing local conditions 69. The operational shift from school-based provisions to alternative modalities occurred in different ways. While some countries built on existing delivery infrastructure (e.g., Ireland using food parcels), most of countries had to arrange distribution channels afresh. These strategies included increasing distribution points (in addition to schools); using special transportation (e.g., Chile); and door-to-door delivery by mobilizing teachers (e.g., Honduras) and public work participants (e.g., Guam, South Africa). Distributions often involved allotting time slots and marking on floors to avoid overcrowding at pickup locations (e.g., Cambodia). Broadly, it appears that the eligibility criteria for school feeding programs remained constant in most countries. In fact, less than one-third of the programs in our sample (23 out of 79 countries 70) have expanded horizontally. For example, Burkina Faso’s school feeding program covered every school age child, both in- and out-of-school. And Guam’s Grab ‘n’ Go (take-home-style) school feeding extended eligibility to all children (less than 18 years of age) irrespective of whether they attended private or public schools. In several cases, programs provided a higher benefit compared to pre-pandemic levels. For example, India’s Gujarat state provided cash/vouchers alongside take-home, dry-food rations. This was meant to compensate for cooking costs, including gas, spices, and other items. In some cases (e.g., India, Mongolia, Brazil and UK), the amount of vouchers/cash exceeded the cost of on-site school meals. This was because cash/voucher amounts were typically set based on retail price of food items, which were higher than large scale procurement price obtained 69 In Colombia, the Ministry of Education allowed for choices based on school food supply service, logistics, conservation and availability aspects of food, habits of the population, and social distancing requirements among others. 70 Such as Anguilla (UK), Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Croatia, Estonia, Guam, India, Israel, Japan, Korea, Malawi, Mongolia, New Zealand, Peru, São Tomé and Principe, Senegal, United Kingdom. 41 by government agencies for school meals. Other countries (e.g., Gambia and Libya) extended school meals in the form of take-home family ration to also benefit other family members. Information on sources of financing is available for 20 countries. Among them, 35% relied on external sources and around 30% were domestically funded (through central or state budget, fiscal reserves, etc.). Next, 15% was funded using private sources, while about 20% showed mixed financing arrangements. The frequency in the delivery of the school feeding program ranged from one-off lumpsum, daily, weekly, monthly and bi-monthly distributions. For example, in April 2020 Uruguay provided one-off top-up of an extra $424 cash transfer to improve food security, involving 43,000 planned children beneficiaries. This benefit was paid through digital money card, bank accounts or local decentralized networks. The Tallinn government in Estonia scaled-up its program from 1,200 to 11,550 students. Such process involved a shift from on-site hot meals to take-home rations. The change also involved an altered distribution schedule to weekly provisions: the take- home package covered 6 days of lunch, with the menu varying over time. Similarly, Colombia’s monthly prepare- at-home rations contained cereals and fortified flours, milk and dairy products, protein food, fats and sugars designed to last for a month. Waivers and subsidies in utilities, goods, services, and financial obligations Governments have implemented a vast array of waivers. These can be classified into six broad categories (table A4). The reminder of the section is organized around those groups, including utility and rental; loans and mortgages; policies on taxes; measures related to food security and access to essential goods; programs related to transportation and digital transaction; and human capital measures. Table A4. Various waivers and subsidies Type of measures Number of countries (%)* Utility and housing rent 142 (76%) Loans and mortgages 96 (51%) Taxes 92 (49%) Food security and access to essential goods 57 (31%) Commute and electronic transactions 40 (21%) Human capital (education and health) 36 (19%) * Out of 187 countries Around 142 countries 71 have implement 264 programs related to house rent, water, electricity, heaters, and telecommunication. These policies pertain to waiver or subsidies on bills, postponement of utility bills, no suspension of service or no eviction on default, no penalties on late payment. 71 Albania, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla (UK), Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Canada, Caribbean Netherlands, Cayman Islands, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Dem. Rep. of Congo, Rep. of Congo, Cook Island, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark. Djibouti, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kosovo, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao PDR, Lebanon, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macao SAR, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mexico, Micronesia, Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat (UK), Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Qatar, Russian Federation, Samoa, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Turks and Caicos islands, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands (U.S.), Yemen, and Zimbabwe. 42 To assists individuals who are unable to pay utility bills (including housing rent), 46 countries 72 have waived the bills, and 61 nations (e.g., Germany 73) have subsidised it. For example, El Salvador had granted a waiver on utility bill payments to individuals directly affected by the pandemic for a duration of three months, covering electricity, water, telephone, cable, and internet fees. Similarly, in Mauritania, the state subsidized water and electricity bills of low-income families for two months at the outset of the pandemic (from April 2020). Next, Bolivia paid full electricity energy bills of consumers with lower consumption for three months, as well as absorbing half of the cost of potable water and gas bills for all households. Similarly, Greece announced that tenants whose employment contract was suspended were allowed to pay only 60% of their monthly rent for the months of March and April 2020. The Bahamas and others 74 provided opportunities to defer payment of utility bills (including housing rent) for a fixed period of time. For example, in March 2020 Sri Lanka extended the deadline of first quarter of electricity and water bills below LKR15,000 to April 2020. Similarly, Saudi Arabia introduced a special provision allowing for delay in rent payments and utility bills on demand by period of 3 months. Such policy was effective from March to September 2020. Taiwan offered coronavirus rent relief where all renters could apply to defer rent payment deadlines to the end of 2020. Governments have requested utility service providers to charge no penalty for late payment, including no suspension of services and evictions. Antigua and Barbuda, and others 75 have requested utility service providers to continue service without interruption even if bills were not paid. For example, Argentina has ruled that key utilities such as energy, gas, water, phone, internet, and cable services could be suspended during the crisis even if three consecutive bill payments were missed. Next, countries such as (Kazakhstan and others 76) have suspended penalties or fine for late payments. For example, Ukraine introduced a moratorium on penalties for consumers who were late on utility payments. Finally, Italy and others 77 have prohibited eviction of tenants. For example, Guam declared that there would not be evictions or foreclosure actions or proceedings involving real estate or property, whether rental or otherwise, until the public health emergency is over. About 163 programs across 96 countries (e.g., Cyprus, etc. 78) have focused on loans and mortgages specifically. These policies include postponement of monthly repayment of loans and interest, provision of loans, reduction of 72Bahrain, Bolivia, British Virgin Islands, Burkina Faso, Chad, Colombia, Congo, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, El Salvador, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ghana, Greece, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong, India, Kyrgyz Republic, Liberia, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Qatar, Samoa, Senegal, Slovak Republic, Spain, St. Kitts and Nevis, Timor- Leste, Togo, Turks and Caicos islands, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela. 73 Afghanistan, Armenia, Australia, Belgium, Benin, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Caribbean Netherlands, Colombia, Cook Island, Cyprus, Denmark, Djibouti, Equatorial, Guinea, Eswatini, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Guatemala, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Korea, Rep., Kosovo, Lao PDR, Lithuania, Macao SAR, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Micronesia, Mongolia, Montenegro, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Samoa, Seychelles, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Spain, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tonga, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Vietnam, and Virgin Islands (U.S.). 74 Albania, Argentina, Bahamas, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Eritrea, Guinea, Ireland, Korea, Kosovo, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao PDR, Lebanon, Madagascar, Marshall Islands, North Macedonia, Oman, Paraguay, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Zimbabwe. 75 Albania, Anguilla (UK), Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Belgium, Benin, Brazil, Comoros, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Fiji, Ghana, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Montenegro, Montserrat (UK), New Zealand, Peru, Portugal, Russian Federation, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos islands, Uganda, Ukraine, and Venezuela. 76 Albania, Armenia, Peru, Suriname, Turks and Caicos islands, and Ukraine. 77 Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Congo (Dem. Rep.), Ethiopia, Germany, Guam, Israel, Italy, Netherlands, Paraguay, Saudi Arabia, Uganda, and United States. 78 Albania, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla (UK), Antigua and Barbuda, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Bhutan, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Costa Rica, Dominica, Eswatini, Fiji, Finland, Georgia, Greece, Guam, Guinea, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jersey, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Kosovo, Lesotho, Liberia, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Paraguay, Philippines, Portugal, Russian Federation, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, Sint Maarten (Dutch part), Slovak Republic, Solomon Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the 43 interest rate, waiver of penalty, and government guaranteed loans, among others. Most of these programs pertain to postponement or suspension 79 of repayment of loans and interest. Seventy-two countries 80 have postponed the credit payments including mortgages and consumption credit. For example, St. Vincent and the Grenadines provided a six-month moratorium on the payment of principal and interest on various loans (home mortgages, business loans, personal and consumer loans) as well as on credit cards. Financial institutions arranged specific customised packages of financing or refinancing for their clients. Similarly, Morocco provided an option to defer debt payments until June 30, 2020 for formal employees who lose their jobs and are registered with the pension fund. Governments and financial institutions ensured that postponements of loan repayment would affect the credit history of the borrower. The Slovak Republic and others 81 have not levied any default penalty or late fees during deferral period of the loan repayment. Kosovo and others 82 have not recorded deferral or suspension of loan and interest repayment as non-performing (bad) loans. Azerbaijan and others 83 have not recorded the postponement of repayment into the official debtors register or in the credit history of the borrower. For example, Taiwan announced that individuals may defer payments on principal or interest due on loan statements for three to six months. Default penalties and default interest may be waived during the deferral period. Until the obligation becomes due, such loans would not be handled as a bad debt and an instance of late payment will not be reflected in the debtor's credit record. Governments have also provided loans, some at subsidised interest rates and some with guarantees, made available to those whose income was affected by the pandemic. Barbados and others 84 have provided loans to households for education, housing, and other purposes. For example, Namibia provided a loan scheme for tax paying employees and self-employed who lost income. These workers were able to borrow an amount equal to one-twelfth of their tax payment in the previous tax year, to be repaid after one year. Next, Brazil and others 85 have granted loans at lower than market interest rates. For example, in Suriname commercial banks provided new short-term loans to individuals affected by Covid-19 at a special interest rate of 7.5% per year, which was significantly lower than the market interest rate. Finally, Spain and others 86 have provided guarantees on loans. For example, the Bulgarian Development Bank provided guarantee to commercial banks for the loans granted by them to individuals and legal entities. Individuals were granted interest-free bank loans up to BGN 1,500 per month for a period of three months. Nations have implemented wide range of policies pertaining to taxes (both direct and indirect), related to deferral of payment and tax filing, reduction in tax rate, increase in threshold for non-taxable income, encourage voluntary Grenadines, Suriname, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turks and Caicos islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, West Bank and Gaza, and Zimbabwe. 79 N.B.: Postponement is used interchangeable with grace period, extension of payment deadline, payment holiday, and moratorium. 80 Andorra, Angola, Anguilla (UK), Antigua and Barbuda, Bahrain, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Bhutan, Brazil, Brunei, Darussalam, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Fiji, Georgia, Guam, Guinea, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Jersey, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lesotho, Lithuania, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mexico, Mongolia, Morocco, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Oman, Panama, Philippines, Portugal, Russian Federation, Seychelles, Singapore, Sint Maarten (Dutch part), Slovak Republic, Spain, Sri Lanka, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turks and Caicos islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, West Bank and Gaza, and Zimbabwe. 81 Azerbaijan, Dominica, Taiwan and Uruguay. 82 New Zealand, Taiwan 83 Kosovo, Slovak Republic, and Taiwan. 84 Chile, Kosovo, Mexico, Namibia, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, San Marino, Suriname, Thailand, and Trinidad and Tobago. 85 Cyprus, Nepal, Korea, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago 86 Bulgaria, San Marino and Hong Kong 44 compliance of tax filing, removal of fine for late/non-tax payment. Around 163 programs in 92 countries (e.g., Angola 87) have implemented such policies. The majority of programs include postponement or deferral of direct and indirect taxes. Austria and others 88 have provided the option for deferral of direct (e.g., income, property, land) and indirect taxes (e.g., VAT 89, sales taxes, import duties). For example, Uzbekistan extended the deadline for the payment of property tax and land tax of individuals. St Kitts and Nevis deferred the property tax for the period of June to Sept 2020. Next, Aruba and others 90 have suspended penalties on late tax payments. Kosovo, for example, suspended all interest on unpaid property taxes. Many countries removed or suspended indirect taxes on a variety of essential products, while a few even suspended direct taxes. Angola and others 91 have temporarily removed or suspended VAT or sales tax or import duties on essential goods and services such as food items, medicines, electricity, water, etc. Kosovo removed VAT on imports of wheat and flour. Bosnia and Herzegovina suspended the calculation and payment of indirect taxes on medical items both in the import of equipment and certain assets, as well as in domestic trade. Next, Ghana, Lao PDR and Malawi have even waived direct taxes to targeted groups. For example, Lao PDR exempted employees’ income tax for a duration of 3 months for civil servants and employees of the private sector with income less than LAK5 million per month. Similarly, Ghana waived resident taxes for all foreign healthcare workers. Several governments have also reduced various taxes. Azerbaijan and others 92 reduced different forms of taxes. For example, Estonia reduced excise duty on some types of fuel, electricity, and gas. Similarly, South Korean announced that a 70% individual consumption tax cut on car purchases. Comoros reduced import taxes on food, medicines, and items related to hygiene by 30% during 2020, but returned to previous levels from the beginning of 2021. Countries have taken several measures to ensure that citizens file their tax returns through extending the deadline for filing taxes, and encourage online tax filing and voluntary compliance. China and others 93 have extended the deadline for filing taxes. Thailand extended the tax filing deadline for individual income tax returns from March 31, 2020 to August 31, 2020. Next, Botswana announced that manual statutory filing was not possible during the lockdown period: to avoid incurring penalty for late payments, taxpayers were encouraged to use online compliance platforms provided by the tax authority. To increase tax filing compliance, Malawi implemented a 87 Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Canada, Caribbean (Netherlands), Chile, China, Comoros, Congo (Dem. Rep.), Costa Rica, Croatia, Curaçao, Cyprus, Estonia, Eswatini, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guam, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kosovo, Kyrgyz Republic, Lao PDR, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Montenegro, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russian Federation, Samoa, San Marino, Saudi Arabia. Senegal, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Somalia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Taiwan (China), Tajikistan, Thailand, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam 88 Azerbaijan, Belgium, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Caribbean, Netherlands, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Curaçao, Cyprus, Germany, Honduras, Israel, Japan, Kosovo, Kyrgyz Republic, Lebanon, Lesotho, Malta, Montenegro, Nepal, North Macedonia, San Marino, Senegal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Taiwan (China), Tonga, Turkey, United States, and Uzbekistan. 89 Value Added Tax 90 Belgium, Chile, Curaçao, Jordan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Mongolia, and Nigeria. 91 Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, China, Comoros, Cyprus, Eswatini, Ghana, Guyana, Italy, Korea, Kosovo, Lao PDR, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mozambique, Norway, Pakistan, Qatar, Samoa, Somalia, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, and Uzbekistan. 92 Belgium, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Comoros, Curaçao, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Kazakhstan, Korea, Mali, North Macedonia, Norway, Senegal, and Thailand. 93 Guatemala, Namibia, Nigeria, Taiwan, Thailand, and Turkey 45 special window to provide opportunity for individuals to regularize their tax affairs without suffering penalties, interests, and charges. Other measures related to tax included tax rebate, credit, relief, and many more. Bulgaria and others 94 have either reduced tax rate (base) or increased the threshold for non-taxable income. For example, Lithuania temporarily increased the threshold for non-taxable income for a duration of 6 months (i.e., the second semester of 2020) from €4,200 to €4,800. Canada and others 95 have provided tax reliefs and rebates for a variety of reasons. For example, Cyprus implemented tenant support scheme to protect tenants by incentivising landlords to reduce rents. A tax credit was granted to the landowner equal to 50% of the rented reduction provided that the reduced rent is between 30 and 50% for a specific period of months. Similarly, Germany provided tax relief to workers working from home during coronavirus for additional household costs (e.g., heating, metered water bills, home contents insurance, business calls or a new internet connection), provided that they worked from home on a regular basis for all or part of the week. Governments bolstered access to essential items by providing free or subsidized agriculture inputs and by setting price ceiling on essential food and non-food items. About 57 countries 96 have implemented around 77 such programs. Around 23 programs in 21 countries (e.g., Rwanda, etc. 97) have provided seeds and other agriculture inputs to improve food insecurity and boost farmer livelihood. Guyana and others 98 have provided free agriculture inputs (tools, seeds, raised seed beds, grow boxes, etc.) to households and small-scale farmers to grow crops in their kitchen or backyard garden and contribute to the collective food supply of their respective nations. For example, Grenada’s backyard gardening program provided material support such as seeds and other planting material, small garden tools. Next, other countries (e.g., Belize, etc. 99) aimed to boost farmer livelihoods by providing agriculture inputs at a subsidized price or for free (e.g., fertilizer, seeds). For example, Lesotho introduced a 60% subsidy on all agricultural seeds. Similarly, Angola subsidized fertilizers up to 35%. Myanmar provided e-vouchers worth 120,000 kyats (US$ 67.5) to around 300,000 farmers with less than 2-acre of land, female headed households with returning migrants, and households of ethnic minority. Around 52 programs in 44 countries (e.g., Anguilla (UK) 100) have applied a price ceiling on food and non-food items. About three-fourth (36 countries; Angola, etc. 101) of these countries have implemented price ceilings on 94 Azerbaijan and Lithuania 95 Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Germany, Greece, Malaysia, Northern Mariana Islands, Pakistan, and United Kingdom. 96 Angola, Anguilla (UK), Argentina, Aruba, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, China, Comoros, Congo (Dem. Rep.), Côte d'Ivoire, Curaçao, El Salvador, Eritrea, Gambia, Georgia, Greece, Grenada, Guam, Guinea, Guinea- Bissau, Guyana, Honduras, Jordan, Kyrgyz Republic, Lesotho, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Micronesia, Myanmar, Niger, North Macedonia, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Turks and Caicos islands, Tuvalu, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. 97 Angola, Belize, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Congo (Dem. Rep.), Eritrea, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Lesotho, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritius, Micronesia, Myanmar, Niger, Solomon Islands, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, and Togo. 98 Grenada, Solomon Islands, and St. Kitts and Nevis 99 Belize, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Congo (Dem. Rep.), Eritrea, Grenada, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Lesotho, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritius, Micronesia, Myanmar, Niger, Rwanda, and Togo. 100 Argentina, Aruba, Barbados, Belarus, Benin, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, China, Comoros, Congo (Dem. Rep.), Côte d'Ivoire, Curaçao, El Salvador, Eritrea, Gambia, Georgia, Greece, Grenada, Guam, Guinea, Honduras, Jordan, Kyrgyz Republic, Libya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritania, Mauritius, Niger, North Macedonia, Russian Federation, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, St. Lucia, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Turks and Caicos, Tuvalu, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. 101 Anguilla (UK), Argentina, Aruba, Barbados, Belarus, Bhutan, Burkina Faso, China, Comoros, Congo (Dem. Rep.), Côte d'Ivoire, Curacao, El Salvador, Gambia, Georgia, Jordan, Kyrgyz Republic, Libya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritania, Mauritius, North Macedonia, Russian, Federation, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Turks and Caicos, Tuvalu, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. 46 food. Similarly, 25 economies 102 also implemented price control on other non-food essentials such as masks, cleaning items, items for sanitizing and disinfecting hands, medicines, etc. Next, governments also ensured price control by monitoring availability of sufficient stock of essential goods (e.g., Georgia 103), and restricting the margin of profit on essential goods (e.g., Greece). For example, Benin introduced a price ceiling for masks in pharmacies (200 FCFA). Next, Uzbekistan enacted price-fixing for specific products on basic food items (such as rice, pasta, sunflower oil, flour, sugar, wheat, buckwheat, beans, and milk powder and its products) by subsidizing related businesses. Similarly, Argentina maintained prices of basic food baskets, beverages, toiletries, and cleaning items as they were on March 6, 2020. The measure was extended several times, and in November 2020, Covid-19 related drugs were also included in the price control program. The last extension was granted until late January 2021. To prevent the spread of virus via manual transactions, about 30 programs in 28 countries 104 have waived-off or subsidised transaction fees, and increased transaction limit on digital payments. To promote the use of digital payments, 26 countries 105 have either waived or subsidized transaction fees – on person-to-person payments (e.g., Côte d’Ivoire 106), merchant payments (e.g., Lesotho and Uganda), and transfers from bank accounts to digital wallets (e.g., Zambia 107) – up to a certain amount. For example, Rwanda waived the charges on mobile money transactions as well as charges on services between bank accounts and mobile wallets. Next, some countries (e.g., Tanzania 108) also increased the upper transaction limit for digital and cashless payments. For example, in Netherlands banks have increased transaction limit for contactless cards in an attempt to prevent virus spreading via PIN pads. In Bangladesh, the monthly transaction limit for mobile financial services had been raised from Tk 75,000 to Tk 200,000. To support safe mobility and reduce transportation costs, about 14 programs across 13 countries 109 have waived- off or subsidized transportation costs, increased frequency of public transport to avoid congestion, and provided special transportation support such as for vaccinations. Ethiopia expanded its bus services to reduce overcrowding in the public transport and provided free public transportation. Similarly, some other countries (e.g., Philippines, etc. 110) have provided special transportation services to migrants, frontline workers, and vaccination takers. For example, as an incentive to get vaccinated, Japan’s Shizuka city announced that the elderly can avail subsidized taxi rides between their home and vaccination sites. Next, Gabon and Guinea have waived public transportation cost, while other economies (e.g., Hong Kong 111) introduced or increased the subsidies for public transportation. Gabon started free public transportation for all users in urban areas in April 2020, and the service continued through July 2021. Similarly, Azerbaijan halved the passenger public transportation rate (from 1.8 AZN to 0.9 AZN per person). 102 Anguilla (UK), Argentina, Aruba, Barbados, Belarus, Benin, China, Congo (Dem. Rep.), Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Guam, Guinea, Honduras, Jordan, Niger, North Macedonia, Russian Federation, Syrian Arab Republic, Tajikistan, Thailand, Togo, Turks and Caicos, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. 103 Argentina and Syria. 104 Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Congo (Dem. Rep.), Côte d'Ivoire, Fiji, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Iraq, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mongolia, Mozambique, Netherlands, Niger, Pakistan, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, and Zambia. 105 Bangladesh, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Congo (Dem. Rep.), Côte d'Ivoire, Fiji, Ghana, Guinea-Bissa, Iraq, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mongolia, Mozambique, Niger, Pakistan. Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, Togo, Uganda, and Zambia. 106 Bangladesh, Côte d’Ivoire, Lesotho, Rwanda, Uganda, etc. 107 Kenya, Lesotho, Zambia, etc. 108Bangladesh, Lesotho, Netherlands, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zambia. 109 Azerbaijan, Denmark, Ethiopia, Gabon, Guinea, Hong Kong, Japan, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Philippines, Russian Federation, Turkey, and Zimbabwe. 110 Japan, Turkey and Zimbabwe. 111 Azerbaijan, Malaysia, and Russian Federation. 47 In terms of human capital, governments of 36 countries 112 implemented 46 programs including waivers and deferrals in education and health. Around 28 programs in 24 countries (Armenia, etc. 113) have implemented subsidies and waivers on tuition fees, and deferral on student loans. They pertained mostly to higher education level (e.g., college, vocational studies, university), while lower levels (e.g., secondary) were also covered. For example, Jamaica announced that Covid-19 Student Loan Relief would provide deferral on student loan principal and interest payments for 3 months, until July 2020. Similarly, Fiji and Singapore have suspended the repayment of the loans. Some countries (e.g., Armenia) have also subsidised interest rate on student loans based on student’s performance. In Armenia, for graduating student’s fees that were paid through a student loan, the assistance received from the government will be directed to pay the loan. And the support was provided based on the merit: the interest rates on current and new loans for students with a GPA of more than 80 was zeroed for 2020, including for the students at state-accredited universities and Loan interest rates for students with a GPA less than 80 was subsidized by 5 percent and therefore, the loans were available at 4 percent. Next, Countries (e.g., Canada) have also increased the upper limit of the student loan. For example, Canada has increased the maximum weekly loan limit from $210 to $350 for the 2020 to 2021 school year. Next, 16 governments 114 have implemented 19 programs pertaining to partial or full fee waivers or subsidies. Some of these were targeted at students on tuition fee debt (e.g., Armenia), who have lost their parents working in healthcare sector to Covid-19 (e.g., Sierra Leone), whose parents were unemployed (e.g., Taiwan), and from low-income and vulnerable families (e.g., Georgia). Some countries (e.g., Togo) even exempted registration fees for school and university exams. A total of 18 programs in 15 countries (e.g., Cape Verde 115) have focused on waivers and subsidies related to healthcare, and also dealt with supply side 116 of the industry. Six countries 117 have subsidised or waived-off medical expenses related to testing (e.g., Algeria); treatment (e.g., Rwanda); medicine (e.g., Russia); hospital and doctor visit (e.g., France, Jersey, and St Kitts and Nevis); and transportation cost (e.g., Malaysia). For example, Algeria used the National Pension Fund to compensate for Covid-19 related analyses and tests. In June 2020, St Kitts and Nevis waived hospital and related fees for Covid infected people. In March 2021, Russia allocated additional 2.7 billion Roubles (equivalent to $ 35.4 million) for free medicines to patients with coronavirus. Public works Pandemic health and safety protocols made public works generally unsuitable in the early phases of the pandemic. Over time, countries implemented those programs with protective equipment 118 and organized activities in more 112 Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, China, Fiji, France, Georgia, Jamaica, Jersey, Kenya, Malaysia, Maldives, Micronesia, Nepal, North Macedonia, Poland, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Singapore, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Taiwan, Togo, Tonga, Turkey, Turks and Caicos islands, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. 113 Azerbaijan, Barbados, Canada, Chile, Fiji, Georgia, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, North Macedonia, Poland, Sierra Leone, Singapore, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Taiwan, China, Togo, Tonga, Turkey, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu 114 Armenia, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Canada, Chile, Georgia, Kenya, Nepal, North Macedonia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Taiwan, Togo, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. 115 Albania, Algeria, Austria, China, France, Georgia, Jersey, Malaysia, Micronesia, Russian Federation, Rwanda, St. Kitts and Nevis, Turkey, and Turks and Caicos islands. 116 A few programs were related to supply side. Cape Verde recruited caregivers to assist elderly in carrying out their daily assistance. Next, France, Malaysia, and Turks and Caicos islands have provided a wide variety of subsidies and waivers for home-based health support (e.g., Albania); psychological support related to mental health for the homeless (e.g., Malaysia) and students (e.g., France); and access to health for the unemployed (e.g., Turks and Caicos Islands). For example, since February 2021, France has been offering free psychological support via the platform (santepsy.etudiants.fr.) to students facing a situation of ill-being. These sessions can last up to 3 meetings of 45 minutes and are completely free of cost. 117 Algeria, Rwanda, Russian Federation, Malaysia, Micronesia, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Jersey 118 Initially, Kenya’s Kazi Mtaani program did not provide workers with protective masks and gloves. Eventually, these were made available in August 2020. 48 Covid-sensitive ways (e.g., reduced crew size and worker rotation in Ghana and Botswana). This section will also discuss different types of public works tasks related to the pandemic. Overall, 48 out of 223 countries/territories have implemented 77 public works programs since March 2020. Most of public works were implemented in lower-middle income countries, with the least number in high income settings; and those programs were mostly featured in Sub Saharan Africa, with the least number appearing in the Middle East and North Africa. Public works implemented during the pandemic can be broadly classified into two buckets, namely Covid-related and “classic” activities. Among the first cluster are three forms of public works: those with tasks that are indirectly related to Covid, particularly around Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH); activities that rose in salience, such as digital public works; and specific activities directly related to Covid-19. Examples for each of these three forms are hereafter offered. WASH activities include unclogging drainage, collecting garbage and cleaning streets (e.g., Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, and Nigeria) as well as constructing borewells and promoting clean drinking water (e.g., Guinea). In terms of digital public works, countries like Mali, Tanzania and Kenya have been piloting new approaches using mobile phones for uploading images helping the geolocation of slum services, identification of solid waste sites, green spaces, etc 119. Among more Covid-specific tasks, public works participants have been assigned to raise awareness about Covid- 19 as well as community health and hygiene. For example, Kenya encouraged people from creative industry (such as artists, musicians, performers, other self-employed) to participate in a scheme under which participants produced artwork to entertain and inform about Covid-19. In other cases, participants were engaged in contact tracing (e.g., Ghana); vaccination campaign (e.g., Jordan); preparation of protective equipment (Central African Republic); sanitization and fumigation of public and quarantine sites (e.g., South Africa, Guam, Kenya, Madagascar, Nigeria and Philippines). Indonesia’s public works program mobilized informal and self-employed workers to disinfect the public spaces in exchange for vouchers. Also, some countries leveraged public works to distribute food parcels during school closure (e.g., Guam, South Africa). Out of 48 countries that have implemented public works, about 12.5% engaged in this first bucket of Covid-related programs. The other bucket of public works involves more traditional activities. Most countries engaged in this second bucket of programs (68.8%), while about 18.8% presented some combo of Covid-related and classic public works. Classic activities were conducted in agriculture, irrigation, fishing and aquaculture (e.g., Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Mauritius. For example, Zambia, created about 150 permanent skilled or semi-skilled positions and 40 part-time unskilled jobs in agriculture and aquaculture value chains. Other works took place in the care sector: an example is South Africa (and Uzbekistan) where public works participants provided childcare and home-based care to elderly. Other works included construction and renovation (e.g., Bulgaria, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Mexico). An interesting example is Bhutan, where cash/reskill-for-work programmes were conducted to beautify and maintain main touristic attractions. Environmental activities were also present in, among others, Cambodia, Nepal, Pakistan, Palau, and Uzbekistan. For example, Armenia started a reforestation program to protect riverbeds from erosion and floods. Such works were conducted by hiring vulnerable groups in the agricultural sector to plant local willow trees and fencing the planted area. In terms of implementation, governments have introduced both full-time and part-time public work programs. For example, Cambodia provided short-term work opportunities to people who have lost their jobs and have 119 In Kenya, the program paid $3.12 for each task completed successfully. 49 returned to their hometown from both within and outside the country. Taiwan introduced part-time work opportunities in public agencies to foment labor market attachment. Among main design features and adaptations, countries have waived work requirements (7.8% out of 77 programs), which essentially made public works a cash transfer. This included at least 5 programs in Botswana, Ethiopia (UPSNP), Ghana, Rwanda, and South Sudan; three of those countries recently reinstated work requirements (i.e., Botswana, Ethiopia, Rwanda). A certain degree of flexibility was accorded to recruitment process. Due to travel and lockdown restrictions, five countries (e.g., Grenada, India, Kenya, Mali, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines) have recruited workers locally or have allotted work in their vicinity – hence avoiding major travel. Governments have provided advanced payments and have increased the program duration for which the individual is eligible. In Uzbekistan, participants typically had access to temporary jobs between two weeks and three months: during the pandemic, such period was increased to six months. And Ethiopia’s UPSNP provided three- month advance payments to its participants. In at least four cases, gender sensitive public works were implemented (e.g., Grenada, Nepal). For example, West Bank and Gaza’s cash-for-work program reserves at least half of its short-term employment opportunities to women. In some cases, flexibility was provided in working hours. For instance, mothers or caregivers of children in Ghana’s LIPW program benefitted from reduced working hours. About 60% of public works were new interventions 120. This included, for example, measures in areas previously unreached. For example, the Republic of Congo targeted urban areas, while other countries focused on youth, unemployed, or informal workers (Ghana, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Madagascar, and Papua New Guinea). Conversely, 11 programs expanded their scale based on preexisting programs, such as in Azerbaijan, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guam, Kazakhstan, Mexico, and St Vincent and the Grenadines. For example, Nigeria’s SPW program extended coverage of an ongoing, small-scale rural pilot nationally121. Similarly, Uganda’s Urban Cash for Work Program was expanded to main urban areas with high concentration of informal sector workers. Only a few countries increased benefits vertically (e.g., Ethiopia’s Rural PSNP, India and Mozambique) . For example, in April 2020, India’s NREGA increased the average daily wages by around 10%, from Rs.182 to Rs. 202. Wages were further increased in March 2021, but for a lower rate than in 2020. Similarly, Mozambique provided additional payments to Labour Intensive Public Work participants. Based on data for 31 programs (out of 77 programs) for which financing information is available, over half (55%) were externally funded. Around 39% utilized domestic sources. And 3% of programs relied on private funding, and another 3% on mixed sources. In terms of coverage, India’s NREGA tops the list by reaching 65.1 million beneficiaries (table A5). It is followed by Ethiopia’s Rural PSNP covering 2.9 million beneficiaries. The other scheme in Ethiopia, the Urban PSNP, comes in the fifth place covering a little over a million people, and finally, Madagascar’s Argent Contre Travail 120 This was the case in Armenia, Austria, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Congo, Grenada, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Latvia, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritius, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, South Africa, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Taiwan, West Bank and Gaza, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Jordan. 121 The Nigeria SPW program was designed and piloted to mitigate the lack of job opportunities in Nigeria’s rural areas through a short- term work for 1,000 unemployed Nigerian youth (aged 18 to 30) from each of the 8 states for a period of 3 months. On April 6th, 2020, government announced the extension of the pilot program to all 36 Nigerian States and the Federal Capital Territory from October to December, 2020 by employing 774,000 people. 50 Productif supported over 215,000 people. In relative terms, India reached 5% of the population, while Myanmar’s cash for work and Ethiopia’s Rural PSNP covered 3% each. Table A5. Top-10 public works programs by coverage Country Program Number of beneficiaries India India’s MGNREGA 65,100,000.00 Ethiopia Ethiopia's Rural PSNP 2,900,000.00 Philippines Philippines Bayanihan 1 2,600,000.00 Myanmar Myanmar cash-for-work 1,689,517.71 Ethiopia* Ethiopia's Urban PSNP 1,015,207.12 Philippines Philippines's Banyanihan 2 797,222.00 Indonesia Indonesia's Ministry of Public Works and 755,816.00 Public Housing Cash Labour-Intensive program South Africa South Africa's Presidential Employment 550,000.00 Stimulus Kenya Kenya's National hygiene program (Kazi 283,210.00 Mtaani) Madagascar Madagascar's Argent Contre Travail Productif 217,767.59 Country Program % of population India India’s MGNREGA 5% Myanmar Myanmar cash-for-work 3% Ethiopia Ethiopia's Rural PSNP 3% Philippines Philippines Bayanihan 1 2% Rwanda* Rwanda's Vision 2020 Umurenge 2% South Africa South Africa's Presidential Employment 1% Stimulus Azerbaijan Azerbaijan's public works 1% Ethiopia* Ethiopia's Urban PSNP 1% Madagascar Madagascar's Argent Contre Travail Productif 1% Philippines Philippines's Banyanihan 2 1% *Countries that have initially waived-off work requirements 51 Annex 2. Planned versus actual cash transfers coverage rates Spend local card (Jersey) 97.4% Universal $930 cash handouts (Japan) 92.6% COVID-19 relief funds (Korea, Rep.) 99.7% Grant to Every Citizen (Israel) 95.7% Triple stimulus voucher (Taiwan, China) 96.2% Bono Familiar Universal (Peru) 88.2% Compensation Bonus (El Salvador) 77.2% The Cash Payout Scheme (Hong Kong) 87.7% Universal one-off payment (Serbia) 89.0% Universal Cash transfer (Tuvalu) 89.1% Universal one-off transfer (Timor-Leste) 100.0% Care & Support Package one-off assistance (Singapore) 80.9% Bono Familia (Guatemala) 76.7% Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme (Pakistan) 52.4% National ID project incentive (Samoa) 72.7% Solidarity Bonus (Panama) 71.4% Social Amelioration Program (Philippines) 67.9% The Sudan Family Support Project (Sudan) 30.0% CARES Act stimulus check (United States) 49.2% Stay at Home program (Dominican Republic) 48.1% COVID-19 Economic Relief Plan (CERP) (Myanmar) 43.5% American Rescue Plan stimulus check (United States) 47.3% Consolidated Appropriations Act stimulus check (United States) 44.6% one-time emergency cash support (Tajikistan) 44.0% Tadamon (Morocco) 78.0% Child Money program (Mongolia) 36.2% WFP cash transfer (Eswatini) 38.1% Auxilio Emergencial 1 (AE1) (Brazil) 32.1% Bono Contra el Hambre (Bolivia) 34.2% Emergency Grant (Iraq) 28.8% Rao Chana (Thailand) 30.8% Bono 380 'Yo me quedo en casa (Peru) 28.8% Pandemic Social Support Program (Turkey) Planned coverage 29.9% One-time emergency income grant (Namibia) 34.1% Nafa Quick program (Gambia, The) Actual coverage 26.6% Social Welfare Department (Zimbabwe) 0.7% School Closure Support (Cook Island) (Cook Island) 27.0% Bono Familia (Bolivia) 24.9% Economic Support Payment (Australia) 26.5% Emergency National Social Solidarity Programme (Lebanon) 10.7% Bono Universal (Bolivia) 31.3% COVID-19 Cash Transfer Program (BCCAT) (Belize) 22.0% Post Emergency Direct Cash Transfers Program (PASD-PE Covid)… 8.7% One-off support to vulnerable pensioners (Ukraine) 24.0% Rao Mai Ting Gun (Thailand) 21.9% Pytyvõ Program (Paraguay) 16.8% Solidarity Income Program (Colombia) 21.4% Cash transfer (Gambia, The) 1.8% Bono de Protección Familiar por la Emergencia por la presencia… 30.6% Child one-off transfer (Russian Federation) 15.8% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% Note: The graph only displays numerically actual coverage rates (yellow bars) instead of both to reduce visual noise. 52 Annex 3. Rate of increase in cash transfer benefit size relative to pre-Covid level Child Money program (Mongolia) 400.00% Cash Transfer Program (Zimbabwe) 400.00% Strengthening the Adaptive and Scalable Safety Net System (Niger) 300.00% Emergency Cash Transfer (Uganda) 240.00% Public Assistance Grant (Trinidad and Tobago) 200.00% Earned-Income Tax Credit (United States) 176.61% Subsidio de contención familiar por fallecimiento (Argentina) 150.00% Child Support Grant (South Africa) 111.00% Child Care Allowance (CCA) (Russian Federation) 100.03% School Closure Support (Cook Island) 100.00% Tarjeta Uruguay Social (Uruguay) 100.00% Asignación Familiar Plan de Equidad (Uruguay) 100.00% Stimulus Package in Response to COVID (Turks and Caicos islands) 100.00% Disability allowance (Bahrain) 100.00% Public Assistance Programme (PAP) (Anguilla (UK)) 100.00% Aspiring Family Program (PKH) (Indonesia) 100.00% Child Allowance for Uninsured (Moldova) 100.00% Assistance to vulnerable children (Georgia) 100.00% Ep Fet Po cash transfer (Sierra Leone) 100.00% Support for Medical Professionals (Egypt, Arab Rep.) 75.00% AVERAGE 69.97% Solidarity Allowance (Algeria) 66.67% Valor Criança (Angola) 66.67% Universal child benefit (Lithuania) 66.67% Allocations Familiales (AF) (Cameroon) 60.71% Child Tax Credit (Northern Mariana Islands) 50.00% RSPF (Régime de Solidarité), / (French Polynesia) 50.00% Support package No. 13 (Armenia) 50.00% Programa Tekoporã (Paraguay) 50.00% Because We Care Cash Grant (Guyana) 50.00% Support program for the well-being of working mothers (Mexico) 46.00% Emergency Cash Transfer (Yemen) 45.00% Welfare department programmes (Barbados) 40.00% C19_Cash transfer for the elderly. (Turkey) 33.33% C19_Cash trasnfer (Turkey) 29.00% Informal Sector Support (Tunisia) 27.78% Back-to-school allowance (France) 27.11% Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) Cash Transfer (Ghana) 26.32% Ajutor Social (Moldova) 25.00% The urban safety net programme (Somalia) 23.80% Rural PSNP (Ethiopia) 22.00% Thrifty Food Plan (United States) 21.00% Social Pension Program (Tanzania) 20.00% The children's benefit and payments of financial support to needy families… 20.00% Ajutor Social (Moldova) 17.74% Targeted Social Assistance Program (Tajikistan) 17.14% Third Economic Impact Payments (American Rescue Plan) (United States) 16.67% SNAP (United States) 15.00% Integration Income (Belgium) 15.00% CARES Act (Azerbaijan) 15.00% Social Support for Specific Categories of Individuals (Belarus) 14.71% Old Age Pension (China) 14.29% Senior Citizen’s Benefit Scheme/Pension (Samoa) 10.34% Pension system (Uzbekistan) 10.00% Disability allowance (Uzbekistan) 10.00% Special Education Needs (Mauritius) 9.92% Qualified Adult Allowance (Ireland) 9.13% 0% 200% 400% Percentage increase of COVID transfers compared to pre-COVID level 53 Annex 4. Methodology for estimating social assistance and cash transfers coverage There are many ways to define “coverage” and what constitutes a “beneficiary”. Various approaches have pros and cons, and it is important to clearly spell out assumptions and methods underpinning estimates. This methodological note, developed in alignment and partnership with the World Bank ASPIRE team, sets out the approach adopted for definitions and estimates by the tracker. “Coverage”: we define coverage as the number of individuals reached by the highest coverage program in each country. Unless specified differently, estimates refer to actual numbers (not planned beneficiaries). Coverage is defined independently of the duration of programs (i.e., one-off or multiple transfers) reported during the period from March 2020 to January 2022. The indicator includes the horizontal expansion through Covid-related programs, including new measures or extension of existing schemes. The choice of considering only the program with the highest coverage avoids the risk of duplications (counting beneficiaries more than once due to overlapping programs). This approach provides a “minimum” number of beneficiaries covered. However, such approach may be conservative and underestimate program coverage. Note that reported coverage estimates refer to coverage attained during the unfolding of the pandemic, that is, almost two years of Covid-related activities (2020-2021) instead of a single year as coverage numbers are normally reported in pre-Covid times. Programs refer to schemes that were explicitly addressing the Covid crisis among their stated objectives; other programs may have recently been introduced, e.g., for response to displacement crises, energy subsidy reforms or locust response, and these weren’t counted as part of the health pandemic responses. “Direct” and “indirect” beneficiaries: the former are beneficiaries directly targeted by the program, while the latter includes individuals who live in the same household where at least one member receives the program. Because beneficiary numbers can be expressed in “individuals” or “household” units, we assume that all programs that report beneficiary households are indeed meant to serve the household as a whole. As such. all members are considered direct beneficiaries: in this case, we multiply the number of households by the country average household size to obtain individual direct beneficiaries. If the program already reports individual beneficiaries, we assume they are all direct beneficiaries. To estimate coverage of indirect beneficiaries, we multiply by the household size also programs that reported coverage of “individuals”. Since for programs that target households were already converted using household size, this is kept the same. In other words, for programs that targets households direct and indirect coverage is the same (see example below). Aggregate estimates for “indirect” beneficiaries would more than double the level of coverage relative to the “direct” method: specifically, estimates for the former would be 3,001,962,786 people for social assistance and 2,866,385,112 beneficiaries for cash transfers. Household size: to calculate the number of household members for each country, we used countries’ average household size acquired from the UN Database on Household Size and Composition 122. One caveat with this conversion method is that using average household size of the country, and not of the program, can overestimate the indirect coverage. This issue was detected in some countries as converting the highest coverage program led to above 100% coverage of the population. In such cases, we capped the coverage to 100% (i.e., total population). Example: the below grid illustrates the difference between how we calculate direct and indirect. County A is supporting 300 households and country B is supporting 500 individuals (for Country A has an average household size= 2, while for country B such size = 3). 122 United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (2019) Database on Household Size and Composition 2019 (https://population.un.org/Household/index.html). 54 Type of coverage Calculation Coverage of individuals Direct coverage for country A 300 households*2 600 individuals Indirect coverage for country A 300 households*2 600 individuals Direct coverage B 500 individuals 500 individuals Indirect coverage B 500 individuals *3 1,500 individuals Underestimation of global aggregates 123: as mentioned, global aggregates sum the coverage of the largest program per country. Aggregates for both “direct” beneficiaries (which was used in the text) and one for “indirect” beneficiaries may underestimate coverage for the same reasons laid out earlier (i.e., they avoid double counting, but possibly being on the lower bound of coverage estimates). To counter such underestimation, it is possible to identify a factor that would help estimate a realistic, reasonable number of beneficiaries beyond the “minimum” coverage as provided by the program of highest coverage in a country. How should such factor be calculated? Based on most recent survey data available from 113 countries in the ASPIRE database (80% of the information is derived from 2010-2019), we calculated two ratios, namely: (a) the median ratio of the coverage of the largest program to the overall coverage of social assistance in a country, which = 1.2 (i.e., adding 20% of beneficiaries to the “minimum” number of coverage level reported); (b) the same median ratio calculated in reference to overall coverage of social protection and labor, which = 1.7 (an increase of 70%). We opted to report the median ratio, as opposed to a weighted average, because for social protection and labor expansion factors we had four outlier countries with large expansion factors (over 10). These factors are based on pre-Covid surveys, hence generating estimates likely lower than Covid-related measures. 123 We are very thankful to Ana Sofia Martinez Cordova from the WBG ASPIRE team for her excellent analysis for this section. 55 Annex 5. Coverage of cash transfers Number of Beneficiaries Program name (country/economy) Program name (country/economy) beneficiaries as % pop Universal one-off transfer (Timor- PMJDY (India) 200,000,000 100% Leste) CARES Act stimulus check (United 162,000,000.00 COVID-19 relief funds (Korea, Rep.) 100% States) Universal $930 cash handouts (Japan) 116,520,000 Spend local card (Jersey) 97% Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme Triple stimulus voucher (Taiwan, 115,680,417 96% (Pakistan) China) Dibao (China) 83,900,000 Grant to Every Citizen (Israel) 96% Social Amelioration Program 74,379,759 Universal $930 cash handouts (Japan) 93% (Philippines) Auxilio Emergencial 1 (Brazil) 68,300,000 Universal Cash transfer (Tuvalu) 89% COVID-19 relief funds (Korea, Rep.) 51,606,633 Universal one-off payment (Serbia) 89% Village Funds Unconditional Cash 42,453,980 Bono Familiar Universal (Peru) 88% Transfers (Indonesia) The Cash Payout Scheme (Hong Bono Familiar Universal (Peru) 29,076,779 88% Kong) Care & Support Package one-off Tadamon (Morocco) 28,798,915 81% assistance (Singapore) Pandemic Social Support Program 25,242,145 Tadamon (Morocco) 78% (Turkey) COVID-19 Economic Relief Plan 23,653,248 Compensation Bonus (El Salvador) 77% (Myanmar) Triple stimulus voucher (Taiwan, China) 22,970,000 Bono Familia (Guatemala) 77% Child one-off transfer (Russian 22,800,000 COVID-19 relief package (Guyana) 74% Federation) Rao Chana (Thailand) 21,500,000 National ID project incentive (Samoa) 73% National Social Safety Net Program 18,135,286 Solidarity Bonus (Panama) 71% (Nigeria) Poor families cash assistance Social Amelioration Program 14,303,085 68% (Bangladesh) (Philippines) Universal credit standard allowance Ingreso Familiar de Emergencia 13,377,089 63% (United Kingdom) (Chile) The Sudan Family Support Project Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme 13,137,383 52% (Sudan) (Pakistan) CARES Act stimulus check (United Bono Familia (Guatemala) 12,937,068 49% States) Stay at Home program (Dominican Ingreso Familiar de Emergencia (Chile) 12,121,438 48% Republic) One-time emergency cash support Emergency Grant (Iraq) 11,580,000 44% (Tajikistan) COVID-19 Economic Relief Plan Solidarity Income Program (Colombia) 10,880,293 43% (Myanmar) 56 Number of Beneficiaries Program name (country/economy) Program name (country/economy) beneficiaries as % pop One-off support to vulnerable pensioners 10,600,000 WFP cash transfer (Eswatini) 38% (Ukraine) Relaunch Decree (Italy) 9,840,000 Child Money program (Mongolia) 36% Emergency Family Income (Argentina) 9,000,000 Bono Contra el Hambre (Bolivia) 34% One-time emergency income grant Grant to Every Citizen (Israel) 8,820,000 34% (Namibia) VND 500,000 allowance for poor 7,953,060 Auxilio Emergencial 1 (Brazil) 32% households (Vietnam) Tourism voucher for families with Covid-19 safety net support 7,000,000 31% children (Poland) (Mauritania) Economic Support Payment (Australia) 6,800,000 Rao Chana (Thailand) 31% Bono de Protección Familiar The Cash Payout Scheme (Hong Kong) 6,558,910 31% (Ecuador) The Sudan Family Support Project Universal one-off payment (Serbia) 6,145,529 30% (Sudan) COVID 19 Social Relief of Distress grants Pandemic Social Support Program 6,000,000 30% (South Africa) (Turkey) Bono de Protección Familiar (Ecuador) 5,404,238 Emergency Grant (Iraq) 29% Stay at Home program (Dominican 5,216,900 School Closure Support (Cook Island) 27% Republic) Loss of Livelihood Program (Sri Lanka) 5,086,080 Nafa Quick program (Gambia, The) 27% Economic Support Payment Compensation Bonus (El Salvador) 5,006,072 26% (Australia) National Safety Net Programme (NSNP) One-off support to vulnerable 4,730,471 24% (Kenya) pensioners (Ukraine) Care & Support Package one-off Loss of Livelihood Program (Sri 4,600,000 23% assistance (Singapore) Lanka) One-time emergency cash support COVID-19 Cash Transfer Program 4,195,197 22% (Tajikistan) (Belize) Monthly payments of US$100 Solidarity Income Program 4,000,000 21% (Kazakhstan) (Colombia) Monthly payments of US$100 Bono Contra el Hambre (Bolivia) 3,991,179 21% (Kazakhstan) COVID-19 Cash Transfer Programme for Universal credit standard allowance 3,228,290 20% ID Poor Households (Cambodia) (United Kingdom) Emergency Family Income Solidarity Bonus (Panama) 3,079,571 20% (Argentina) Corona support package (Iran, Islamic Emergency Social Income for 3,000,000 20% Rep.) Inclusion (Cape Verde) Post Emergency Direct Cash Transfers COVID-19 Cash Transfer Programme 2,722,427 19% Program (Mozambique) for ID Poor Households (Cambodia) 57 Number of Beneficiaries Program name (country/economy) Program name (country/economy) beneficiaries as % pop Exceptional cash assistance (Egypt, Arab Tourism voucher for families with 1,974,550 18% Rep.) children (Poland) Strengthening the Adaptive and Scalable Emergency cash transfer (Congo, 1,843,099 17% Safety Net System (Niger) Rep.) Aide exceptionnelle de 200 dinars 1,480,000 Pytyvõ Program (Paraguay) 17% (Tunisia) Covid-19 safety net support (Mauritania) 1,436,400 Relaunch Decree (Italy) 17% Prihatin Rakyat Economic Stimulus Child one-off transfer (Russian 1,400,000 16% Package (Malaysia) Federation) Self-Employed Assistance Scheme Universal one-off transfer (Timor-Leste) 1,318,442 16% (Mauritius) Village Funds Unconditional Cash Pytyvõ Program (Paraguay) 1,200,000 16% Transfers (Indonesia) Child Money program (Mongolia) 1,186,289 PMJDY (India) 14% Temporary Cash transfer (Jordan) 1,118,347 Protect Grant (Costa Rica) 14% TOSIKA FAMENO (Madagascar) 1,064,552 Social Safety Net Comoros (Comoros) 13% COVID Allocation of Resources for Cash transfers (Zambia) 1,046,681 13% Employees (Jamaica) Aide exceptionnelle de 200 dinars Emergency cash transfer (Congo, Rep.) 947,629 13% (Tunisia) One-time emergency income grant One-off assistance for worker 867,281 12% (Namibia) (Kosovo) Novissi (Togo) 819,972 Temporary Cash transfer (Jordan) 11% Nutirition Sensitive Direct Support Emergency National Social Solidarity 814,032 11% (Rwanda) Programme (Lebanon) COVID 19 Social Relief of Distress Ingreso Mínimo Vital (Spain) 731,445 10% grants (South Africa) Emergency National Social Solidarity 731,000 One-off compensation (Georgia) 10% Programme (Lebanon) Protect Grant (Costa Rica) 723,520 Novissi (Togo) 10% Temporary jobseeker’s allowance Nafa Quick program (Gambia, The) 641,915 10% (Lithuania) National Social Safety Net Program COVID-19 relief package (Guyana) 580,666 9% (Nigeria) National Safety Net Programme Cash transfer (Azerbaijan) 555,000 9% (NSNP) (Kenya) Post Emergency Direct Cash Transfers WFP cash transfer (Eswatini) 441,800 9% Program (Mozambique) Poor families cash assistance Baxnano program (Somalia) 433,520 9% (Bangladesh) 58 Number of Beneficiaries Program name (country/economy) Program name (country/economy) beneficiaries as % pop VND 500,000 allowance for poor Solidarity Fund (Burkina Faso) 413,260 8% households (Vietnam) COVID Allocation of Resources for Child Grants Programme and Old Age 378,919 8% Employees (Jamaica) Pension (Lesotho) Strengthening the Adaptive and One-off compensation (Georgia) 371,233 8% Scalable Safety Net System (Niger) Transfert en espèces unique (Haiti) 319,959 Druk Gyalpo’s Relief Kidu (Bhutan) 7% Nutirition Sensitive Direct Support Informal workers support (Zimbabwe) 309,146 6% (Rwanda) Temporary jobseeker’s allowance Council of Ministers Decision No. 305 266,000 6% (Lithuania) (Albania) Secondary school students assistance Unique Bonus (Honduras) 260,000 6% (Tonga) Employees benefits (Greece) 246,767 Dibao (China) 6% COVID-19 Emergency Cash Transfers Income Support Grants (Trinidad and 211,281 6% (Sierra Leone) Tobago) One-off assistance for worker (Kosovo) 206,852 Cash transfers (Zambia) 6% Emergency cash transfer (West Bank and 197,573 Cash transfer (Azerbaijan) 5% Gaza) Self-Employed Assistance Scheme Programme Nationale de Solidarite 197,000 5% (Mauritius) Famille (Djibouti) Council of Ministers Decision No. 305 Prihatin Rakyat Economic Stimulus 176,000 4% (Albania) Package (Malaysia) Child Grants Programme and Old Age COVID-19 Emergency Income 167,247 4% Pension (Lesotho) Support Project (Maldives) Proteccion of self-employed and informal Emergency cash transfer (West Bank 156,313 4% workers (Portugal) and Gaza) National ID project incentive (Samoa) 144,275 TOSIKA FAMENO (Madagascar) 4% COVID-19 economic response, April 6 Corona support package (Iran, Islamic 125,016 4% 2020 (Guinea) Rep.) Humanitarian Emergency Solidarity and Barbados Adopt-A-Family programme 125,000 3% Support Fund (Côte d'Ivoire) (Barbados) Social Safety Net Comoros (Comoros) 116,027 Transfert en espèces unique (Haiti) 3% Emergency Social Income for Inclusion 109,450 Unemployment benefit (Montenegro) 3% (Cape Verde) Spend local card (Jersey) 105,000 Baxnano program (Somalia) 3% Support program for the well-being of COVID-19 Emergency Cash Transfers 102,219 3% working mothers (Mexico) (Sierra Leone) COVID-19 Cash Transfer Program 87,584 Unique Bonus (Honduras) 3% (Belize) 59 Number of Beneficiaries Program name (country/economy) Program name (country/economy) beneficiaries as % pop Income Support Grants (Trinidad and 82,500 Employees benefits (Greece) 2% Tobago) Family targetеd monthly allowance 82,110 Informal workers support (Zimbabwe) 2% (Bulgaria) PACAD (Central African Republic) 77,527 Solidarity Fund (Burkina Faso) 2% Exceptional cash assistance (Egypt, Emergency Cash Transfer (Liberia) 65,362 2% Arab Rep.) Child-Sensitive Social Protection 56,200 PACAD (Central African Republic) 2% (Uganda) Programme Nationale de Solidarite 53,648 Parental Benefit (Malta) 2% Famille (Djibouti) Druk Gyalpo’s Relief Kidu (Bhutan) 52,644 Ingreso Mínimo Vital (Spain) 2% Emergency Cash-For-Work (Congo, Proteccion of self-employed and 50,000 2% Dem. Rep.) informal workers (Portugal) Social support for vulnerable and Kwenda (Angola) 27,969 affected people (St. Vincent and the 1% Grenadines) COVID-19 Emergency Income Support 22,946 Public Assistance Program (St. Lucia) 1% Project (Maldives) GMI (North Macedonia) 17,534 Emergency Cash Transfer (Liberia) 1% Family targetеd monthly allowance Unemployment benefit (Montenegro) 17,157 1% (Bulgaria) Temporary cash transfer for vulnerable COVID-19 economic response, April 13,172 1% families (Guinea-Bissau) 6 2020 (Guinea) Universal Cash transfer (Tuvalu) 10,507 GMI (North Macedonia) 1% Barbados Adopt-A-Family programme Temporary cash transfer for vulnerable 10,014 1% (Barbados) families (Guinea-Bissau) Cash assistance to workers in cultural and Humanitarian Emergency Solidarity 9,500 0.47% creative arts sector (Finland) and Support Fund (Côte d'Ivoire) Economic Stimulus Package Parental Benefit (Malta) 8,360 0.47% (Micronesia, Fed. Sts.) Covid unemployed support program Tofa (Netherlands) 7,500 0.34% (Cyprus) Supplemental Unemployment Benefit Labour Intensive Public Works (Nepal) 7,000 0.20% (Bermuda) Secondary school students assistance Cash assistance to workers in cultural 6,509 0.17% (Tonga) and creative arts sector (Finland) Child-Sensitive Social Protection School Closure Support (Cook Island) 4,742 0.12% (Uganda) Covid unemployed support program Parental allowance for disabled 4,060 0.10% (Cyprus) children (Estonia) 60 Number of Beneficiaries Program name (country/economy) Program name (country/economy) beneficiaries as % pop Public Assistance Program (St. Lucia) 2,380 Kwenda (Angola) 0.09% Social support for vulnerable and affected Support program for the well-being of 1,644 0.08% people (St. Vincent and the Grenadines) working mothers (Mexico) Emergency Cash-For-Work (Congo, Creative sector workers grant (Belgium) 1,572 0.06% Dem. Rep.) Parental allowance for disabled children 1,298 Tofa (Netherlands) 0.04% (Estonia) Economic Stimulus Package (Micronesia, Labour Intensive Public Works 535 0.02% Fed. Sts.) (Nepal) UNDP cash support (Gabon) 500 UNDP cash support (Gabon) 0.02% Creative sector workers grant Tour guides support (Czech Republic) 404 0.014% (Belgium) Supplemental Unemployment Benefit 127 Tour guides support (Czech Republic) 0.004% (Bermuda) Public works (Mali) 119 Public works (Mali) 0.001% Note: all estimates refer to direct and actual beneficiaries; as explained in annex 4, estimates refer to the highest coverage program in the country. 61 Annex 6. Timeliness of cash transfers Program Type of adaptation Number of days Programa Tekoporã (Paraguay) Vertical 0 Cash transfers for positive COVID test individuals Horizontal 2 (Colombia) Lump-sum payments to families with childern (Lithuania) Vertical 2 Social Assistance to Children of Individual Entrepreneurs Horizontal 2 (Ukraine) Taka 1,250 crore cash assistance (Bangladesh) Horizontal 3 Solidarity Income Program (Colombia) Horizontal 3 Social Security Allowance Scheme one-off support (Hong Vertical 3 Kong) COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program First Tranche Horizontal 3 (Philippines) Abot Kamay ang Pagtulong First Tranche (Philippines) Horizontal 3 COVID Spa programme (Czech Republic) Horizontal 4 BReST project (Gambia, The) Vertical 4 Grants for the self-employed (Lithuania) Horizontal 4 Emergency COVID-19 social cash transfer scheme Both 4 (Zambia) Pandemic-related parental leave (Luxembourg) Horizontal 5 Child Money program (Mongolia) Both 5 Unconditional Cash Transfer for Non-Jabodetabek (BST) Horizontal 6 (Indonesia) Auxilio Emergencial 1 (Brazil) Horizontal 7 Nutritional Support Bonus (Ecuador) Horizontal 7 Temporary cash assistance to casual labour workers Horizontal 7 (Egypt, Arab Rep.) Student Relief Fund (Gambia, The) Horizontal 7 Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana Package (India) Admin 7 Uruguay Social card (Uruguay) Vertical 7 Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) women Horizontal 8 account holders (India) Aspiring Family Program (PKH) (Indonesia) Both 8 Corona support package (Iran, Islamic Rep.) Horizontal 8 Takaful 2 (Jordan) Horizontal 8 Wage increase for healthcare workers (Latvia) Vertical 8 Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme (Pakistan) Horizontal 8 Relief payment to 900,000 people (Taiwan, China) Horizontal 8 Compensation Bonus (El Salvador) Horizontal 9 Permanent Financial Assistance (Cayman Islands) Vertical 10 Tosika Fameno (Madagascar) Horizontal 10 Panama Solidarity Plan (Panama) Horizontal 10 62 Program Type of adaptation Number of days $1,000 to frontline cleansing workers, toilet attendants Horizontal 11 and security workers (Hong Kong) Emergency livelihood assistance (Korea, Rep.) Horizontal 12 One-off scheme (Sierra Leone) Horizontal 12 Families in Action Program (Colombia) Vertical 13 Cash Payout Scheme (Hong Kong) Horizontal 13 National Social Assistance Program (India) Vertical 13 Special cash payment (Japan) Horizontal 14 Youth in Action Program (Colombia) Both 15 Program for the Elderly Colombia (Colombia) Vertical 15 Permanent increase in main benefits (New Zealand) Vertical 15 Tourist guides UCT (Colombia) Horizontal 16 Myan Ku (Myanmar) Horizontal 16 Senior Citizens' Allowance (Sri Lanka) Horizontal 16 Disability Allowance (Sri Lanka) Horizontal 16 Kidney Disease Allowance (Sri Lanka) Horizontal 16 Universal credit standard allowance (United Kingdom) Both 16 Wealth partaking scheme (Macao SAR, China) Admin 17 Low-income persons affected by the COVID-19 Horizontal 17 pandemic weekly payments (Thailand) Covid-19 financial relief check (Guam) Horizontal 18 Economic Support Payment (Australia) Horizontal 19 COVID-19 relief package (Guyana) Horizontal 19 One-time top-up of SSN (Iraq) Vertical 20 Pytyvõ Program (Paraguay) Horizontal 20 Disability interim assistance (Trinidad and Tobago) Vertical 21 Emergency National Social Solidarity Programme Horizontal 22 (Lebanon) COVID-19 Pandemic one-off Cash Assistance (Ukraine) Vertical 22 Self-Employed Person Income Relief Scheme (Singapore) Horizontal 25 Bolsa Familia (Brazil) Both 27 Coronavirus relief payments (Korea, Rep.) Horizontal 27 Cash-for-jabs scheme (Serbia) Horizontal 27 Childcare allowance (Latvia) Horizontal 28 Government-issued stimulus vouchers (Taiwan, China) Horizontal 29 COVID-19 Cash Transfer Programme for ID Poor Horizontal 31 Households (Cambodia) Emergency Hardship Fund (Cook Island) Horizontal 31 Vulnerable Family Survival Programme (Barbados) Horizontal 32 COVID-19 allowance/voucher for civil servants Horizontal 33 (Zimbabwe) 63 Program Type of adaptation Number of days Cash transfer to 1000 extremely vulnerable households Horizontal 35 (Gambia) Emergency Grant (Iraq) Horizontal 35 Top up of cash transfer programs (Ecuador) Vertical 36 Garment workers emergency income support (Lao PDR) Horizontal 38 Bono Familia (Guatemala) Horizontal 40 Special allowance, Income Support Allowance (Maldives) Horizontal 40 Cash transfer program supporting parents of girls aged 9 Horizontal 42 to 15 (Benin) COVID-19 economic response (Guinea) Horizontal 42 Working Family Allowance one-off special allowance Vertical 42 (Hong Kong) Emergency cash transfer (Sudan) Horizontal 42 One-off cash transfer (Timor-Leste) Horizontal 42 Triple stimulus voucher (Taiwan, China) Horizontal 43 Emergency aid payments for freelance artists (Croatia) Horizontal 44 Self-employed one-off lump sum subsidy (Hong Kong) Horizontal 47 Additional subsidy for informal workers (Timor-Leste) Horizontal 50 Extraordinary bonus for medical staff (Czech Republic) Horizontal 53 Relief Grants for Athletes (Zimbabwe) Horizontal 53 Montserrado County cash transfers (Liberia) Horizontal 56 Spend local card (Jersey) Horizontal 61 COVID-19 Cash Transfer Program (Belize) Horizontal 64 School Uniform Voucher Allowance (Guyana) Vertical 67 One-off universal child benefit (Iceland) Horizontal 72 Toimeentulotuki temporary compensation (Finland) Horizontal 80 Takaful 3(Jordan) Horizontal 80 Relief Grants for Artists (Zimbabwe) Horizontal 83 Relief fund for artists, athletes and technical personnel Horizontal 86 (South Africa) Relief Fund for tourist guides (South Africa) Horizontal 87 Grants for low-income families (Iceland) Horizontal 102 One-off GST Voucher (Singapore) Horizontal 119 64 Annex 7. Overview of social protection measures by component SOCIAL ASSISTANCE SOCIAL INSURANCE LABOR MARKETS Utility Pensions Cash- In-kind (in- Health Social security Labor Reduced Public and Paid and Wage Activation Countries based kind/school insurance contributions regulation work time Works financial leave/unemployment disability subsidy (training) transfers feeding) support (waiver/subsidy) adjustment subsidy support benefits Afghanistan ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Albania ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Algeria ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ American Samoa ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Andorra ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Angola ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Anguilla (UK) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Antigua and Barbuda ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Argentina ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Armenia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Aruba ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Australia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Austria ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Azerbaijan ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Bahamas, the ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Bahrain ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Bangladesh ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Barbados ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Belarus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Belgium ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Belize ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Benin ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 65 SOCIAL ASSISTANCE SOCIAL INSURANCE LABOR MARKETS Utility Pensions Cash- In-kind (in- Health Social security Labor Reduced Public and Paid and Wage Activation Countries based kind/school insurance contributions regulation work time Works financial leave/unemployment disability subsidy (training) transfers feeding) support (waiver/subsidy) adjustment subsidy support benefits Bermuda ✓ ✓ ✓ Bhutan ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Bolivia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Bosnia and Herzegovina ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Botswana ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Brazil ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ British Virgin Islands ✓ ✓ ✓ Brunei Darussalam ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Bulgaria ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Burkina Faso ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Burundi ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Cambodia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Cameroon ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Canada ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Cape Verde ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Caribbean Netherlands ✓ ✓ ✓ Cayman Islands ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Central African Republic ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Chad ✓ ✓ Chile ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ China ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Colombia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 66 SOCIAL ASSISTANCE SOCIAL INSURANCE LABOR MARKETS Utility Pensions Cash- In-kind (in- Health Social security Labor Reduced Public and Paid and Wage Activation Countries based kind/school insurance contributions regulation work time Works financial leave/unemployment disability subsidy (training) transfers feeding) support (waiver/subsidy) adjustment subsidy support benefits Comoros ✓ ✓ ✓ Congo, Dem. Rep. ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Congo, Rep. ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Cook Island ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Costa Rica ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Côte d'Ivoire ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Croatia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Cuba ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Curaçao ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Cyprus ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Czech Republic ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Denmark ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Djibouti ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Dominica ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Dominican Republic ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Ecuador ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Egypt, Arab Rep. ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ El Salvador ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Equatorial Guinea ✓ ✓ ✓ Eritrea ✓ ✓ ✓ Estonia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Eswatini ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Ethiopia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 67 SOCIAL ASSISTANCE SOCIAL INSURANCE LABOR MARKETS Utility Pensions Cash- In-kind (in- Health Social security Labor Reduced Public and Paid and Wage Activation Countries based kind/school insurance contributions regulation work time Works financial leave/unemployment disability subsidy (training) transfers feeding) support (waiver/subsidy) adjustment subsidy support benefits Faroe Islands ✓ Fiji ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Finland ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ France ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ French Polynesia ✓ ✓ Gabon ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Gambia, The ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Georgia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Germany ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Ghana ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Gibraltar ✓ ✓ ✓ Greece ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Greenland ✓ Grenada ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Guam ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Guatemala ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Guernsey ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Guinea ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Guinea-Bissau ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Guyana ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Haiti ✓ ✓ ✓ Honduras ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Hong Kong ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Hungary ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Iceland ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 68 SOCIAL ASSISTANCE SOCIAL INSURANCE LABOR MARKETS Utility Pensions Cash- In-kind (in- Health Social security Labor Reduced Public and Paid and Wage Activation Countries based kind/school insurance contributions regulation work time Works financial leave/unemployment disability subsidy (training) transfers feeding) support (waiver/subsidy) adjustment subsidy support benefits India ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Indonesia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Iran, Islamic Rep. ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Iraq ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Ireland ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Isle of Man ✓ ✓ Israel ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Italy ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Jamaica ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Japan ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Jersey ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Jordan ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Kazakhstan ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Kenya ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Kiribati ✓ ✓ ✓ Korea, Rep. ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Kosovo ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Kuwait ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Kyrgyz Republic ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Lao PDR ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Latvia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Lebanon ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Lesotho ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Liberia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Libya ✓ ✓ 69 SOCIAL ASSISTANCE SOCIAL INSURANCE LABOR MARKETS Utility Pensions Cash- In-kind (in- Health Social security Labor Reduced Public and Paid and Wage Activation Countries based kind/school insurance contributions regulation work time Works financial leave/unemployment disability subsidy (training) transfers feeding) support (waiver/subsidy) adjustment subsidy support benefits Liechtenstein ✓ ✓ ✓ Lithuania ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Luxembourg ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Macao SAR, China ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Madagascar ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Malawi ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Malaysia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Maldives ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Mali ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Malta ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Marshall Islands ✓ ✓ Mauritania ✓ ✓ ✓ Mauritius ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Mexico ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Micronesia, Fed. Sts. ✓ ✓ ✓ Moldova ✓ ✓ Monaco ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Mongolia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Montenegro ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Montserrat (UK) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Morocco ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Mozambique ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Myanmar ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Namibia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 70 SOCIAL ASSISTANCE SOCIAL INSURANCE LABOR MARKETS Utility Pensions Cash- In-kind (in- Health Social security Labor Reduced Public and Paid and Wage Activation Countries based kind/school insurance contributions regulation work time Works financial leave/unemployment disability subsidy (training) transfers feeding) support (waiver/subsidy) adjustment subsidy support benefits Nepal ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Netherlands ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ New Caledonia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ New Zealand ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Nicaragua ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Niger ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Nigeria ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ North Macedonia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Northern Mariana Islands ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Norway ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Oman ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Pakistan ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Palau ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Panama ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Papua New Guinea ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Paraguay ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Peru ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Philippines ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Poland ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Portugal ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Puerto Rico ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Qatar ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Réunion (France) 71 SOCIAL ASSISTANCE SOCIAL INSURANCE LABOR MARKETS Utility Pensions Cash- In-kind (in- Health Social security Labor Reduced Public and Paid and Wage Activation Countries based kind/school insurance contributions regulation work time Works financial leave/unemployment disability subsidy (training) transfers feeding) support (waiver/subsidy) adjustment subsidy support benefits Romania ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Russian Federation ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Rwanda ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Saint Martin (French part) ✓ Saint Pierre and Miquelon (France) ✓ Samoa ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ San Marino ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ São Tomé and Principe ✓ ✓ Saudi Arabia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Senegal ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Serbia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Seychelles ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Sierra Leone ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Singapore ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Sint Maarten (Dutch part) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Slovak Republic ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Slovenia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Solomon Islands ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Somalia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ South Africa ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ South Sudan ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Spain ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 72 SOCIAL ASSISTANCE SOCIAL INSURANCE LABOR MARKETS Utility Pensions Cash- In-kind (in- Health Social security Labor Reduced Public and Paid and Wage Activation Countries based kind/school insurance contributions regulation work time Works financial leave/unemployment disability subsidy (training) transfers feeding) support (waiver/subsidy) adjustment subsidy support benefits Sri Lanka ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ St. Kitts and Nevis ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ St. Lucia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ St. Vincent and the Grenadines ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Sudan ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Suriname ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Sweden ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Switzerland ✓ ✓ ✓ Syrian Arab Republic ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Taiwan, China ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Tajikistan ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Tanzania ✓ ✓ ✓ Thailand ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Timor-Leste ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Togo ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Tonga ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Trinidad and Tobago ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Tunisia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Turkey ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Turkmenistan ✓ ✓ ✓ Turks and Caicos islands ✓ ✓ Tuvalu ✓ ✓ ✓ 73 SOCIAL ASSISTANCE SOCIAL INSURANCE LABOR MARKETS Utility Pensions Cash- In-kind (in- Health Social security Labor Reduced Public and Paid and Wage Activation Countries based kind/school insurance contributions regulation work time Works financial leave/unemployment disability subsidy (training) transfers feeding) support (waiver/subsidy) adjustment subsidy support benefits Uganda ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Ukraine ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ United Arab Emirates ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ United Kingdom ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ United States ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Uruguay ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Uzbekistan ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Vanuatu ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Venezuela, RB ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Vietnam ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Virgin Islands (U.S.) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ West Bank and Gaza ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Yemen ✓ ✓ ✓ Zambia ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ Zimbabwe ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 74 Annex 8. Measures by countries and territories 1. Afghanistan 41. Chad 83. Guatemala 124. Malaysia 166. Russia 205. Turkey 2. Albania 42. Chile 84. Guernsey (UK) 125. Maldives 167. Rwanda 206. Turkmenistan 3. Algeria 43. China 85. Guinea 126. Mali 168. Saint Martin 207. Turks and Caicos 4. American Samoa 44. Colombia 86. Guinea-Bissau 127. Malta 169. Saint Pierre & Miquelon Islands (UK) 5. Andorra 45. Comoros 87. Guyana 128. Marshall Islands (France) 208. Tuvalu 6. Angola 46. Congo, Dem. Rep. 88. Haiti 129. Mauritania 170. Samoa 209. Uganda 7. Anguilla (UK) 47. Congo, Rep. 89. Honduras 130. Mauritius 171. San Marino 210. Ukraine 8. Antigua and Barbuda 48. Cook Island 90. Hong-Kong 131. Mexico 172. Sao Tome and Principe 211. United Arab Emirates 9. Argentina 49. Costa Rica 91. Hungary 132. Micronesia 173. Saudi Arabia 212. United Kingdom 10. Armenia 50. Côte d’lvoire 92. Iceland 133. Moldova 174. Senegal 213. United States 11. Aruba (Netherlands) 51. Croatia 93. India 134. Mongolia 175. Serbia 214. Uruguay 12. Australia 52. Cuba 94. Indonesia 135. Monaco 176. Seychelles 215. Uzbekistan 13. Austria 53. Curaçao (Netherlands) 95. Iran 136. Montenegro 177. Sierra Leone 216. Vanuatu 14. Azerbaijan 54. Cyprus 96. Iraq 137. Montserrat (UK) 178. Singapore 217. Venezuela 15. Bahamas 55. Czechia 97. Ireland 138. Morocco 179. Sint Maarten 218. Vietnam 16. Bahrain 56. Denmark 98. Isle of Man 139. Mozambique 180. Slovak Republic 219. Virgin Islands (U.S.) 17. Bangladesh 57. Djibouti 99. Israel 140. Myanmar 181. Slovenia 220. West Bank & Gaza 18. Barbados 58. Dominica 100. Italy 141. Namibia 182. Solomon Islands 221. Yemen 19. Belarus 59. Dominican Republic 101. Jamaica 142. Nepal 183. Somalia 222. Zambia 20. Belgium 60. Ecuador 102. Japan 143. Netherlands 184. South Africa 223. Zimbabwe 21. Belize 61. Egypt 103. Jersey 144. New Caledonia (France) 185. South Sudan 22. Benin 62. El Salvador 104. Jordan 145. New Zealand 186. Spain 23. Bermuda (UK) 63. Equatorial Guinea 105. Kazakhstan 146. Nicaragua 187. Sri Lanka 24. Bhutan 64. Eritrea 106. Kenya 147. Niger 188. St. Kitts and Nevis 25. Bolivia 65. Estonia 107. Kiribati 148. Nigeria 189. St. Lucia 26. Bosnia & Herzegovina 66. Eswatini 108. Korea, Rep. 149. North Macedonia 190. St. Vincent and the 27. Botswana 67. Ethiopia 109. Kosovo 150. Northern Mariana Islands Grenadine 28. Brazil 68. Faroe Islands 110. Kuwait (U.S.) 191. Sudan 29. British Virgin Islands (Denmark) 111. Kyrgyz Republic 151. Norway 192. Suriname (UK) 69. Fiji 112. Lao PDR 152. Oman 193. Sweden 30. Brunei Darussalam 70. Finland 113. Latvia 153. Pakistan 194. Switzerland 31. Bulgaria 71. France 114. Lebanon 154. Palau 195. Syria 32. Burkina Faso 72. French Polynesia 115. Lesotho 155. Panama 196. Taiwan 33. Burundi 73. Gabon 116. Liberia 156. Papua New Guinea 197. Tajikistan 34. Cabo Verde 74. Gambia, The 117. Libya 157. Paraguay 198. Tanzania 35. Cambodia 75. Georgia 118. Liechtenstein 158. Peru 199. Thailand 36. Cameroon 76. Germany 119. Lithuania 159. Philippines 200. Timor Leste 37. Canada 77. Ghana 120. Luxembourg 160. Poland 201. Togo 38. Caribbean 78. Gibraltar (UK) 121. Macao, SAR China 161. Portugal 202. Tonga (Netherlands) 79. Greece 122. Madagascar 162. Puerto Rico 203. Trinidad and Tobago 39. Cayman Islands (UK) 80. Greenland 123. Malawi 163. Qatar 204. Tunisia 40. Central African 81. Grenada 164. Réunion (France) Republic 82. Guam 165. Romania 75 (back to the top) Afghanistan Cash-based transfers Under the REACH program, households in urban areas receive a combination of cash and in-kind equivalent to US$100. The World Bank plans to repurpose USD100 millions of its Citizens’ Charter Afghanistan Project for COVID-19 relief efforts, aiming to cover 90 per cent of households under the project. In the context of the overall World Bank's COVID-19 relief response in Afghanistan, $100 million of the Citizens' Charter program resources were redeployed in May 2020 to provide emergency household assistance in the form of food/cash in CCAP participating communities. The government, on 18 July 2020, announced a new program “Dastarkhan-e-Milli”, which combines two World Bank projects - Citizens' Charter Afghanistan Project (CCAP) and Relief Effort for Afghan Communities and Households (REACH). It provides a relief package to Afghan households with incomes of US$2 per day or lower, comprising of essential food staples and hygiene products for Cash transfers Social rural households (reason: (a) security concerns with carrying large amounts of physical cash in rural (conditional and unconditional) Assistance areas; (b) higher fiduciary and corruption risks with cash; and (c) gender and usage considerations - it is highly likely that men will be the ones who decide how to use the cash in the household, and women may not benefit. The early experience under CCAP of transferring the social inclusion grants in cash showed that these risks did materialize. Therefore, the rural transfers will be done in a single in-kind tranche and a combination of cash and food to urban households, in two tranches). Both projects (REACH and CCAP) are covering 90 percent of households in the country under the government’s “Dastarkhan-e-Milli” program, benefitting an estimated 4.1 million households with incomes of $2 a day or less. Based on the program (total program expenditure $244 million), in the first stage, the government will allocate $86 million and then $158 million in the second phase to provide food to people across the country. Each recipient will be receiving AFN 4000 ($50 USD equivalent in food or cash). Social pensions In-kind transfers 76 $280 million grant to fund the COVID-19 Relief Effort for Afghan Communities and Households (REACH) Project. The total grant amount is comprised of $155 million from IDA—the World Bank Group’s fund for the poorest countries—and will be complemented by $125 million from the Afghanistan Reconstruction Trust Fund (ARTF), managed by the World Bank on behalf of 34 donors. The project will benefit some 2.9 million households across Afghanistan. The REACH project will complement a parallel relief effort organized under the Citizens’ Charter Afghanistan Project. Together, both will cover 90 percent of households in the country under the government’s “Dastarkhan-e-Milli” program, benefitting an estimated 4.1 million households with incomes of $2 a day or less. The authorities have recently rolled out a relief package, amounting to 1.6 percent of GDP, to Afghan households with incomes of US$2 per day or lower (twice the national poverty line). With its broad coverage, about 90 percent of all households, the program will be near universal in scope. Households in rural areas will receive an equivalent of US$50 in essential food staples and hygiene products in two tranches. The new package will cover 90 per cent of households. Based on the program, in the first stage, the government will allocate $86 million and then $158 million in the second phase to provide food to people across the country. On April 29, 2020, the government started providing free bread to about 2.5 million needy and poor people in Kabul, and plans to extend to other cities. According to the Ministry of Finance, the bread distribution process in the first phase Food, vouchers, others cost Afs2.8 billion ($36 million), of which Afs1.15 billion ($14.8 million) was spent in Kabul. The World Bank plans to repurpose USD100 million of its Citizens’ Charter Afghanistan Project for COVID-19 relief efforts, aiming to cover 90 per cent of households under the project. In the context of the overall World Bank's COVID-19 relief response in Afghanistan, $100 million of the Citizens' Charter program resources were redeployed in May 2020 to provide emergency household assistance in the form of food/cash in CCAP participating communities. According to the Ministry of Finance, the bread distribution process started on 29 April 2020 in Kabul (and extended to other cities). The first phase cost Afs 2.8 billion ($36 million), of which Afs 1.15 billion ($14.8 million) was spent in Kabul. But this program was stopped after 40 days (i.e., 10 June 2020). The delivery happened through bakeries (at least in Kabul), where beneficiaries would go to the bakeries to collect their breads, using a card that has been distributed to them for a month to take ten loaves of dry bread a day. Around 250,000 needy and poor families benefited from the program. The President instructed the relevant institutions to establish a database of deserving and poor people in the country and the government did a survey on needy people. It used state budget to finance this program, however, this was stopped due to widespread corruption. 77 The Afghan government provided four and a half kilograms of wheat to at least 1,000 needy families in Kabul. People complained that wheat transfers were insufficient to feed an entire family. The wheat was delivered to their homes. The government, on 18 July 2020, announced a new program “Dastarkhan-e-Milli”, which combines two World Bank projects - Citizens' Charter Afghanistan Project (CCAP) and Relief Effort for Afghan Communities and Households (REACH). It provides a relief package to Afghan households with incomes of US$2 per day or lower, comprising of essential food staples and hygiene products for rural households (reason: (a) security concerns with carrying large amounts of physical cash in rural areas; (b) higher fiduciary and corruption risks with cash; and (c) gender and usage considerations - it is highly likely that men will be the ones who decide how to use the cash in the household, and women may not benefit. The early experience under CCAP of transferring the social inclusion grants in cash showed that these risks did materialize. Therefore, the rural transfers will be done in a single in-kind tranche and a combination of cash and food to urban households, in two tranches). Both projects (REACH and CCAP) are covering 90 percent of households in the country under the government’s “Dastarkhan-e-Milli” program, benefitting an estimated 4.1 million households with incomes of $2 a day or less. Based on the program (total program expenditure $244 million), in the first stage, the government will allocate $86 million and then $158 million in the second phase to provide food to people across the country. Each recipient will be receiving AFN 4000 ($50 USD equivalent in food or cash). School feeding Public works In May, 2020, the government waived electricity bills of less than Af 1,000 (US$13) for a family Utility waivers residence in Kabul for two months and paid utility bills of the past two months for 50 percent of households in Kabul. The decision benefited more than 1.5 million Kabul residents Paid sick leave Health insurance The program was adapted as part of the response to COVID-19: the Martyrs and Disabled Pension. The program was expanded to cover descendants of deceased health professionals. Social Insurance To support the retirees during the Covid 19 pandemic, the Ministry of Finance will pay retirees’ Pensions pensions for the current fiscal year without the new biometric process on the basis of previous cards. The purpose of paying these pensions without the new biometric process is to help them deal with their problems in the current situation, since these pensions might be their only source of income. MoF transferred pensions in the following three categories: 78 • Retirees with an annual salary of 75,000 Afghanis got 12 months’ salary, or one whole year. • Retirees with an annual salary of 75,000 to 150,000 Afghanis got 75 percent, or 9 months’ salary. • Retirees whose annual salary amounts to more than 150,000 Afghanis will get 50%, or 6 months’ salary. • The retirees whose 25% or 50% pensions remain will get it by the end of the current fiscal year. Unemployment benefits Social security contributions [December 2020] The ADB-funded COVID-19 Active Response and Expenditure Support Program Activation measures includes vocational training to support MSMEs. Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies 79 (back to the top) Albania Cash-based transfers Economic assistance (Ndihma Ekonomike) received by eligible individuals was doubled in amount during the immediate COVID-19 situation in 2020 for three months. Individuals with an annual personal income of over 2 million are not eligible to receive such support. This measure was reintroduced in 2021, as the COVID-19 situation has not abated, and the government hopes to make the measure permanent. Through the Council of Ministers Decision, No 13, date 22.4.2020, ‘On amendments to Council of Ministers Decision No. 305, April 16th, 2020, ‘On the procedures for the financial support to the actual employees and the unemployed due to Covid-19’, the government introduced a lump sum amount of 40.000 ALL for every employee of the Ballsh Refinery. Ndihma ekonomike: Economic assistance by 16.000 ALL per person for all the applicants of the economic assistance (NE) since July 2019, which have not received any economic assistance until April 2020. Social Cash transfers Self-employed families received a special benefit equivalent to a state-set monthly salary starting in Assistance (conditional and unconditional) March 2020. Through the Decision No 236, March 18th, 2020, the government decided that the retired persons as well as individuals and families benefitting from various social protection public services/programs will be provided home based assistance (monetary assistance) by the local authorities and relevant institutions. Through the Decision 305, “Support for employees in accommodations” of April 13, 2020, a 40,000 ALL lump-sum payment to formal employees in all accommodation structures which were active at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic was provided. 176,000 workers received the payment: 66,000 employees from big businesses, 100,000 employees from small businesses and 10,0000 employees from the tourism sector. The total cost of the program was 70.4 million USD. Welfare benefits and other support to individuals, including sick pay, cash transfers, housing relief Pursuant to Decision No. 254 of the Council of Ministers of March 27th, 2020, which entered into force on April 1st, 2020, beneficiaries of financial assistance equal to the minimum wage at the national level of ALL 26,000 per month include unpaid family employees who work in person; employees in general who work in person; employees in legal entities, with an annual income of up to ALL 14 million. [April 2020] On April 16th, the government announced the second support package which provides financial support to employees of businesses affected by the Covid-19 crisis who were not covered by the first financial package. The financial aid consists of a one-off payment of ALL 40,000 (roughly $350) per person for the entire period April - June 2020 for employees of medium and large businesses closed due to COVID restrictions. In addition to laid-off workers and employees of small businesses that were allowed to operate and thus could not benefit from the first financial aid package, excluding food and groceries stores, drugstores and liberal professionals. Social pensions In-kind transfers Through the Decision No 236, March 18th, 2020, the government decided that the retired persons as well as individuals and families benefitting from various social protection public services/programs Food, vouchers, others will be provided home based assistance (food and health assistance) by the local authorities and relevant institutions. Free flu vaccines have been provided through October 2020 for the groups of population most in need such as the elderly to protect against the compounding effects of COVID-19. School feeding Public works Loan installments payments were postponed to May 31st, 2020, as per the joint Order of the Government of Albania and the National Bank of Albania. This benefit was extended until the end of August 2020. Through Decision No. 58 of the Energy Regulatory Authority, March 26th, 2020, the government relaxed and provided exceptional procedures on metering the consumed electricity during the Covid- Utility waivers 19 emergency. Through the Normative Act No. 3, March 15th, 2020, ‘On special administrative measures during the Covid-19 infection period’ the government allowed individuals (including students) and businesses with up to $14 million ALL turnover to postpone the property, premises and house rental payments for two months in the period of April and May 2020. The government adopted two support packages in 2020 for people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic of a combined size of Lek 45 billion (2.8 percent of GDP) consisting of budget spending, sovereign guarantees and tax deferrals. Through the Decision No 236, March 18th, 2020, the government decided that the retired persons as well as individuals and families benefitting from various social protection public services/programs will be provided home based assistance (monetary assistance) by the local authorities and relevant institutions. In announcing the measures to fight the economic impact of COVID-19 in March 2020, the government said it would write off penalties on delayed electricity bill payments worth some $150 million, which would benefit 211,024 families. Paid sick leave Health insurance Through the Council of Ministers Decision, No 263, March 30th, 2020, ‘On indexing of pensions’, the government increased (indexing) by 2.3 percent the pensions, establishing also new limits – minimum Pensions of 14 thousand ALL and maximum of 28 thousand ALL per month, plus compensations for the lower levels. This measure involved an estimated budget of 2.1 billion ALL. [March 2020] As part of the first economic package announced on March 27, unemployment Social assistance received by the eligible individuals was doubled during the period March-May 2020. Insurance The 2021 budget adopted by parliament on November 16th, 2020, allocated Lek 2.5 billion to a Unemployment benefits temporary increase in the payments for unemployment benefits. The Government of Albania Anti-COVID-19 Financial Package, launched by Decision No. 6 March 21st, 2020 "On Some Changes to the 2020 Budget Law No. 88/2019”, allocated part of 65 million to unemployment benefits for three months. Informal sector employees who lost their jobs during the lockdown will have the full cost of social Social security contributions contributions (employees and employers share) covered for one year if they formalize. Activation measures [November 2020] On November 16, the Parliament adopted the 2021 budget which allocated ALL 4.5billion for a 40% wage increase for the health sector. Labor Markets Labor market regulations The Normative Act Nr. 2, March 11th 2020, "On Some changes to the Law No. 15 on The Prevention and Combatting of the Infections and Infective Diseases" provided for new penalties on employers noncomplying with measures and protocols related occupational safety and health during COIVD-19 pandemic. [March 2020] On March 18, the Government issued the Decision Nr.231 where public administration institutions were instructed to take March 20 as a day off, and to use teleworking for carrying out various tasks as instructed by their supervisors. [August 2020] On August 13, the Government adopted a third support package which provided an additional minimum wage to public transport workers who resumed work one month later than the rest. This measure involved an extra transport budget of ALL 135 million. March 2020] On March 27, the Government introduced a support package, totaling ALL 6.4 billion, part of which covers the monthly salary equal to the minimum wage (ALL 26,000) to employees of Reduced work time businesses closed down as a result of the imposed restrictions by the government. This measure targeted 30,000+ business with annual turnover up to ALL 14 million, and it also include self- employed, informal sector employees (including rural farmers), and unpaid family members who would not otherwise benefit from unemployment benefits. Through the Council of Ministers Decision No 254, amended on March 27th, 2020, ‘On the procedures for the financial support to the employees of businesses with turnover up to 14 million ALL, economic support and unemployment benefits due to the Covid-19’ the government introduced part of the financial package of $6.4 billion ALL to support businesses who were imposed to close. This included receiving a payment equal to the minimal wage (26,000 ALL) per employee. Individuals with an annual personal income over 2 million ALL were not eligible to receive such support In September, the government launched an employment promotion program, that aims to cover part of reemployment costs of those who lost their jobs during the lockdown. For formal sector employees the government will cover half of the wages (at the legal minimum level) and the full employers’ share of social contributions for the duration of the program (4 or 8 months). Wage subsidies The Government of Albania Anti-COVID-19 Financial Package, launched by Decision No. 6 March 21st, 2020 "On Some Changes to the 2020 Budget Law No. 88/2019”, allocated part of 65 million to salaries for small business' workers. [September 2020] On September 23, the finance minister introduced 3 Employment Incentive Programs for integrating job seekers into the labor market. The programs are divided based on the duration of employment (4, 8, or 12 months). For those formally employed (with mandatory social contributions) for 4 and 8 months, the government will fund 100% of the salary (the national minimum wage) for half of the duration of employment. For those employed for 12 months, the government will subsidize 100% of the compulsory insurance contributions (for the employer and employee) calculated on the minimum wage, during the 12 months of employment. The program was still active as of July 2021, when the finance minister announced that 2827 have benefited from the employment incentive programs in the first six months of 2021. According to the minister, USD 570 million is projected in the state budget for 2021 for employment promotion program. (back to the top) Algeria Cash-based transfers (April 2020) A transfer of DZD10,000 (approx. USD80) was announced on 13 April 2020 to top up the DZD6,000 (USD47) for needy families impacted by COVID-19 measures. The transfer is a ‘solidarity transfer’ for Ramadan. A budgeted financial envelope of DZD1,393 billion (EUR12 million), would be deposited into the postal accounts of families through community-based targeting. 319,983 out of the planned 322,000 beneficiaries received the cash assistance for the year 2020, totaling DZD 22 billion. The Solidarity transfer given to some vulnerable households before Ramadan. The solidarity transfer is a yearly in-kind Cash transfers assistance measure given to poor and vulnerable families. In 2019, the Ramadan aid to (conditional and unconditional) vulnerable households changed from an in-kind transfer to a 6000 DA cash transfer. (March 2020) Bonus payment to public workers in the health sector, mobilized within the framework of the prevention and the fight against the spread of the coronavirus. (16.5bn dinars). The premium is paid monthly in lump sums ranging from 10,000 DA for the benefit of Social administrative and support staff, 20,000 DA for paramedical staff and 40,000 DA for Assistance medical staff. It is served for a renewable period of three (3) months. This measure began on February 15, 2020. To reduce exposition risk for elderly people, a proxy letter can be delivered to another person Social pensions to receive pensions/benefits in place of the beneficiary (for retirees, old people receiving cash transfers, etc.). In-kind transfers (April 2020) In-kind distribution campaign of food and hygiene items to the most vulnerable Food, vouchers, others families, including those living in isolated areas and impacted by the lockdown. This distribution is being carried out, for the most vulnerable regions, through a ‘solidarity caravan’ School feeding Public works (December 2020) National Pension Fund will start compensation for Covid-19 analyses and tests. The government will support pharmacies in order to sell the generic medicine with a Utility waivers view to encouraging its use. The compensation, beginning in January 2021, for the scanner will stand at 5000 dinars and 3000 dinars for PCR. As of 22 March, 2020, at least 50 per cent of the public administration workforce at the Paid sick leave central level as well as in local authorities, whose presence in the workplace is not considered essential for the continuity of service, are being placed on paid leave, excluding staff from certain sectors that require continuity. Pregnant women and women raising children, as well as people with chronic illnesses and those with medical vulnerabilities, are considered a priority for exceptional leave. This decision is also applicable to workers in the private sector. Extension of conditions for paid leave for parents of children with disabilities. Expanded coverage of social security to deliveries in private maternal health facilities Health insurance (permanent) Waiver of a need for a medical revision check-up for disability pensions and pensions for accidents at work. The need for a medical revision check-up for this benefit has been waived, Social in order to allow beneficiaries to respect lockdown measures. Pensions Insurance To reduce exposition risk for elderly people, a proxy letter can be delivered to another person to receive pensions/benefits in place of the beneficiary (for retirees, old persons receiving cash transfers, etc.). Unemployment benefits The National Social Insurance fund (CNAS) has extended the deadline for the payment of employers and independent contributions until the end of May and September, respectively, while still covering paid leave and unemployment benefits for some. Penalties from previous late payments not made on time have also been suspended for six months starting from April Social security contributions 2020. Suspending the obligation of contribution of the national social protection funds for employees with disabilities. Activation measures The national minimum wage will be raised from 18,000 DZD (139 USD) to 20,000 DZD (155 USD) Labor Labor market regulations Anticipation of annual holiday payments by the Caisse Nationale des Congés Payés et du Markets Chômage intempéries des secteurs du BTPH (CACOBATPH), in proportion to the number of months contributed during the period from July 2019 to February 2020 Reduced work time Allocation of financial aid for small trades (taxis, hairdressers, etc.) to the value of 30,000 Wage subsidies Dinars, for a period of 3 months, on the basis of a rigorous evaluation of the situation of each corporation during the last 4 months. This measure should be ratified by an executive decree to be issued before the end of the month (back to the top) American Samoa Cash-based transfers On May 22, 2020, it was reported that American Samoans will receive USD 24 million in stimulus from the US Government as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security or CARES Cash transfers Act. The money would cover 9,300 taxpayers and their qualified dependents who filed their 2019 (conditional and unconditional) taxes up to May 13. Single filers will receive $1,200. Couples who file jointly will get double that plus $500 for every child under their care. Social pensions In-kind transfers On July 30, 2020, it is reported that as students get back to school in American Samoa, the Department of Health would supply 45,000 face masks to the students. The 15,900 children enrolled in school were expected to be issued with at least two, and in some cases three masks, after which parents would provide the rest. On 15 June 2020, the Government of American Samoa announced that it is accepting applications for food assistance under the American Samoa COVID-19 Nutrition Assistance Program (COVID Social NAP). The COVID NAP provides $139 per person per month for a duration of up to 6 months for Assistance American Samoa’s low-income individuals (18 and above) who are experiencing economic impacts from the COVID-19. The costs for COVID NAP is $300 million which will remain available through September 30, 2021. This policy is authorized by USDA through the Families FIRST Coronavirus Response Act of 2020 (FFCRA) and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act of 2020 Food, vouchers, others (CARES Act). It is reported on 29 March 2021 that USDA and FNS have approved an increase in monthly vouchers for recipients of the ASNAP (Food Stamp Program) and the COVID-19 Nutrition Assistance Program (COVID NAP) from March 1st to September 30th, 2021. COVID- SNAP will temporarily increase by 34.5% the maximum monthly benefit allotment, from $139 to $187. ASNAP, COVID NAP and COVID-SNAP benefits will be distributed starting Thursday, April 1, 2021, by alphabetical order for ease of distribution. On August 18, 2021, American Samoa announced that children whose access to school meals was disrupted during the last school year will receive food coupons from the American Samoa’s Department of Human and Social Services. US Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service has approved American Samoa’s State Plan to operate a Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer (P- EBT) Program, for children who lost access to free meals at school due to closure of or reduced attendance in school year 2020/21. The benefits will also extend to children who were eligible to receive free meals from the National School Lunch Program as of the end of SY 2020-21. DHSS estimates issuing $1.3 million in P-EBT food coupons to approximately 11,100 children who lost access to free meals at school when they were scheduled for virtual learning and an additional $6.1 million in P-EBT food coupons to about 14,000 school children who lost access to free meals this summer. DHSS has established that children who attended the 22 public schools that had virtual days from August 31, 2020, to October 9, 2020, qualify for 12 or 17 days of P-EBT benefits or $96 and $135 in food coupons respectively. Children who attended St. For the second part of the P-EBT Program, children who were eligible to receive free meals at school from school lunch as of the end of the school year 2020-2021 qualify for the U.S. standard benefit of $438 in food coupons for the 55 covered days of the summer of 2021. Households are required to complete an application to provide basic information for their children for them to receive P-EBT benefits. School feeding Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Government employees making $50,000 or less a year will be entitled to overtime pay for work outside of their usual 40-hours per week for work involving the coronavirus declaration. American Samoa's governor has ordered cut hours and pay to be restored for government employees stranded off island because of the Covid-19 pandemic. In accordance with ASCA § 26.0I0S(g)(I), the restrictions on "Hazard Pay" in ASAC §4.041 l(b) are Labor Labor market regulations suspended. The Director of the Department of Human Resources is tasked with developing a policy Markets to compensate medical personnel, first responders, and all ASG employees that face increased risk and exposure associated with their duties In accordance with ASCA § 26.0IOS(g)(l), the maximum grant of four (4) hours for "Excused Absences" in ASCA § 4.05 I l(a)( 10) is suspended. The Director of Department of Human Resources is tasked with developing a policy to compensate all ASG personnel that are under quarantine or unable to attend work for reasons related to the restrictions imposed. State of Emergency (SoE) has been amended (1/6/2020), all government workers can return to full Reduced work time working hours. Businesses will only be allowed to trade between 5am-9pm, with some exceptions. American Samoan authorities have said that quarantine will be imposed on COVID-19 related workers, including US Federal Emergency Management Agency personnel entering the territory. Wage subsidies (back to the top) Andorra Cash-based transfers Cash transfers The government of Andorra announced an extraordinary benefit for self-employed workers affected (conditional and unconditional) by economic activity suspension worth €8.6 million. Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works The Andorran government approved a legislative moratorium on April 18th, 2020, to provide Social repayment relief—and also extension of the repayment period in the case of mortgages—until Assistance December 31st, 2020, to households affected by the pandemic, which meet the requirements established by the law. This moratorium applied to mortgages and personal loans to finance housing or vehicles in the case of individuals. On June 11th, 2020, the Andorran Banking Association (ABA) adopted a non-legislative sector-wide Utility waivers moratorium to provide repayment relief to households, for 6-12 months depending upon the types of loan and borrower. This private moratorium scheme complemented the one approved by the government and could not be applied simultaneously. In mid-December 2020, ABA extended until March 31st, 2021, the application deadline for the moratorium. The government of Andorra has relaxed the requirements to accessing rental housing aid for individuals whose economic and social situation worsened due to the health crisis. The government introduced prophylactic/care leave: workers with children can have access to paid Paid sick leave leave while the educational and extracurricular leisure centers are compulsorily closed. Social Health insurance Insurance Pensions [April 2020] On April 1, the government approved Law 3/2020 which relaxed the requirements to Unemployment benefits access unemployment benefits and rental housing aid for individuals whose economic and social situation worsened due to the health crisis. The law will be in force for up to a maximum of two months starting April 1, 2020. [December 2020] On December 16, the government created a new temporary and exceptional involuntary unemployment benefit to support Andorran workers directly affected by the delayed opening of the ski stations. 65 applications were received, amounting to €45,515 in December. The benefit will remain in place until the affected companies are able to resume their normal activities in the 2020-21 ski season. Social security contributions Activation measures Labor market regulations Reduced work time [April 2020] On April 18, the Temporary Suspension of Employment Contracts and the Reduction of Working Hours, Law 5/2020 was approved. The law allows companies interested in temporary suspending contracts or reducing working hours (not exceeding 75%) to cover 25% of the salary of suspended employees, while the government will assume 75% of the salary. While employees will Labor receive reduced salaries, those with lower earnings will have the least reduction, in comparison with Markets higher salaries. The calculation of salaries is based on a formula set by the government. Benefitting companies must have either suspended activity or, have a reduced turnover by at least 50%. The Wage subsidies support measure is expected to cost around EUR 100 million and its duration will be limited to the period between May 1, 2020 and up to 180 days, and should not last beyond December 31, 2020. [Extended - February 2021] On February 26, the government approved the extension of the program until March 31. [Extended - March 2021] On March 24, the government approved the extension of the program until April 30. [Extended - April 2021] On April 22, the government approved the extension of the program until May 31.[Extended - July 2021] On July 1, the government announced the extension of the program until December 31. However, the criteria for company selection have changed and became more selective. (back to the top) Angola Cash-based transfers (May 2020) The Ministry of Social Affairs, Family, and Women’s Promotion (MASFAMU) announced that the Child Grant implemented in Bie, Moxico, and Uige provinces was topped up (from 3,000 to 5,000 Kwanzas, or approximately US$6 to US$10 monthly), including double payment. The program has already benefited 18,399 children under the age of five, in a universe of 9,989 families. The government has also adapted the payment procedures to ensure adequate sanitation and worker protection during the transfers. (August 2020) The provincial Government of Luanda is implementing an emergency cash transfer Cash transfers program. The benefit of 5,000 Kwanzas, or approximately US$10 monthly per child is being (conditional and unconditional) implemented using mobile payments. The program benefited 1,404 children under the age of five, in a universe of 786 families. (April 2020) The Angola Strengthening the National Social Protection System (Cash Transfer) Project supports the cash transfer program “Kwenda”. The first phase of the cash program started in May 2020 to provide temporary income support to poor and vulnerable families including those affected Social by the economic crisis. The program aims to reach 1.6 million families in the country with a benefit Assistance amount of 25,500 kz quarterly per family for one year. Social pensions In-kind transfers (March 2020) In order to guarantee the consumption of food in the basic basket for the most vulnerable families, the Ministry of Social Action, Family and Promotion of Women, the Ministry of Commerce and the Provincial Governments developed campaigns to distribute goods in the basic Food, vouchers, others basket to the most vulnerable populations, targeting more than 17,000 children. (December 2020) The provincial authorities (with the support of WFP) will distribute highly nutritious food supplements to at least 37,000 malnourished children under five. School feeding Public works (April 2020) In order to alleviate family financial expenses / obligations, a 180-day moratorium is Utility waivers granted to families that have difficulties in paying their home's IPU. (April 2020) In order to alleviate family financial expenses / obligations, a 180-day moratorium is granted to families that have difficulties in paying electricity and water supply bills. (November 2020) As part of the 2021 tax reform, limit to transport and food subsidies will be raised to 30,000 kwanza for eligible workers. (September 2021) Executive suspends payment of customs duties on essential goods. The prices of rice, pork, dried beef, chicken leg, corn grain, edible oil and powdered milk may decrease in the domestic market due to the suspension of payment of customs duties for these essential goods. (June 2021) The Government will subsidize the price of fertilizers up to 35 percent, so that it can be sold at a more affordable price. Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures [April 2020] The Minister of Public Administration, Labor and Social Security said that General Labor Inspectorate must control breaches of the General Labor Law, particularly in cases where employers Labor Labor market regulations are not paying wages or suspending legal employment relationships. Companies would not be Markets penalized though, however, compliance will be ensured. Reduced work time Wage subsidies (back to the top) Anguilla (UK) Cash-based transfers (April 2020) For those that do not qualify for the Unemployment Benefit offered by the social security system, the Government provided direct financial support of up to XCD $800 (US$296) per month. In order to be beneficiary, people need to fulfill one of the following: 1) Be unemployed, either temporarily or permanently laid off, as a result of COVID-19 after February 1st, 2020; 2) Be underemployed as a result of COVID-19 after February 1st, 2020, with a wage less than XCD $800 a month; or 3) Closed business or having an earning less than XCD $800 as a result of COVID-19 after February 1st, 2020. Payments were made directly to bank accounts and first payments were scheduled to reach Cash transfers accounts on or before May 15th, 2020. Unemployed persons received payments of XCD $800 for the (conditional and unconditional) period during which they remained unemployed up to a period of three months, if their previous monthly earnings were XCD $ 800 or more. Persons who earned less than XCD $ 800 received XCD $800. Underemployed persons received the difference between their current earnings and their pre- COVID 19 monthly earnings up to a maximum of XCD $800 (i.e. an earnings top-up) for the period Social during which they remain underemployed up to a period of three months. Assistance (April 2020) A one-off payment of 100% to those persons currently receiving cash transfer public assistance. (April 2020) Provision of EC$400 per month for three (3) months for each child in foster care. Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others (April 2020) Provision of ECD$200 per month per child for children in the school feeding program, School feeding until schools reopen, and coverage expansion of the program to all poor students. Public works (March 2020) The government introduced a maximum price regime for goods (sold by retail or wholesale). These included, but not restricted to, items for sanitizing and disinfecting hands and Utility waivers surfaces as recommended by the Ministry of Health. Penalties up to $25,000 or imprisonment of up to 2 years were suggested in case of breach. The Water Corporation of Anguilla (WCA) has delayed disconnection for people who have defaulted on their bills. WCA is extending payment plan options to individuals who may have challenges making bill payments during the COVID-19 pandemic. This measure was extended until January 15th, 2021. (March 2020) The National Commercial Bank of Anguilla (NCBA) implemented a moratorium on loan repayments for an initial period of three (3) months, with the possibility of an additional three (3) months extension to be granted. The moratorium was offered to both individual and commercial customers affected by the COVID-19 crisis. Paid sick leave Health insurance Pensions [April 2020] The government announced the reintroduction of a temporary unemployment benefit to cater to the unemployed and underemployed through the social security system. The temporary unemployment assistance benefit through the Social Security Board provided financial assistance of up to EC$1,000.00 (US$370) per month, to contributors to the fund whose jobs and wages have been severely impacted by the pandemic. All payments were sent directly to the bank accounts provided at the moment of application. The target date for the commencement of payments was Social April 30th, 2020, and were set to be disbursed for 3 months. [Extension - July 2020] The Insurance Unemployment benefits government approved the extension of the benefit for an additional six months until December 2020. [Extension] According to the Social Security Board, payments would be operational until March 31st, 2021. [October 2021] The Social Security Board issued an announcement to inform the general public that October 31st, 2021, was the final date for acceptance of the Unemployment Assistance Benefit (UAB) applications for the closing period September 2021. [April 2020] The government proposed that companies which continue to pay workers that are Social security contributions “sheltered in place” or required to stay at home will be considered for a waiver of Social Security and Internal Stabilization Levy (ISL) payments for up to three months. [November 2020] In preparation for the Phase Two reopening, the government has offered free Activation measures training courses to over 500 tourism employers – from housekeepers to ground transportation and Labor charter boat operators from November 2020 onwards. Markets Labor market regulations Reduced work time Wage subsidies (back to the top) Antigua and Barbuda Cash-based transfers In April 2020, a decision was made by the Government of Antigua & Barbuda to offer an honorarium to nurses on the frontline caring for COVID-19 patients. The payment criteria put in place by Mount St. John’s Medical Centre—the only public hospital in the country—required a nurse to work a minimum of 32 (thirty-two) hours in order to receive the allotment of $1000 (monthly). Cash transfers (April 2020) The Antigua and Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association and the Antigua and Barbuda (conditional and unconditional) Workers Union have joined forces in ensuing a fortnightly cash relief payment to employees working at hotels which contribute to the ABHTA/ABWU Thrift Fund. Starting on April 10th, 2020, employees received EC$640 fortnightly for three months, through electronic transfers. Social pensions In-kind transfers Social (March 2020) The Ministry of Social Transformation provided relief packages of food and medication Assistance to elderly living alone, persons with disabilities, and unemployed adults with children. (January 2021) Through the Emergency Food Assistance Program, the government provided for the well-being of the elderly, disabled, single mothers, and other needy persons. Between April to December 2020: 50,664 packages were delivered, and several thousand persons benefitted from this program by January 2021. Food, vouchers, others (April 2020) The government provided food vouchers distribution to unemployed persons (who can prove unemployment from 31st January 2020 due to COVID-19) with children, redeemable at supermarkets. In June 2020 the government announced it would increase the program. This enabled recipients to purchase other essential items they needed which were not initially included in the packages. Vouchers ranged from EC $150 to EC $250 (USD $56 – USD $93). Between April and December 2020, the government distributed $1,250,000 worth of vouchers under the Government Voucher Program. Government Assistance Program (GAP) under which beneficiaries received vouchers for redemption at supermarkets, to ensure that people and their families do not go hungry. In June 2020 the Board of Guardian, Petro Caribe provided cash support to the vulnerable through cash and food grant programs operated by the Ministry of Social Transformation, Human Resource Development and the Blue Economy. No further details provided. From May 25th, 2020, the National School Meals program provided lunches for teachers and students involved in the preparation for CSEC examinations. School feeding (March 2020) The School Meals Program continues to ensure that most economically vulnerable students receive meals during indefinite school closures as the nation grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic. As of March 31, care packages of dried goods and produce were prepared for distribution to selected vulnerable students and their families. Public works Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) ceased all disconnections of APUA water and electricity to households for 3 months, re-connected customers who have been disconnected, and reduced by 20% the cost of electricity to households for a period of 3 months (April, May, June 2020). In June 2020, APUA decided to increase the discount up to 25%. The suspension of disconnections of water, and electricity accounts has been extended until late September and the reduction in the electricity bills, currently at 15 percent, has been extended until November 2020. Through the Pandemic Relief Barrel Initiative barrels containing foodstuff and sanitizing materials were allowed to enter Antigua and Barbuda from April 1st, 2020, until June 30th 2020, without having any duties and other taxes imposed, except for a $10.00 processing fee and the Revenue Recovery Charge calculated at 10% of the value of the items. Utility waivers (March 2020) Temporary removal of Antigua and Barbuda Sales Tax (ABST) on antiseptics, wipes, sanitizers, toilet paper and paper towels, aloe vera gel, and vitamins were introduced to keep items affordable for consumers and mitigate disease spread. The removal of the 15 percent tax would allow these items to be purchased at an affordable price so that consumers can play their part to mitigate the spread of the virus. (March 2020) The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank and ECCU Bankers Association agreed on a loan repayment moratorium support program that will be implemented by all member banks in the ECCU. The program will facilitate a loan repayment moratorium for an initial period of up to six (6) months with a possible extension upon review. In addition to the deferral of loan repayments, a waiver of late fees and charges will be applicable to eligible customers during this period. Moratorium on mortgage debt repayments, which was extended in September 2020 for a further six months. National Student Loan Fund removed all late fees and penalties for students who are able to demonstrate their inability to service their loans. Paid sick leave Extension of deadline to July 31st 2020 for filing of claims under the Medical Benefits Scheme for Health insurance Social receipts between January to April 2020. Insurance Pensions Unemployment benefits Social security contributions [January 2021] The government offered scholarships to the University of the West Indies (UWI) Activation measures Fourth Landed Campus to nationals who once worked for an air transport company, in order to enable them to re-tool. [May 2020] The government committed to not laying off public service workers in dealing with the economic fallout from the crisis. [May 2020] Industry-specific guidelines have been put forth in some cases (e.g., fishing industry, barbershops, beauty shops and nail salons) to operate in safe conditions. Labor market regulations [June 2020] The Ministry of Health introduced health and safety protocols to business sectors, Labor including food services, fitness centers, casinos, public transportation. Markets [March 2020] Business owners were encouraged to prevent layoffs and termination by taking certain steps such as adopting austerity measures like a reduction in working hours and/or days worked, a Reduced work time reduction in number of days an employee is required to work in a week or the introduction of certain measures outlined in section C42 (2) of the Labor Code, Cap 27, as amended. [August 2020] The government decided to pay salaries to workers of an air transport company in Wage subsidies July 2020. The initiative was aimed at restructuring and recapitalizing the company (EC $3 million – USD $1.1 million). (back to the top) Argentina Cash-based transfers The government introduced the Emergency Family Income (Ingreso Familiar de Emergencia), a non- contributory program that delivers a lump sum payment of $10,000 (US$155) to one member of the family. Informal workers, “Monotributistas” of category A and B and domestic workers were eligible beneficiaries. Initially, this transfer was provided during April 2020 to 3.6 million families. This was later extended in June and August for a second and third round, covering 9 million people. The government launched the Extraordinary Bonus of $3,000 for beneficiaries of Universal Child Allowance and Universal Pregnancy Allowance. This involved more than 5.2 M beneficiaries (Universal Child Allowance 4.394.376 people as of April 2020 and Universal Pregnancy Allowance 0,8M people as of June 2019). The government launched the Emergency Assistance Program for Work and Production (ATP), which included the existing program Productive Recovery Program (REPRO). This consists of delivering non-contributive cash transfers to workers in firms in a crisis situation. Social Later, the government launched a second version of REPRO within the Emergency Assistance Cash transfers Assistance Program for Work and Production (ATP). This version implied a more agile and abbreviated procedure (conditional and unconditional) according to the existing situation in the framework of the Covid-19 pandemic. REPRO II consists of delivering individual cash transfers to workers in firms in a crisis situation. The program is incompatible with the following benefits of the ATP: Complementary Wage and Zero rate credit. The government implemented the Assistance, Training and Infrastructure Plan for Tourism (PACIT), an emergency program to assist the tourism sector. The measure involves financial aid ($50,000) to independent workers, such as tour guides and small operators who are Monotributistas, Monotributistas sociales or self-employed. In order to be beneficiaries, recipients must attend hygiene and tourism-related training offered by the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. The program had an initial budget of 100 million pesos. According to the government's website, there was ARS$ 300 M allocated to this program, involving 6,500 self-employed beneficiaries. The government implemented cash transfers in order to strengthen the health care capacity. These cash transfers are aimed at residents and heads of residents in the health sector. Initially, this was granted for a couple of months, but it was extended until December 2020. The government extended and increased the Family support allowance for deceased people Program, which supports families when one of the members passes away. COVID 19-related deceases were included as a cause of death. This transfer is delivered to the unemployed, informal workers, monotributistas sociales, cleaning workers, and for those beneficiaries of other social programs (Universal Child Allowance, Universal Pregnancy Allowance, among others). The cash transfer was increased to $15,000. The government extended a bonus to health personnel and primary care workers. The program consisted of delivering a cash transfer of $5,000. Initially, this benefit was implemented during four months (April to July 2020), but later was extended for 3 further months, until October 2020. The government launched the Extraordinary Bonus of $3,000 for beneficiaries of the non- contributory system, which involved recipients of the following programs: Pension Universal para el Adulto Mayor (PUAM), pensions for the elderly, pensions for disabled people, pensions for mothers of Social pensions seven or more children, and ex gratia pensions. As of March 2020, there were 1,431,189 non- contributory pensioners and 167,596 PUAM, according to the Boletín de Seguridad Social, involving an estimated cost of 4.7B pesos. In-kind transfers The Ministry of Social Development ruled that families who have not yet received the Food Support Card (Tarjeta de alimentar) would receive the value of this amount through the Universal Child Allowance (AUH). This meant a temporary adaptation measure to strengthen food policies during COVID-19 pandemic. The plan is to deliver more than 1,500,000 cards to 2,800,000 recipients. To Food, vouchers, others date the food card has reached 1,100,000 people in 400,000 households. On April 29th, 2020, the government announced an extraordinary reinforcement for holders of the Food Support Card. Those families with one child received an extra bonus of $4,000 pesos while this extra amount was $6,000 pesos for families with two or more children. In December 2020 the benefit increased to $8,000 and $12,000, respectively. School feeding The government distributed the remaining school feeding food stocks as take-home rations. Public works In order to guarantee supply and control the increase in prices during the health emergency, the Ministry of Productive Development re-introduced a price control system from March 20th, 2020, and for 30 days, initially. This involved maintaining prices of the basic food basket, beverages, toiletries and cleaning as they were on March 6th, 2020. The measure covered hypermarkets, retail Utility waivers and wholesale supermarkets, mini-markets, warehouses and self-services. This measure was extended several times. The last extension was granted until late January 2021. In November 2020 covid-related drugs were included in the price control program. The government has prohibited the eviction of people renting accommodation until September 30th, 2020. Simultaneously, all rental contracts were automatically extended until the same date, regardless of current expiration date. In turn, the government froze rental contracts and deferred the rent repayment corresponding to the month of March 2020 until September 30th, 2020, which was later extended until January 2021. The government has ruled that key utilities such as energy, gas and water - as well as telecommunication, internet and Television services cannot be suspended during the crisis even if 3 consecutive or alternate bill payments are missed. Initially, the measure was in place for 180 days and included users who were beneficiaries of Universal Child Allowance, Universal Pregnancy Allowance, retirees and pensioners, those who receive unemployment insurance, and other groups. This was later extended for the entire population until late December 2020. On May 18th, 2020, the government announced that fixed and mobile telephony, internet and pay TV services were considered as essential public services. With the aim of containing the situation of affected people and guaranteeing connectivity and full access to services, the government established the suspension of price increases until August 31st, 2020, for these services. At the same time, the provision of inclusive postpaid, mobile prepaid and fixed internet mobile phone plans for all people requesting the benefit was agreed, with a fixed price until October 31st, 2020. The measure included the commitment of provider companies not to lay off workers during the term of the agreement. Paid sick leave The National Government establishes that COVID-19 will be considered a presumptive disease of professional nature, so that the Aseguradoras de Riesgo de Trabajo must adapt their coverage so that the affected workers receive, immediately, the corresponding benefits. Health insurance Children of members of Health Insurance Agents or Prepaid Medicine Entities, born as of February 20, 2020, and for whom the DNI process has not been completed, are temporarily incorporated and for a term of up to 45 calendar days after the end date of the period of social, preventive and Social compulsory isolation, with only proof of birth. Insurance The government launched the Extraordinary Bonus of $3,000 for beneficiaries of the contributory system, including those who receive the minimum pension (15,892 pesos). As of March 2020, this concerned 4,340,845 beneficiaries, according to the Boletín de Seguridad Social, with an estimated Pensions expenditure of ARG$13,022,535,000. This measure also reached those who received a pension between $15,892 pesos and $18,892 pesos, although these beneficiaries received a benefit equals to the difference that allowed them a total pension of $18,892 pesos. According to the Boletin Seguridad Social, this concerned 467,944 beneficiaries as of March 2020. Unemployment benefits [July 2020] The government implemented a program to assist firms in the pear and apple production sector of the provinces of Nequén, Río Negro, Mendoza, San Juan y La Pampa. The assistance consists of granting an extension period for the payment of social security obligations between 1st of June 2020 and 31st of December 2020.[December 2020] This measure was extended until June 30, 2021 and it was announced that it could be further extended to December 31, 2021, after an evaluation and report on the impact of the program. [April 2020] Under the Emergency Assistance Program for Work and Production, the payment of contributions by employers to the Argentine Integrated Social Security System was postponed or reduced by 95 percent. This initiative only applied to those economic activities that: 1) were affected by the pandemic; or 2) employed a certain number of workers infected with COVID-19 with high-risk diseases, or were told to isolate; or 3) experienced a sharp reduction in sales by the 20th of March 2020. Originally, this applied automatically to those firms with 60 or less employees. Firms with more than 60 employees were required to be legally categorized as "firm in economic crisis" to be beneficiaries. This last requirement was removed in late April. Subsequently, another requirement was introduced: those firms that were considered as in a "critical situation" received the benefit Social security contributions automatically; for those considered as in a "non-critical situation" needed to fulfill the requirements to get a postponement. [May 2020] According to Administrative Decision 747/2020, the program was extended until May 31st, 2020. [June 2020] Under Administrative Decision 1133/2020, the program was extended for the month of June. [August 2020] Under Administrative Decision 1581/2020, the program was extended until the end of September 2020. [October 2020] Under Administrative Decision 1954/2020, the program was extended until the end of October 2020. [November 2020] Under Administrative Decision 2086/2020, the program was extended until the end of November 2020. [December 2020] Under Administrative Decision 2181/2020, the program was extended until the end of December 31st, 2020. [May 2021] The National Government expanded the assistance provided by the REPRO 2 Program, establishing a 100% reduction in employer contributions. According to Decree 323/2021, this program is expected to end by December 31st, 2021. Activation measures [June 2020] The government extended the period of the double redundancy payment introduced in Labor December 2019. Initially, this was extended until the 13th of December 2020, but the government Markets Labor market regulations delayed it until the 25th of January 2021. [January 2021] The government extended the double redundancy payment until December 31st, 2021, due to the state of emergency. [July 2020] The government extended the period of prohibition of dismissals and suspensions, which was first introduced in 2019. [Extension - May 2021] Decree 266/2021 extended the prohibition on dismissals: (i) without justified cause; or (ii) due to lack or reduction of work and force majeure until 31 May 2021. [Extension - June 2021] Decree 413/2021 extended until 31 December 2021 the prohibition to dismiss without just cause and/or due to lack or reduction of work and force majeure, as long as the occupational emergency continues. [March 2020] Remote work was advised for workers in the national public sector, except for those who were involved in the provision of essential services, and private companies were recommended to work with a minimum number of employees and adopt remote work. [August 2021] Employers were allowed to summon their employees who have received at least the first dose of any of the COVID-19 vaccines to return to work in person 14 days after inoculation. Reduced work time [April 2020] The Emergency Assistance to Work and Production (Asistencia al Trabajo y la Producción - ATP) consisted of a wage subsidy for formal workers, paid directly by ANSES (social security administration of Argentina) to the employee bank account. By late April 2020, the allocation amount was equal to 50% of worker's net salary, and this could not be less than the current minimum wage. The average transfer per worker was on average AR$ 20.000. The number of firms that applied and that were allowed in the program in each round varies (decreases over time). The last update on October 28th, 2020, determined that the benefit must range between 1.25 and 2 minimum wages. The sectors considered critical are health, culture, entertainment, tourism, gastronomy, long-distance transport, hairdressers, beauty centers, nursery schools and artistic education. In special cases, the following activities may also be considered critical: education, Wage subsidies industry, commerce, services related to oil or mining, non-metallic mining, transportation, and business and professional services. [June 2020] The Tourist Assistance and Training Fund (FACT) under the Assistance, Training and Infrastructure Plan for Tourism (PACIT) is a program aimed at Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the tourism sector (tourist agencies, tourist accommodations, gastronomic establishments and tourist recreation services), sharply affected by COVID 19 pandemic. The government delivers cash transfers equal to the minimum wage for a period of 6 months. 50% of this aid must be used in wages, and the remaining 50% can be used in other expenses. In return, firms must maintain their payroll of employees, who must at the same time comply with safety and hygiene adaptations training. According to the government's website, this involved a total budget of ARS$ 3,000M and benefited 2,500 MSMEs. [July 2020] The Ministry of Tourism and Sports doubled the number of beneficiaries with the Assistance Program for Tourist Providers (APTUR) II so that all the firms which applied and fulfilled the requirements of the first stage are granted access to the benefit. [August 2020] The government decided to continue to support those whose income was affected by creating APTUR III. [March 2021] The government announced a new edition of the program called APTUR IV. [June 2021] For the fifth edition of APTUR, the government decided to grant a non-refundable contribution of $ 50,000 to travel agencies and passenger tourist motor transport services. [June 2021] The sixth edition of the program was aimed at guides and other providers of tourist services who were to be granted a non-refundable contribution of $ 22 thousand per month from August to December 2021. [July 2021] The government continued its support through the seventh edition of the program. (back to the top) Armenia Cash-based transfers Lump-sum transfers to the vulnerable including individuals who were unemployed after the COVID-19 outbreak On March 25th and 30th 2020, the government approved a comprehensive action plan to counter the adverse coronavirus impact and several measures to offset its economic and social consequences with a total budget of at least US$300M. These included: - Support package No. 4: Assistance to families with children up to 14 years old where the formally employed parents were laid off. This support amounted to AMD 100,000 (US$201) lump sum payment per child and did not apply to public servants or those who had monthly salary higher than AMD 500,000 for the previous 2 months. The payments started from April 1st 2020 and expired at the end of April. Social - Support package No. 6: Support to persons in formal employment (receiving less than AMD Cash transfers Assistance 500,000 for the past two months) who were laid off in the period of March 13th to 30th 2020 in the (conditional and unconditional) amount of monthly minimum wage. Payments were processed from April 2nd, 2020. The support under this package is now over. - Support package No. 7: Support to pregnant women who are not employed until March 30th, 2020, and whose husband and were laid off in the period of March 13th to 30th 2020 in the amount of AMD 100,000 (US$201) lump sum payment. Payments were processed from April 2nd, 2020. The support under this package is now over. - Support package No. 8: Support to hired workers and individual entrepreneurs (formal employment) in Armenia’s private sector most affected by the spread of coronavirus, specifically, in hotel and hostel, public catering, tourism, barber shops and beauty parlors, retail trade. This was expanded to cover also hired workers and individual entrepreneurs from the following sectors: ground transport operations (route transport); preschool institutions (private kindergartens); sporting activities (sports clubs, swimming pools); entertainment and other leisure activities. The amounts ranged between AMD 68,000 and AMD 136,000 (US$137-274). - Support package No. 9: The government supported families with children aged 0-18 years old, where both parents did not have a registered job (part-time or full-time work). This was expanded to cover parents in childcare leave for children under the age of 3. The support consisted of a lump-sum of AMD 26,500 (about US$55) per child. - Support package No. 13: One-time assistance at the rate of 50% of the amount of the social benefit or family benefit for those families enrolled in the Family Benefit system and eligible as of April 2020. 70% of the assistance was available as a cash payment in addition to the amount of the family allowance for April; the balance of 30% will be transferred to the utility operator on behalf of the electricity subscriber. - Support package No. 22: adopted on June 25th, 2020, it supported employees who were employed from January 1st to March 31st, 2020, and lost their jobs. Beneficiaries received a one-time payment equal to the minimum wage of AMD 68,000 (US$140). Those who were employed in financial sector (credit organizations, insurance companies, etc.) and those who had an average monthly salary (calculated based on the 2 months’ average before they were laid-off) of more than AMD 500,000 (approximately US$1,030) were not eligible for this support package. It was reported that in April 2020 about 71,000 citizens lost their job and in May 2020 about 50,000 of them returned to the job market, with about 20,000 still laid-off. As of June 2021, family and social benefits can also be paid through banks (as opposed to delivery by HayPost), if the beneficiaries submit applications to the Unified Social Service. Social pensions In-kind transfers The Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (MLSA), in collaboration with the Armenian Red Cross, provided between one and three food and hygiene packages to 1,400 citizens. The packages were aimed at elderly people living alone and people with disabilities, including Syrian-Armenian refugees and people in social housing. Also, MLSA announced the provision of food packages and other protective measures for 2 months to about 90,000 households (including 50+ year old unemployed and people with disabilities). Food, vouchers, others The United Nations World Food Program (WFP), in partnership with the Armenian Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (MLSA), distributed a one-off food ration for 44,000 vulnerable people who have been affected by the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. WFP has identified people receiving assistance based on the findings of a Food Security Assessment WFP conducted in July and August 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. WFP and MLSA are prioritizing the poorest families especially those who have at least 3 children or children with special needs, as well as pregnant women and children under five. World Food Program (WFP) and the Government of Republic of Armenia (GoA) will jointly provide take-home rations for around 100,000 primary children while school canteens remain closed as part of the COVID-19 pandemic safety regulations. WFP in partnership with the GoA adjusted the operations of the school feeding program to ensure children from the most vulnerable families will still benefit from daily nutritious meals at home until school kitchens reopen and resume the provision of in-school meals. School feeding WFP will provide nutritionally diversified food packages to some 50,000 primary school children across Armenia as part of its School Feeding program that is funded by the Russian Federation. As part of the gradual nationalization of the program, the Government of Armenia will in parallel support around 50,000 additional school children. This one-off distribution supports the food needs of children and their families for 80 days during the first semester of the 2020/2021 school year. The food packages provided both by WFP and the Government include basic staples like buckwheat, lentils, pasta, rice, oil and wheat flour. Support package No. 15: The program aimed at creating temporary jobs for socially vulnerable groups in the agricultural sector while tackling environmental problems through a reforestation program Public works protecting the riverbed from erosion and floods. The minimum daily salary consisted of AMD 10,000 (US$21). The government introduced a support package (No. 14) to assist students during the pandemic, which includes three different options of assistance for students: 1) semester tuition fees for Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD students with a GPA of 90 or more and in graduate course of the existing system of state universities will be 100% paid by the Government. Semester tuition fees for non-graduate students with a GPA of 90 or more will be paid 75 percent. Graduate students who do not have a tuition fee debt may turn down the assistance or receive the amount if it has been paid by an individual. And if the graduating student's fee is paid through a student loan, the money will be directed to pay the loan. 2) the procedure for providing student loans will be simplified. Interest rates Utility waivers on current and new loans for students with a GPA of more than 80 will be zeroed for 2020, including for the students at state-accredited universities; 3) Loan interest rates for students with a GPA less than 80 will be subsidized by 5%; that is, loans will be available at 4%. The government passed a decision with a view to reimbursing tuition fees for one semester for those students who participated in the war of September 2020. The benefit was originally intended for the first semester of the academic year 2020-2021 but was later amended so that the tuition could be reimbursed for one semester in general, considering that there are students who still continue their military service. Such students will regain their status of student in the academic year 2021-2022, yet they will remain eligible, which means that the decision is not time-bound. As of June 2021, families and social benefits can also be paid through banks (as opposed to delivery by Haypost), if the beneficiaries submit application to the unified social service Support package No. 12: The government reimbursed 50% of February 2020 expenditures on natural gas and electricity for those consumers whose gas and electricity bills did not exceed AMD 10,000 (about US$21) and AMD 5,000 (about US$10), respectively and 30% of February 2020 expenditures on natural gas and electricity for those consumers whose gas and electricity bills were from AMD 10,001-30,000 (about US$21-62) and from AMD 5,001-10,000 (about US$10-21) respectively. These transfers were automatic and universal, with no obligation to apply. Beneficiaries: 280,000 households. Support package No. 13: One-time assistance at the rate of 50% of the amount of the social benefit or family benefit for those families enrolled in the Family Benefit system and eligible as of April 2020. 70% of the assistance will be available as a cash payment in addition to the amount of the family allowance for April; the balance of 30% will be transferred to the utility operator on behalf of the electricity subscriber. Support package No. 14: The government introduced three different options of assistance for students: semester tuition fees for Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD students, simplification of student loans and subsidized loan interest rates for students. Support package No. 16: lump-sum assistance to beneficiaries for utilities. 1. 30% compensation for electricity consumption to 207,837 service subscriber residents, and for gas consumption – to 81,697 service subscriber residents, if they consumed from AMD 10,001 to 25,000 worth of electricity, and from AMD 30,001 to 40,000 worth of gas, for February 2020. 2. 50% compensation for electricity consumption to service subscriber residents in 310 villages (rural communities), which do not have gas. The support was provided to those subscriber residents who consumed up to AMD 25,000 worth of electricity in February 2020. 3. 50% compensation for water consumption to those service subscriber residents who consumed up to AMD 3,000 worth of water in March 2020. The total number of beneficiaries for this package was 424,972 people. The Public Services Regulatory Commission allowed the delay of electricity, water or gas outages payment during the period of March 15th and May 15th , 2020. Utility bills could be paid in June 2020 with no disruption risks. Paid sick leave Health insurance All pensioners who received their pensions in cash did not need to go to the post office and have their pensions delivered to them by HayPost (Nationwide Postal Office) employees. Arrangement of Social delivery of pensions and social benefit packages, so that beneficiaries could receive them without Pensions Insurance leaving home. The Government has shifted to bank payments for pensions. Pensions are paid through banks primarily in Yerevan, Gyumri and Vanadzor (bigger cities), except for persons with 1st and 2nd disability and those above 75 years of age (as of July 2021). Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Enterprises and companies which have resumed operation since April 17th, 2020, are obligated to ensure preventive/anti-epidemiological measures inside organizations and to ensure safe transfer of Labor market regulations workers to and from their workplaces. The government set up a hotline and provided instructions on preventive actions for citizens and employers in terms of organizing remote work. Reduced work time [March 2020] Through Support Package No. 5, the government announced this measure to support separate business entities facing issues related to the maintenance of productive workforce resulted Labor by the COVID-19 pandemic. It was created to support businesses which had consistently had Markets between 2 to 50 employees within the period from 1 January 2020 to 1 April 2020 and no change in the actual payroll during the mentioned period. It was aimed at business entities with the exception of banks, credit organizations, pawnshops and insurance companies, currency exchange points, organizations dealing with the purchase and sales of securities, investment organizations, investment funds, gambling businesses and other similar organizations. A lump-sum grant was to be provided to Wage subsidies the potential 12,000 beneficiaries of the measure. [May 2020] Through Support Package 18, it was modified to include business entities registered in the Republic of Armenia that had between 2 to 100 employees in the period from February 1, 2020, to April 30, 2020. [June 2020] Through Support Package 21, this measure was aimed at business entities with 2 to 100 employees as of March 1, 2020, through May 31, 2020, in the form of a one-time grant, in the amount of the salary of every 5th employee. (back to the top) Aruba (Netherlands) Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others (July 2020) Distribution of 800 food packages to people in need, upon Super Food donations. School feeding Public works Fiscal emergency plan 2020. On March 27th, 2020, the government presented the Fiscal Emergency Plan 2020 (Plan di Alivio Fiscal 2020). The plan was to alleviate the tax burden for the sole purpose of solidarity and the recovery of the economy following the COVID-19 outbreak. This included the Social following measures: Assistance 1) Extension of the legal payment term of the monthly tax resources: taxpayers with a turnover of less than AWF $1 M per month affected by COVID-19 engaged in tourism activities, transportation, commerce, cleaning sector and construction can be given extra time on request to pay the tax due for the months of April, May and June 2020. 2) No payment of the employer's contribution AOV / AWW for the months of April, May and June 2020 for tourism activities. Utility waivers 3) Extension of the statutory declaration and payment term of the 2019 profit tax due, with the exception of financial institutions for 6 months (until November 30th, 2020). 4) Postponement of payment arrangements already concluded for 3 months, since April 2020. 5) Default fines for non, partial or late payment of the tax due were suspended for the months of April, May and June 2020. 6) The interest collection in the event of non-payment or partial non-payment of outstanding (tax) debts were suspended for three (3) months from April 2020 on the condition that the taxpayer concluded a (new) payment arrangement. 7) Affected taxpayers were granted easier access to new flexible payment arrangements for all tax and non-tax means such as income tax, national insurance contributions, profit tax, land tax and leasehold. 8) When paying outstanding old (tax) debts all at once, the taxpayer can appeal to the following discounts. (May 2020) In accordance with the Price Regulation for special and temporary maximum prices COVID-19), the government, through the Department of Economic Affairs, introduced a maximum prices system for the crisis package as of May 14th, 2020. This included controlling prices of food as well as health items. (December 2020) The government implemented the Fiscal Emergency Plan part 2, which took effect on November 1st, 2020, including the following measures for individuals: - Broadening of the beneficial policy concerning the savings and provident fund scheme for the years 2020 and 2021, approved to allow employees to withdraw the amount saved untaxed during the years 2020 and 2021. This applies in the case of funerals, home purchases, children's studies, and other emergencies. - Abolition of Special tax on rental cars and rental motorcycles (BBVAM). - Flex payment arrangements for businesses, individuals, and retirees non-entrepreneurs. To make the taxes payable, the new flexible payment arrangements imply the choice of payment in 6, 12, or 18 months with a minimum repayment amount of Afl. 100. For retired non-entrepreneurs: choice of payment in 12, 18, or 24 months with a minimum redemption amount of Afl. 75,00. - Taxpayers are entitled to a 30% discount on the payment of a lump sum of outstanding old (tax) debts. The remediation policy is valid until June 30, 2021. Paid sick leave Health insurance Pensions Unemployment benefits Fiscal emergency plan 2020. On March 27th, 2020, the government presented the Fiscal Emergency Plan 2020 (Plan di Alivio Fiscal 2020). The plan was to alleviate the tax burden for the sole purpose of solidarity and the recovery of the economy following the COVID-19 outbreak. This included the Social following measures related to social security contributions: Insurance - No payment of the employer's contribution AOV / AWW for the months of April, May and June 2020 for tourism activities Social security contributions - Affected taxpayers were granted easier access to new flexible payment arrangements for all tax and non-tax means such as income tax, national insurance contributions, profit tax, land tax and leasehold: - Maximum 24 months for individual taxpayers with a minimum amount of AWG $100. - Maximum 24 months for entrepreneurs with a minimum amount of AWG $500. - Maximum 36 months for 60+ with a minimum amount of AWG $75. Activation measures The government decided to cut salaries of ministers, civil servants and pensioners for the period May- December 2020 as follows: Ministers, officeholders, advisers, and directors of government entities are Labor market regulations surrendering 20%. Officials and employees of subsidized foundations and government entities contribute 12.6%. Pensioners of the APFA will give 4.5%. This implied an estimated cost of AWG $91 M. The Government has introduced a flexibility package for 3 months to provide relief for all the economic turmoil caused by the Coronavirus, effective from April 1st, 2020. This included the following: 1) Opportunity for businesses and employees to apply for compensation from the Emergency Social Assistance Funds (FASE) to help cover the loss of income of employees due to the reduction of Reduced work time working hours, causing them to earn less than AWG $950 monthly. Initially, FASE was launched on March 19th, 2020, for a duration of 3 months. It was extended until September 2020. 2) Labor Law: Flexibility on the working hours of employees. Employees retain the right to receive payment for the hours they have worked, in mutual agreement with their employer. The government Labor urged companies to maintain working agreements active; it was recommended to grant paid vacation before reducing working hours while still keeping five vacation days as a buffer. Markets [April 2020] As part of the flexibility package to provide relief for all the economic turmoil caused by the Coronavirus, the government launched the Emergency Social Assistance Funds (FASE) effective from April 1st, 2020. The fund allowed businesses and employees to apply for compensation from to help cover the loss of income of employees due to the reduction of working hours, causing them to earn less than AWG $950 monthly. Initially, FASE was announced on March 19th 2020 for a duration of 3 months. It was extended until September 2020. Wage subsidies The government introduced salary subsidies in June 2020. The salary subsidy was a financial support for local businesses that have been financially affected by the Covid-19 pandemic in the form of revenue loss of more than 25%. The government gave each employer subsidy based on their monthly loss of revenue, to pay their employees a maximum of 60% of their salary and up to the limited amount of monthly AWG $5,850. The financial aid given to employers was exclusively for payments of employee’s salaries and associated fees, such as taxes and social contributions that employers are responsible for. (back to the top) Australia Cash-based transfers The Australian Government is providing two separate one-off $750 payments to social security, veteran and other income support recipients and eligible concession card holders. The first payment was announced on March 12, 2020, as part of the. $17.6 billion stimulus package and the payment were made from 31 March 2020 and the second payment was announced as on 22 March 2020 and the payment was from 13 July 2020. Around half of those that benefit are pensioners. Eligibility for the payment include beneficiaries of Age Pension, Carer Allowance, Carer Payment, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, Disability Support Pension, Double Orphan Pension, Family Tax Benefit, Pensioner Concession Card. These payments helped support confidence and domestic demand in the economy. As part of the Federal Budget on 6 October 2020, the Australian Government announced 2 additional Economic Support Payments of $250 to continue its support of the Australian community through the pandemic. One was made in December 2020 and another one was made in March 2021. The second, third and fourth payment was not available to those eligible for the Coronavirus supplement (i.e., JobSeeker Payment, Youth Allowance or ABSTUDY from Services Australia; Education Allowance from DVA). For the first round 6.6 million people were planned to be covered and for the rest of the rounds around 5 million people were planned to be covered. The first 2 rounds of payments are Social Cash transfers expected to cost 8.33 billion AUD while the third and fourth together cost 2.6 billion AUD. Assistance (conditional and unconditional) On 22 March 2020, as part of the second economic stimulus package, the government of Australia announced a time-limited Coronavirus Supplement to be paid at a rate of AUD 550 per fortnight (around USD 330) to recipients of Jobseeker payment, parenting payment, youth allowances and other payment types. This supplement was placed for six months at a cost of AUD 14.133bn (USD 8.5bn). The Coronavirus Supplement of $550 per fortnight was available until September 24, 2020. It is reported on 21 July 2021, that the Coronavirus Supplement has been extended from September 25, 2020, but the payment amount would be reduced to $250 per fortnight until December 31, 2020. On December 10, 2020, the government further extended the duration of the payment but further reduced the payment amount to a rate of $150 per fortnight until March 31, 2021. On 17 March 2021, the Tasmanian State Government of Australia will provide a one-off emergency relief payment of $250 for individuals and up to $1,000 for families who are required to self- quarantine. This will be available to low-income persons, casual workers and self-employed persons who are required to self-isolate due to COVID-19 risk. Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works The Australian Government, on 2 April 2020, announced the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Relief Package as a temporary measure to ensure the viability of the ECEC Sector and the continued provision of care for children of essential workers and vulnerable children (for the period 6 April to 28 June 2020). The government is providing $1.6 billion to support childcare services to remain open in the wake of COVID-19 and to provide families who need it with access to care. To receive these payments childcare services must prioritize care to essential workers, vulnerable, disadvantaged and previously enrolled children, and must not charge families any fees for sessions of care provided. On 17 August 2020, it is reported that the Australian Government has extended the utilities concession to eligible asylum seekers, giving them access to the annual $700 utilities concession and an additional one-off $200 rebate for the year 2020-21. In 2021, the Government has permanently Utility waivers extended the assistance provided under the Utilities Concession to eligible asylum seekers who hold an ACT Service Access Card from 1 July 2020. From 1 July 2021, the annual concession amount will permanently increase by $50 to $750. In the 2021-22 financial year, an additional one-off $50 increase will be provided to the utility concession in light of the electricity prices increases. As part of the COVID-19 measure, a one-off $200 rebate will also be provided to eligible households, resulting in a total concession of $1,000. N.B. the Utilities Concession covers electricity, natural gas, water and sewerage and is calculated on a daily basis, with rates depending on the season. The concession is available on the principal place of residence only and the account must be in the cardholder’s name. Only one Utilities Concession per eligible household can be claimed. The Utilities Concession is also available to eligible residents of ACT caravan parks and retirement villages with embedded electricity networks. The Concession will be paid directly to eligible residents rather than as a reduction applied to utility bills. Please contact the ACT Revenue Office directly. Sole traders, self-employed, casual workers and contract workers are entitled to the Job Seeker Payment & Coronavirus Supplement in case of sickness or mandatory quarantine, if they meet the required criteria. Paid sick leave Social Paid pandemic leave has been available to eligible residential aged care employees covered by the Aged Insurance Care Award, Nurses Award and Health Services Award. This entitlement ended on 29 March 2021. Health insurance Pensions Unemployment benefits The government is allowing individuals affected by the Coronavirus early access up to $10,000 of their superannuation in 2019-20 and a further $10,000 in 2020-21. Eligible individuals were able to apply online to access up to $10,000 of their superannuation before 1 July 2020. They were also able to access up to a further tax free $10,000 from 1 July 2020 for approximately 3 months. The Social security contributions withdrawals were available to those in financial distress due to coronavirus as well as sole traders whose hours or income had fallen 20 percent or more due to coronavirus. The COVID-19 early release of super program closed on 31 December 2020. Nearly 2.45m Australians have applied to get early release of their superannuation and 2.45m applications were approved for FY 2019-20. The new Apprentice and Trainee Re-engagement Register will support displaced apprentices and trainees displaced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, by connecting them with a network of employers across the country. The register enables eligible apprentices and trainees who were in a training contract with a small business on March 1 to upload details such as qualifications, work experience and resumes to help them connect with employers. Employers of any size, including group training organizations, are able to register their details and post a vacancy for an apprentice or trainee. Employers who re-engage an apprentice or trainees displaced from a small business may be eligible for a wage subsidy of 50 per cent of the apprentice’s or trainee’s wage, under the government’s Activation measures Supporting Apprentices and Trainees initiative. The register is hosted by the National Apprentice Employment Network (NAEN) and supported by the Australian Government, as part of the economic response to COVID-19. Who can register: - Apprentices and trainees from small businesses who were in a training contract on 1 March 2020 or 1 July 2020 and have since lost their jobs - Apprentices and trainees from medium businesses who were in a training contract on 1 July 2020 Labor and have since lost their jobs Markets - Employers of any size, including Group Training Organizations, who wish to register their details and post a vacancy for an apprentice or trainee Employees who are employed under one of the affected awards can access up to 2 weeks’ unpaid pandemic leave (or more by agreement with their employer) if they're prevented from working: - as a result of being required to self-isolate by government or medical authorities, or acting on the advice of a medical practitioner, or - by measures taken by government or medical authorities in response to the pandemic (for example, an enforceable government direction restricting non-essential businesses). Labor market regulations The leave is available in full immediately to full-time, part-time and casual employees – they don’t have to accrue it. Employees don’t have to use all their paid leave before accessing unpaid pandemic leave. The leave needs to start before, but can finish after, the date when the unpaid pandemic leave provisions in the relevant award stop applying. All eligible employees can take the 2 weeks’ leave. It is not pro-rated for employees who don't work full-time. Unpaid pandemic leave doesn’t affect other paid or unpaid leave entitlements and counts as a service for entitlements under awards and the National Employment Standards. Under Schedule X, employees can take their annual leave at half pay, and double their time off work, if their employer agrees. This means an employee can get 1 week of annual leave (including annual leave loading if applicable) for every 2 weeks of annual leave they take. The agreement has to be in writing and the employer needs to keep it as a record. The leave needs to start before the date Schedule X stops operating in the relevant award but can finish after that date. An employee on leave at half pay accumulates annual leave and sick and carer’s leave as if they were on leave at full pay. Under Australia’s Work Health and Safety (WHS) laws employers have a duty of care for the health and safety of their workers and others at the workplace. This includes providing and maintaining a Reduced work time work environment that is without risk to health and safety and providing adequate facilities for workers in carrying out their work. COVID-19 work health and safety (WHS) guidance varies by industry The Australian government injected A$1.5 billion ($1.1 billion) into a wage subsidy program to counter rising unemployment, Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements (BAC) wage subsidy, which involved the payment of 50% of the wage of commence apprentices or trainees: apprentices and trainees, initially, from January to September 2020. The subsidy amounted to AUD 21,000 and for a total cost of AUD 1.3 billion. Through the subsidy, any business or Group Training Organization that engages an Australian Apprentice between October 5th, 2020, and September 30th, 2021, may be eligible for this subsidy per new or recommencing apprentice or trainee for a 12-month period from the date of commencement to a maximum of $7,000 per quarter. There is no cap on the number of eligible trainees/ apprentices. After 12 months of this support, employers will be eligible to transition to the time-limited Completing Apprenticeship Commencements (CAC) wage subsidy for the second and third years of an apprenticeship. The BAC and CAC are available to employers of any size, industry or Wage subsidies geographic location. The Supporting Apprentices and Trainees wage subsidy to retain existing apprentices and trainees ran from 1 January 2020 through to 31 March 2021. Eligible employers are able to claim 50 per cent of an Australian Apprentice's gross wage up to $7,000 per quarter, per eligible apprentice or trainee. Employers have until 30 June 2021 to submit claims in arrears of wages paid and can potentially do so for the life of the subsidy. Your small business may be eligible if: you employ fewer than 20 people; or you are a small business with fewer than 20 people, using a Group Training Organization; and the apprentice or trainee was undertaking an Australian Apprenticeship with you on 1 July 2020 for claims after this date. Claims prior to 1 July 2020, will continue to be based on the 1 March 2020 eligibility date. Your medium-sized business may be eligible if: you employ fewer than 200 people; or you are a medium business with fewer than 200 people, using a Group Training Organization; and the apprentice or trainee was undertaking an Australian Apprenticeship with you on 1 July 2020. Any employer (including all small, medium or large businesses and Group Training Organization) who re-engages an apprentice or trainee displaced from an eligible small or medium business may also be eligible for the subsidy. [March 2020] Australia is providing a wage subsidy (so-called “JobKeeper payment”) for all permanent, part-time and casual workers who have worked for at least a year with their employer and were employed as of March 1, 2020. It is up to AUD 1,500 (USD 909) per two weeks for a period of six months, which is around 70 percent of the national median wage. Firms must show major reductions in turnover to qualify, which is a 50 percent reduction in turnover for large firms and 30 percent for smaller firms. This is expected to cover around 6 million of the 13 million strong workforces. In the first phase of JobKeeper (30 March to 27 September 2020) eligible businesses and not-for-profits were able to receive $1,500 (before tax) per fortnight per employee to cover the cost of wages. [September 2020] In the extension phase the Payment was reduced and paid at two rates: from 28 September 2020 to 3 January 2021, the payment rate was $1200 per fortnight for employees who worked 20 hours or more a week on average in the reference period and $750 for employees who worked less than 20 hours a week on average in the reference period. From 4 January 2021 to 28 March 2021, the payment rate was $1000 per fortnight for employees who worked 20 hours or more a week on average in the reference period and $650 for employees who worked less than 20 hours a week on average in the reference period. The JobMaker Hiring Credit scheme is an incentive for businesses to employ additional young job seekers aged 16–35 years. Eligible employers can access the JobMaker Hiring Credit for each eligible additional employee they hire between 7 October 2020 and 6 October 2021. The credit provides: $200 per week for new employees between 16 to 29 years of age, and $100 a week for new employees between 30 to 35 years of age. Payment is from the start date of the employee for 12 months. The time-limited $716 million Completing Apprenticeship Commencements (CAC) wage subsidy for the second and third years of an apprenticeship: under the CAC, eligible employers will receive a 10 per cent wage subsidy in the second year of an eligible apprenticeship, up to a maximum of $1,500 per quarter per apprentice, and a 5 per cent wage subsidy in the third year of their apprenticeship, to a maximum of $750 per quarter per apprentice. The CAC is available to employers of any size, industry or geographic location. As per the current process with BAC claims, a CAC claim form will be automatically issued to eligible employers as the CAC claim period falls due, the first being 1 January 2022. Final claims for payment must be lodged by 30 June 2025. (back to the top) Austria Cash-based transfers Cash assistance for one-person companies and freelancers affected by the crisis (e.g. service providers, artists, etc.) through a hardship fund, implemented by the Austrian Economic Chamber. The maximum amount of compensation for the net loss of income per observation period was € 2,000 per month, with a minimum of € 500 if eligibility requirements were met for a period of three months. This was later increased to six months. To support families, the federal government is providing 650 million euros for families with children with the child bonus. Every child who was eligible for family allowance of 360 euros in September 2020. Payment was made automatically and without an application. This also applied to people who receive increased family allowances, for example people with disabilities. Support for job seeker: The government introduced unemployment benefits for anyone who was unemployed for 60 days between May and August 2020. This implied receiving a one-off payment of 450 euros. This measure involved a planned budget of 200 million euros and was implemented in Social July 2020. Cash transfers Assistance (conditional and unconditional) Corona hazard bonus of €500 for workers in the social and healthcare sectors for those directly dealing with COVID-19 patients between March 16th 2020 and June 30th 2020 was agreed upon in July 2020. The government implemented a Corona-bonus of €150 for workers in the electrical and electronics industry, in the chemical industry, and in the shoe and textile industries in May 2020. Payments were expected to be completed by the end of October 2020. A so-called temporary “Corona Family Hardship Fund” (Corona Familienhärtefonds) was introduced in April 2020, with an earmarked budget of €60 million. Families with children are eligible for a payment of up to €1,200 per month (depending on the household composition) in cases where, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, at least one parent became unemployed, or is on CSTW, or is self- employed and has financial difficulties because of the pandemic. This transfer may be granted for a maximum of three months and is subject to means testing. The Family Bonus program was increased to EUR 2,000 per child as part of the tax reform of October 2021. The increase in the family bonus by 500 euros per child and the increase in the additional child amount to 450 euros compared to the previous regulation are important steps to relieve the families in the country in light of the past few months of the corona pandemic. Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding In October 2020, the Public Employment service in lower Austria known as AMS NO along with the support of the private employment service provider “itworks” started implementing the Jobs Guarantee scheme that aims to "eradicate long term unemployment and improve social, health, and Public works well-being outcomes for people in long-term unemployment." The program will be implemented in the town of Gramatneusiedl. The program has a budget of 7.4 million EUR and will create 250 jobs for 3 years. The government approved a deferral of personal and corporate income taxes (for 2020), social security contributions (3 months), and VAT payments (until end-September 2020). This meant a total 10 billion euros. The deferral of tax payments was reintroduced from March 31st, 2021 to June 30th, 2021 with no interest charges. The government prohibited electricity, gas or heat disconnections until May 1st 2020. The government also discussed the possibility of deferring utility payments or an installment plan. The ban on shutdowns was extended for a further two months on April 30th, 2020. Several alleviations for tenants of rented apartments have been made, for those who suffer from the pandemic with income losses, disabling them from paying the monthly rent in part or fully. Utility waivers Measures included * the prohibition of the termination of a rental contract due to such financial problems; * the temporary exclusion of the enforceability of rent arrears; * reliefs with regard to the extension of fixed-term residential rental contracts; and * the statutory deferment of eviction for dwellings. The date until which the landlord may not claim the arrears of payment in court or cover them from a deposit handed over by the tenant was postponed from 31 December 2020 to 31 March 2021. The regulation that non-payment of the rent for the time period April to June 2020 will not result in the possibility of being sued for eviction until July 2022 remains in place. The government announced the provision of a specific COVID-Fund worth €100 million for the 460,000 persons in need of nursing care in March 2020, to be distributed among Austria's nine federal states (as nursing care lies within their competencies). It lies within the regional states' responsibility on how to invest this money. For example, some federal states have made exceptions to travel bans for care workers from Romania and Slovakia. Employees with care responsibilities for one or more children under the age of 14 can take up to 3 Paid sick leave weeks of care leave (Sonderbetreuungszeit) with full wage replacement, being 33% of it reimbursed to the employer by the government. Health insurance Pensions (March 2020) Temporary waiving of the conditionality to regularly meet the case worker at the labor market service to receive unemployment benefits (March 2020) Increase in unemployment assistance: income support to unemployed workers who have exhausted their entitlement to unemployment benefit raised to the level of unemployment benefits [Extension - September 2020] The topped up emergency assistance (see content of measure), which has been increased to the amount of unemployment benefit for the 'duration of the pandemic' has been extended to 31 December 2020 Unemployment benefits [Extension- February 2021] The top-up of the emergency assistance to the amount of the unemployment benefit has been extended retroactively to 31 March 2021. Social [Extension- May 2021] The top-up of the emergency assistance was once more prolonged until 30 Insurance September 2021. [Extension- September 2021] The increased emergency assistance (to the level of unemployment benefits) which has been extended several times to 30 September 2021, has not been prolonged due to decreasing unemployment figures. Applications for unemployment benefits and unemployment assistance could be made without a personal visit The government approved a deferral of personal and corporate income taxes (for 2020), social security contributions (3 months), and VAT payments (until end-September 2020). This meant a total 10 billion euros Social security contributions [March 2020] The government approved a deferral of social security contributions (3 months). Deferral of social security contributions for self-employed. Those self-employed who were financially affected by measures which had been implemented and had difficulties providing the social security contributions, should contact the insurance. All insured were offered the following options: * Deferral of contributions; * Payment of contributions in installments * Reduction of the provisional contribution base * Total or partial leniency of interest on late payments [June 2020] The re-start bonus is intended for people who are currently unemployed, who are registered with the public employment service (PES) and who are willing to take up a new position (job offer registered with the PES) where they would earn less than in their previous job. The minimum number of working hours of the newly taken up are 20 hours per week. The PES then increases this income from part-time work to 80% of the person's full-time net income before unemployment (the PES pays the difference up to an amount of €950 net). The duration of the allowance is limited to a maximum of 28 weeks and concerns fully insured employment relationships that are taken up between 15 June 2020 and 30 June 2021. [December 2020] - Since 1 December 2020, it is not a prerequisite anymore that the newly taken up employment relationship must have been previously registered as a vacancy with the PES. [Extension - May 2021] - The deadline for take-up of employment in order to qualify for the re-start bonus has been extended from 30 June to 31 December 2021.. [March 2020] As part of the apprenticeship bonus, apprentices are provided training. The government implemented an apprentice bonus for companies creating apprenticeships, which amounted €2,000 for every apprentice hired between March 16th and October 31st 2020. The money was paid in two tranches: €1,000 at the start of the apprenticeship and €1,000 if retained Labor after the probationary period (usually three months). Funding was also provided for taking over Activation measures Markets apprentices in the first year of training from an inter-company apprenticeship scheme until March 31st 2021. In total, €62.7 million were budgeted for the measure [October 2020] The education bonus is provided for taking part in a training measure which lasts at least four months and is agreed upon with the PES. It lies at €4 per day (i.e. cumulating to around €120 per month) and is provided for training measures which start from 1 October 2020 to 31 December 2021. The bonus is provided in addition to the unemployment benefit or unemployment assistance and the pre-existing training allowance (which lies at around €60 per month). It is supposed to partially compensate for any additional training-related expenses which arise. It is not paid if the training provider pays a grant to the student. The bonus does not need to be specifically applied for, it is paid automatically together with the unemployment benefit or assistance. In total, €58 million are budgeted until 2022. The funding agency is the Federal Ministry of Labour, Family and Youth. . [October 2020] With the “Corona job offensive”, the federal government is creating the largest labor market policy offensive in the history of the Second Republic to create sustainable employment prospects and to support future-oriented economic development. People who complete a qualification measure or (re) training as part of the job offensive that lasts longer than four months receive an education bonus of 180 euros per education bonus in addition to their normal unemployment insurance benefits. The education bonus is automatically paid out with the unemployment benefit after participation in the training. An application is not required. With a total budget of around 700 million euros, the Corona Job Offensive is designed for participation by up to 100,000 people and funds training courses that are started by 31 December 2021. [March 2020] The government decided to extend the employment permit up to twelve months for seasonal workers who were already employed and have been granted a permit before. In order to counteract the impending labour shortage, the permitted duration of employment is extended for those third-country seasonal workers who are already employed in the country and have been granted a permit and are needed for urgent work. The current maximum duration of employment for one and the same seasonal worker is extended from nine months to twelve months. On 11 March 2020, this regulation came first into force concerning commuters entering from Italy. [Extension - March 2020] It was updated on 22 March 2020 to include commuters entering from Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Germany, Hungary and Slovenia. [March 2020] New type of short-time working scheme, called "Corona Kurzarbeit": in the case of "temporary, non-seasonal" economic difficulties due to Covid-19, company employees in all sectors have the option of reducing their working hours by 10-90 percent for six months, but a social Labor market regulations partner agreement is a prerequisite for use of the scheme and the employment level must be maintained during the scheme and one month beyond. [Extension - May 2020] The Austrian social partners negotiated a new agreement which extends the Corona short-time work measure for another three months ("phase II"). [Extension- July 2020] On 29 July 2020, the social partners agreed with the federal government on the extension of short-time work for a further six months ("phase III"). [Extension - November 2020] Additions to the existing phase III of the short-time work scheme were added in November 2020. [Extension- February 2021] starting on 1 October 2020 until 31 March 2021. Phase III foresees several changes to the previous regulation for phase I (1 March until 31 May 2020) and phase II (1 June until 30 September 2020). [Extension - June 2021] Upon the expiration of the short-time work scheme "phase IV" the social partners and government negotiated the extension into "phase V" via two different models. The Corona short-time work phase 5 applies from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022 for short-time work projects of a maximum of 6 months each. What is new is that there are 2 lines of short-time work, one for particularly affected companies (limited to December 31, 2021) and the other for the other companies. Reduced work time [March 2020] The federal government pays companies a bonus of €2,000 for every apprentice hired between 16 March and 31 October 2020. The money is to be paid in two tranches: €1,000 at the start of the apprenticeship and €1,000 if retained after the probationary period (usually three months). Funding will also be provided for taking over apprentices in the first year of training from an inter-company apprenticeship scheme until 31 March 2021. If the apprenticeship is terminated during the probationary period, the first instalment will have to be paid back. This bonus is in addition to a pre-existing basic subsidy that is being paid to all companies training apprentices in the amount of three gross monthly apprenticeship payments in the first apprenticeship year. In total, €62.7 million are budgeted for the measure. [October 2020] October 1st 2020, an additional bonus of €500 for micro enterprises (i.e. companies with fewer than ten employees) and €1,000 for small enterprises (i.e. companies with between ten and 49 employees) was implemented. Wage subsidies [March 2020] The federal government pays companies a bonus of €2,000 for every apprentice hired between 16 March and 31 October 2020. The money is to be paid in two tranches: €1,000 at the start of the apprenticeship and €1,000 if retained after the probationary period (usually three months). Funding will also be provided for taking over apprentices in the first year of training from an inter-company apprenticeship scheme until 31 March 2021. If the apprenticeship is terminated during the probationary period, the first instalment will have to be paid back. This bonus is in addition to a pre-existing basic subsidy that is being paid to all companies training apprentices in the amount of three gross monthly apprenticeship payments in the first apprenticeship year. In total, €62.7 million are budgeted for the measure. [October 2020] October 1st 2020, an additional bonus of €500 for micro enterprises (i.e. companies with fewer than ten employees) and €1,000 for small enterprises (i.e. companies with between ten and 49 employees) was implemented. (back to the top) Azerbaijan Cash-based transfers The government introduced an additional lump-sum payment of AzN 190 to individuals who received social assistance under the April 4th, 2020, relief package. This temporary assistance was provided for 600,000 persons registered as unemployed in the State Employment Service and informally employed low-income people who lost their jobs due to the special quarantine regime. The government provided for the payment of allowances/benefits to medical workers taking part in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. (AzN 0.1 bn). Originally scheduled to end in January 2021, the program was extended to March 31st, 2021. As one of the measures to increase government support for low-income families in Azerbaijan, the coverage of the targeted state social assistance program is expanding. According to the ministry of of Labor and Social Protection of the Population, from April 1 to date, the number of citizens receiving targeted social assistance has grown by 12,000 families and reached 82,000. Meanwhile, the number of family members receiving social assistance this month increased by 50,000 and Social Cash transfers currently stands at 340,000 people. The average monthly amount of social assistance for each Assistance (conditional and unconditional) family continues to grow, reaching 222 manat ($130.5). As the ministry noted, the support was also provided to low-income families whose term for receiving targeted state social assistance during the special quarantine regime has expired. The term for the provision of this assistance to them has been extended to one month following the end of the quarantine regime. During the month of June 2020, when a strict quarantine regime was in force in only certain cities and regions, the one-off cash payment covered 283,000 individuals, totaling about AZN 55 million. In the fourth installment completed on August 21st, 2020 (after skipping the month of July), 272,000 persons received cash totaling AZN 52 million. The grand total of cash payments during the quarantine period thus amounted to AZN 333 million. As part of the Republic of Azerbaijan COVID-19 Active Response and Expenditure Support (CARES) Program which will be rolled out in 2021, the government will increase the number of low-income households receiving support to at least 80,000, covering 335,000 individuals, of which 50% are women. Extension of the term of disability of persons with disabilities (including children) that expired on March 1st, 2020 until the 1st day of the month following the end of the quarantine regime. This measure covered 14,000 people, and AZN 2.6 million were allocated for this purpose. Social pensions As part of the Republic of Azerbaijan COVID-19 Active Response and Expenditure Support (CARES) Program which will be rolled out in 2021, the government will increase the average monthly old-age pension payments by at least 15% and provide continuous provision of pensions to more than 742,000 old-age pensioners, of which at least 63% are women. In-kind transfers Social services have been provided to more than 15,000 single people over the age of 65 and to people with special needs in social service institutions and facilities. Through social partners, about 100,000 food packages have been distributed.. Food, vouchers, others The United States has provided, as of August 2020, over $5 million to support Azerbaijan’s response to the immediate and longer-term health and economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. These funds have contributed to the provision of food and hygiene supplies to over 3,600 vulnerable individuals across the country. School feeding The government ensured public works participation for 50,000 new beneficiaries in June 2020. This Public works number was later increased to reach a total of 90,000 beneficiaries. The amount of funds allocated for preferential/privileged mortgage loans has been increased to AZN 90 million (USD 52 million). The government provided social assistance to support the payment of utility bills on electricity consumption for the population. A certain period of exemption from VAT on goods necessary to meet the food and medical needs of Utility waivers the population was enacted in June 2020. Exemption from VAT on imports of raw materials and supplies related to production to meet the population’s needs in terms of food, medicine and other necessary products was provided for in the short term. In case of full or partial delay in business and consumer loans (principal or interest-bearing debt), credit organizations were advised not to levy a fine, penalty and other payments from the borrowers and not worsen their credit history until September 30th, 2020. The reform to the tax code provided for a reduction of the withholding tax rate on real estate lease from individuals from 14% to 7%. Scholarships were given to students who have had breaks in vocational training courses. Depending on the method of taxation chosen, individual taxpayers will be provided with several tax benefits for a period of 1 year from January 1st, 2020: exemption from current tax payments and issuance of certificates related to current tax payments for a period of 1 year; extension of the deadline for payment of the taxes for 2019 until September 1st, 2020; provision of extension of deadlines for submission of simplified tax returns for the 1st and 2nd quarters of 2020 and reports on profit and property taxes as well as payment of accrued tax to the budget until September 1st 2020. The passenger transportation rate (except taxis) was reduced for each seat to cost 0.9 AZN instead of the current rate of 1.8 AZN. To protect workers, the government has announced that people who were forced to stay at home or not work at full capacity were able to receive a salary. Paid leave was maintained to take care of children under 14 years of age or with disabilities who did not have relatives up to the second degree Paid sick leave of consanguinity or affinity who can care for them (except grandparents). Both parents must be in this situation and be single-parent families. Health insurance Reserves of Social Security Fund for 2019 were used to ensure the sustainability of pension and benefits during April-December of 2020. Pensions The rescue of private pension plans is also allowed for a maximum of the amount of the minimum Social wage on a monthly basis. Insurance The government decided to expand the coverage of unemployment insurance payments and create a proactive appointment mechanism. Continue to pay insurance payments and stipends during the special quarantine regime for persons whose unemployment insurance payments have expired but Unemployment benefits are not employed, and students who are in break from vocational training courses. Expansion of unemployment insurance coverage to 20,000 people until December 2020 (20 million manat/$11.7 million were allocated). [June 2020] On June 2, the government announced that interest accrued on unpaid taxes, the social Social security contributions insurance pension fund and the amount of unemployment insurance is postponed from April 1, 2020, to January 1, 2021. From April 1, 2020, to January 1, 2021, the rate of contributions to compulsory social insurance for individuals engaged in self-employed activities in construction and trade sectors will be 25% of the minimum wage and 15% of the minimum wage in other areas (decreased from 50% and 25%, respectively). From 2021 to 2026, the rates will be 50% of the minimum wage and 25% in other areas. For persons engaged in entrepreneurship individually who do not have employees, the following rates will apply until January 1, 2026: For businesses involved in entertaining events – 5% of the minimum wage; for tailors or persons engaged in the repair of household appliances, providing services at home etc. – 3% of the minimum wage. [April 2020] On April 13, amendments to the social insurance law provides deductions in mandatory social insurance contributions, with privileges for business entities engaged in individual entrepreneurship under the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. The rate of 50% of the minimum wage in construction and trade was reduced to 25%, and the rate of 25% of the minimum wage in other areas was reduced to 15%, from April 1, 2020 to January 1, 2021 [Extended - January 2021] Article 14.5.1 of the law on Social Insurance has been changed. This provision will be effective from January 1, 2021 and will remain for the next five years until January 1, 2026 Agriculture sector Mandatory state social insurance contributions for each family member of individuals using agricultural lands owned by them, depending on the area of land calculated by the amount of the minimum monthly wage (250 AZN): up to 5 hectares - in the amount of 2%. from 5 to 10 hectares - in the amount of 6%. more than 10 hectares - in the amount of 10%. It is also planned to replace the submission of social insurance reports by landowners with a fixed receipt. Mandatory state social insurance fees for members of the bar association (attorneys), independent auditors and independent accountants were paid in the amount of 20% of gross income. In case of full or partial delay in business and consumer loans (principal or interest-bearing debt), credit organizations were advised not to levy a fine, penalty and other payments from the borrowers Labor Activation measures and not worsen their' credit history until September 30, 2020. Markets For taxpayers engaged in public catering and passenger transportation, which are payers of the simplified tax, It is planned to provide a 50% discount on the simplified tax amount. Reduction of the withholding tax rate on real estate lease from individuals from 14% to 7%. The rental property tax in the COVID-affected areas is reduced from 14 percent to 7 percent. Extension of the deadlines for paying personal income tax for 2019 Subsidization of interest rates and improvement of credit guarantee instruments by the Mortgage and Credit Guarantee Fund, including increasing the ceiling amount of the warranty-to-loan ratio, eliminating guarantee fees, applicable penalties and other restrictions, reducing annual interest rates on loans with subsidy interest, increasing the limit on guaranteed payments and reducing commissions on guarantees. Private business entities, including individuals engaged in entrepreneurship were provided with the opportunity to restructure loans (of satisfactory quality, and with interests subsidized by the government) issued to them until March 1st, 2020, without deteriorating their quality. Depending on the method of taxation chosen, taxpayers will be provided with several tax benefits for a period of 1 year from January 1, 2020. Exemption from current tax payments and issuance of certificates related to current tax payments for a period of 1 year. Extension of the deadline for payment of the taxes for 2019 until September 1, 2020; Provision of extension of deadlines for submission of simplified tax returns for the 1st and 2nd quarters of 2020 and reports on profit and property taxes as well as payment of accrued tax to the budget until September 1 of the current year. A certain period of exemption from VAT on goods necessary to meet the food and medical needs of the population. Exemption from VAT on imports of raw materials and supplies related to production to meet the population’s needs in terms of food, medicine and other necessary products in the short term. From April to May 2020, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population conducted legislative work on employers and ensured daily controls in order to prevent unjustified dismissals and layoffs of employees in the private sector. Such terminations in the public sector are prevented, Labor market regulations and salaries of employees on leave are being maintained. [March 2020] On March 18, in accordance with the decree of the President of Azerbaijan No. 1974, the State Agency for Compulsory Medical Insurance paid urgent allowances/salary increases up to 5 times the reference wage for frontline medical staff during the period of the pandemic. [Extended - January 2021] On January 8, according to the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan No. 2, the payment of urgent allowances to the salaries of medical workers has been extended until March 31, 2021 [Extended - July 2021] On July 9, according to the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan No. 198, the payment of urgent allowances to the salaries of medical workers has been extended until August 1, 2021 [Extended - August 2021] On August 23, according to the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Azerbaijan No. 238, the payment of urgent allowances to the salaries of medical workers has been extended until September 1, 2021. [April 2020] The Prime Minister signed a decree on "Strengthening the Social Protection of Workers Participating in the Provision of Social Services during the Special Quarantine Regime." which encourages the provision of social services during the special quarantine by providing a one-month salary for workers in the regional (city) departments of the State Social Protection Fund and in the subordinate social services. On May 16, the Prime Minister signed a decree on the duration of payment of the supplement, which was determined to be paid in accordance with the working time in the period between April 1, to June 1, 2020. Daily monitoring is carried out through an electronic system to protect the jobs and salaries of employees in various sectors. State employees are on paid compulsory leave and have been encouraged to work from home. Their long-term job security has been ensured. Reduced work time The Government has advised against small- and medium-sized enterprises laying off staff during the 2020. On April 4th 2020, the authorities announced a support to the affected businesses and individuals in the amount of AzN 3.3 billion (4.85 percent of GDP). Measures aimed at redressing damage to entrepreneurs and supporting incomes include: partial coverage of salaries (AzN 215 million). The program, which costs AZN 215 million, covers part of the salaries of existing employees, paid in two disbursements in April and May, with a maximum of AZN 712. The program will cover 300,000 Wage subsidies employees and 42,000 employers, and about 300,000 private or micro-entrepreneurs in sectors affected by the pandemic. Allocation of AZN 71.6 million to 22,913 taxpayers for their wage payments to staff working in affected areas and of AZN 56.9 million to 97,379 individual (micro) entrepreneurs operating in such areas (as of 21 May 2020). (back to the top) Bahamas, The Cash-based transfers On April 6th, 2020, the government introduced the Government Funded Unemployment Assistance for COVID-19 that provided weekly payments of $200 to self-employed people and workers in the tourism sector for a period of up to eight weeks. The delivery of the transfer was managed by the National Insurance Board (NIB). This fund was extended with an extra allocation of $45 million from July 2020 until December 2020, expanding its coverage to the following groups: o Self-employed tourism workers who remain unemployed and were receiving assistance prior to July 1 o Hurricane Dorian survivors who remain unemployed and were receiving unemployment assistance prior to July 1 Cash transfers o Youth - NIB contributors who are under 35 years old, who were unemployed during the COVID-19 (conditional and unconditional) shutdown but did not meet the contribution threshold to receive a benefit o Individuals who maxed out their 13-weeks of eligibility under the ordinary National Insurance unemployment benefit scheme o NIB beneficiaries who were eligible to receive BSD $150 per week in government assistance for a maximum of 13-weeks of unemployment up and until March 23, 2021 Social In February 2021, it was announced that the Unemployment Benefit Program was extended again, Assistance with the potential for another extension. As of December 2020, the government provided an estimated $90 million in direct cash assistance and income replacement to nearly 38,000 unemployed Bahamians since March. Persons with disabilities under the age of 16 who normally receive their services every two months, had their April 2020 assistance advanced in March 2020. Similar arrangements were also made for people receiving foster care subsistence. Social pensions (May 2020) Temporary monthly increase in the Old Age Pension, to aid the elderly who may be dependent on other family members that are unemployed. In-kind transfers The government delivered food vouchers of B$100 and other forms of social support to workers who were affected by reduced weeks. As of April 6th, 2020, this involved a total budget of B$4 million (USD 2 million), reaching 10,000 beneficiaries. Beneficiaries needed to present a copy of the Food, vouchers, others NIB card. (May 2020) Emergency Food Assistance vouchers of BSD 50 (USD 50) also provided to walk-ins at the Department of Social Services Centers pending thorough assessment for longer term assistance via the Temporary Food Assistance Program. This emergency assistance was extended to persons with disabilities who are not existing recipients of the department. (March 2020) Ministry of Education’s school feeding program continues via the distribution of food vouchers to the 4,300 students who depend on the initiative during the school year. (May 2020) The National Food Distribution Task Force is a public/private group that provide emergency food assistance (through food parcels) for vulnerable Bahamians and residents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, until December 31st. The task force delivers emergency food relief through the distribution of food parcels and food vouchers. To coordinate outreach and food distribution, the NFDTF divided The Bahamas into zones. People who register are placed in 3 needs categories: most vulnerable, moderately vulnerable and least vulnerable. Assistance to these groups is weekly, every other week, and once a month, respectively (March 2020) Ministry of Education’s school feeding program continues via the distribution of food School feeding vouchers to the 4,300 students who depend on the initiative during the school year. Public works Utilities companies to defer payment of residential customers diagnosed with the COVID-19, in quarantine, or laid off. The government has increased subventions to the utility companies to assist with this. In July 2020, Bahamas Power and Light introduced a fuel hedge facility to lock in low energy prices Utility waivers for 18 months. (April 27, 2020) A rental referral system was announced allowing the renter to defer 40 percent of their rent over a three-month period, effective from April 1st, 2020. The program was limited to residential rentals and was only for those whose employment or income has been affected by COVID-19. Rent cost must be BSD $2000 or less. The National Insurance Act and Regulations provided for the payment of Sickness Benefit when a worker is quarantined. Employees with at least 40 contributions to the NIB, who have a doctor's Paid sick leave certificate and the employer's confirmation are eligible for this benefit. The benefit is 60% of the worker’s average insured income and is payable for 14 days. Social Payment of premiums related to health, medical and life insurance have been suspended until 60 Insurance Health insurance days after the removal of the state of emergency. Temporary incremental monthly increase of BSD $50.00 at the Old Age Pension administered by Pensions the National Insurance Board, to aid the elderly. Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor market regulations Labor Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies (back to the top) Bahrain Cash-based transfers Tamkeen launched financial packages to support registered taxi and bus drivers and driving Cash transfers instructors, with the payment of BHD 300 monthly. Furthermore, Tamkeen paid the full salary of (conditional and unconditional) kindergarten and nursery employees not insured by the Social Insurance Organization. Funds allocated: BHD 856,000. April – June 2020 (3 months). (April 2020) The GoB also planned to double the value of the disability pension, which benefits Social pensions 12,000 persons with disabilities who are registered in the lists of Labor and Social Development Ministry.They received BHD200 instead of BHD101 In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works Social At end-July 2020 the authorities approved the exempting households from paying municipality fees on their first residence for three months Funds allocated: exemptions valued at BHD 25 million. April Assistance – June 2020 (3 months). The program was extended in July for 6 months with BHD 1.2 million budget. The Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) terminated monthly work fees and fees for issuing and renewing work permits. Funds allocated: exemptions valued at BHD 56 million. April – June 2020 (3 months). Utility waivers Postponed housing mortgage installments collected by Eskan Bank. Funds allocated: exemptions valued at BHD 25 million.March – August 2020 (6 months). (April 2020) The government provided direct aid to families in need and doubling the monthly assistance for those registered in social affairs and the Royal Foundation for Humanitarian Action. A budget of BHD5.5 million was allocated to double the value of social security benefits, which cover 17,000 Bahraini families. They received BHD200 instead of BHD100. This is a subsidy on utility bills for households with no sources of income, including widows, divorced women, families of those imprisoned, those unable to work, unmarried daughters, orphans. (April 2020) The Electricity and Water Authority will pay individuals and businesses’ utility bills for 3 months from April 2020 (up to the costs incurred during the same period in 2019). This measure was extended for a further 6 months effective July 2020 until Dec 2020. Funds allocated for April - June: BHD 90 million. Funds for the extension was BHD 24 million Paid sick leave The King of Bahrain ordered the Ministry of Health to cover the treatment expenses of COVID-19 Health insurance Social patients, including testing and quarantine services, for all citizens and residents Insurance Pensions Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor market regulations Reduced work time [March 2020] As part of the economic stimulus package, the salaries of all Bahraini employees in the private sector will be paid for three months (starting April 2020) through the unemployment insurance fund. It will cover 100,000 of Bahrain's private sector employees (total cost of BHD215 million). [Extended - June 2020] In June, the Cabinet agreed to pay 50% of Bahrainis’ wages in the private sector in the most COVID-19 affected sectors for an additional three months from July to September 2020. Labor [Extended - September 2020] In September, the government announced that it will continue to pay Markets 50% of all Bahrainis wages in the private sector’s most affected sectors from October to December. [Extended - June 2021] In June, the Labour and Social Development Minister announced the Wage subsidies extension of part of economic stimulus package. The Government will provide insuread Bahrainis' salaries in affected private sector companies for three months, paying full (100%) salaries for June, and 50% for July and August. The support package would benefit 10,880 companies and 58,298 citizens, and costing up to BHD 60 million. [May 2020] In May, the Chief Executive Officer of Tamkeen announced the the decision to pay the full salary of 422 kindergarten and 102 nursery employees not insured by the Social Insurance Organization. [Extended - June 2021] On June 23, the government announced the extension of Tamkeen support of kindergarten and nursery employees for three months starting June 2021 until August 2021. (back to the top) Bangladesh Cash-based transfers Bangladesh on 13 May 2020 announced the disbursement of Taka 12.50 billion cash assistance among 5 million poor families hit hard amid the COVID-19. The disbursement will start on 14 October 2020 and end on 18 October 2020 and each household will get Taka 2,500 through the mobile financial services (MFSs) – bKash, Rocket, Nagad and SureCash. The list has been prepared with the poorest 50 lakh families of the 1.25 crore vulnerable families who are now getting the government's relief assistance. According to Finance Division officials, Taka 627 crore was disbursed for the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) from the Budget-1 wing while Taka 630 crore also for the PMO from Budget-3 wing. The PMO is supervising the operations of this initiative. Nagad, a joint venture of the postal division and a private firm, will distribute the highest amount of Tk 425 crore, while market leader bKash will disburse Tk 375 crore, Rocket Tk 250 crore and SureCash Tk 200 crore, sources at the Disaster Management and Relief Ministry said. April 13, 2020, the government has announced that Tk 1 billion was being allocated to provide bonus/ special pay for frontline workers. This package includes two months' basic salary as incentive Social for doctors and other health workers to around 50,000-55,000 people, who are on the front line in Cash transfers Assistance the war against the Covid-19 pandemic. On April 15, Bangladesh Bank announced that bankers will (conditional and unconditional) get a month's basic salary if they work at least 10 days during the ongoing shutdown. The central bank order also said that contractual staffers at banks will get 65 percent of their salaries as special incentive, which will range from a minimum of Tk 30,000 to a maximum of Tk 100,000. However, as of Nov 29, 2020, it is reported The government on April 23, 2020 announced that doctors, nurses, and other health care employees, administration officials, members of armed forces and law enforcement agencies, and other employees working during the pandemic, would be compensated, if they get infected with coronavirus or died from the disease. A grade 1-9 government employee infected with Covid-19 was supposed to get Tk 10 lakh, grade 10-14 employee Tk 7.5 lakh, and grade 15-20 employee Tk 5 lakh in compensation. The amount was supposed to be five times higher in case the employee died with the disease. For the purpose, the government allocated Tk 7.5 billions, of which Tk 162.5 Million have been disbursed. At least 42 government healthcare employees died of Covid-19 and 10,888 others got infected as of November 15, 2020 according to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). However, DGHS officials said the family of only one dead doctor got compensation. As of November 26, 2020 to date, from the police headquarters, 16,025 police and 2,453 Rab personnel tested positive and 75 police and five Rab members died. It was reported on 10 December 2020, that the European Union and Germany are joining forces with the Government of Bangladesh and will provide €113 million to safeguard the livelihoods of vulnerable workers in the garment and leather export-oriented industries. This grant will be channeled through the EU sector budget program on National Social Security Strategy reforms in Bangladesh. This support will allow these workers to transit over a specific critical period, without major disruptions in their lives and consumption levels. According to the Ministry of Labor and Employment of Bangladesh guidelines, temporary cash assistance will be provided to workers who suffered income losses and who lost their jobs because of reduced worldwide demand or due to health and safety precautionary measures. Eligible workers will receive 3,000 taka per month for a period of three months. As part of the budget, on June 30, 2020, the Bangladesh government’s Ministry of Social Welfare announced that 1.75 million deserted and destitute women of 112 poverty-prone upazilas will receive Taka 500 each. The number of beneficiaries has increased by 350,000 (i.e., horizontal expansion) and the total expected expenditure for 2020-21 is Taka 12.3 billion. As part of the budget 2021-22, government on June 30, 2021, announced that the program has been extended to 400,000 new beneficiaries making it 2.15 million beneficiaries in total for financial year 2021-22. Again each of them will receive Taka 500 per individual and this will cost 14.954 billion. The old age allowance is an unconditional cash transfer program administered by the Department of Social Services (DSS) under the Ministry of Social Welfare. The program aims to target poor and vulnerable elderly (62 years and older for women; 65 years and older for men). As part of the budget, it is announced on June 30, 2020 that the Bangladesh government has allocated 29,400.00 million to 4.9 million beneficiaries, that is a horizontal increase in the number of beneficiaries of 500,000 Social pensions individuals. Each beneficiary in the program will obtain 500 monthly per head payable every 3 months. For financial year 2021-22, it is announced on 30 June 2021 that the government has allocated 34,445.40 million Taka in this financial year 2021-22. The total Beneficiary was further increased by 801,000 individuals making the total beneficiaries as 5.701million and each beneficiary gets the same benefit amount as last year and at the same intervals as well. In-kind transfers On 7 July 2020, the disaster management and relief ministry of the Bangladesh government is set to distribute 10-kilogramme of rice for free to each of over 10 million "ultra-poor and destitute families" ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. These ultra-poor and destitute people, especially those belonging to Food, vouchers, others women-headed households, are at risk of starvation and malnutrition amid this pandemic. The food aid of 1,00,068 tonnes of rice for the all the 1,00,06,869 vulnerable group feeding (VGF) card holders across the country aims to mitigate the consequences of disasters like flood and coronavirus outbreak. According to the letter sent by the disaster management and relief ministry, the ultra- poor and destitute families will need to meet at least four out of 12 criteria, to become eligible for receiving the assistance. The criteria include landless households or those who have only homestead; households dependent on daily wage labour; households dependent on women's income or begging; households with no income-generating assets; households headed by widowed, divorced or separated women; households headed by a freedom fighter with disability, and households without access to two full meals a day for most of the year. Only one beneficiary per household can receive the food aid, which will be distributed by local public representatives. It was announced again on July 6, 2021 for to distribute 10-kilogramme of rice for free to each of over 10 million "ultra-poor and destitute families" ahead of Eid-ul-Azha. It is reported on 13 May 2020 that the Bangladesh Government is distributing fortified biscuits to houses of over 3.16 million primary school students to nearly 15,800 primary schools in 104 upazilas to ensure their nutrition while schools are closed due to COVID-19. Prior to the pandemic, children were given cooked meals only in 14 upazilas while vitamin-enriched biscuits weighing 75 grams with School feeding 300 calories were served in other upazilas assisted by the World Food Programme. During the pandemic, they started providing 30-50 packets of biscuits bi-monthly at a time for each student at their homes. It was mentioned that the biscuit distribution program had been on hold since March 17, 2020 when the government closed down all schools in a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19. This new adaptation (i.e., take-home-biscuits) covered all prior recipients. Public works Food subsidies would include selling rice at Tk5/kg through OMS, down from Tk30/kg. Bangladesh Bank on 19 March 2020 instructed Mobile Financial Service (MFS) providers to offer free cash-out for a maximum of 1000 Taka (11.86 USD) daily. For essentials/medicines trade - MDR or Interchange Reimbursement Rate (IRF) fee will not be applied if these goods are bought through credit/debit card up to a daily limit of 15,000 Takas and a monthly limit of 100,000 Takas. However, Utility waivers the bank has ended the fee waiver on MFS on 25 Aug 2021. Bangladesh Bank on 19 March 2020 announced that MFS users (P-to-P) also would not have to pay any charges on transactions for urgent shopping. Also, the ceiling for this transaction has been raised from Tk 75,000 to Tk 200,000 monthly. In addition, no charge would be required for cash- out of Tk 1,000 daily at a time. As of Aug 25, 2021, the government announced that the MFS monthly transaction limit remains unchanged at Tk 200,000 monthly. Paid sick leave Social Health insurance Taka 7.5 billion was announced to provide health insurance for government employees. Insurance Pensions Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures [June 2020] The World Bank announced that the $250 million Second Programmatic Jobs Development Policy Credit will create fiscal space to support the government’s response to the COVID-19 crisis, while helping recovery and building resiliency of the economy, of workers and of vulnerable populations to future shocks. Pillar B aims to support increased job quality through targeted reforms and enhanced implementation of existing laws and standards, through the following actions: (i) following the passage of the Labor Act (Amendment) 2018, the second Labor market regulations operation will focus on strengthening capacity for enforcement of labor and safety regulations, through the roll-out of a Labor Inspection Management System (LIMA) including mechanisms for Labor feedback from workers and employers. Actions under Pillar C aim to strengthen existing institutions Markets and programs that facilitate access to quality jobs for women, youth, and migrants, including: (i) adoption of key rules and regulations to close legal gaps in the migration management system in order to support accessible, safe, and lower cost migration; (ii) Enactment of the Child Daycare Act to support efforts to improve women’s access to labor markets. Reduced work time [March 25, 2020] Taka 50 billion (about US$ 588 million) stimulus package for exporting industries Wage subsidies was declared as worker’s salary support and was disbursed through mobile financial services and bank accounts. (back to the top) Barbados Cash-based transfers (April 2020) The government established the “Household Survival Program” (BBD 20 million or USD 10 million) including Barbados Vulnerable Family Survival Program assisting 1,500 vulnerable families identified by the Welfare Department and the Household Mitigation Unit with BBD 600 monthly (total of BBD10 million) for 3 months. (March 2020) The government aimed at benefiting over 200 licensed beach vendors with the opportunity to register with the National Conservation Commission and benefit from the $600 per month under the Household Mitigation Unit. (March 2020) Adopt a Family Program: households with an income of more than BD 100,000 asked to adopt a vulnerable family providing support in excess of welfare payments or to contribute to Cash transfers “Adopt a Family Fund”. The program aims to assist the most vulnerable families in Barbados with (conditional and unconditional) $600 a month stipend. The goal was to reach up to 2,500 families. The government provided for the first 1,500 families. Funds were issued by E-cheque, to allow the government to issue payment cards Social to the families allowing them to access their funds using ATMs and Point of Sale terminals island- Assistance wide. Initially, the program was placed for three months only, but was extended in July 2020. As of July 2020, the program benefited 3,453 families. (November 2020) The Government of Barbados is investing another BD $10 million (USD 4.95 million) into its Adopt-A-Family Program that will extend its life until March 31, 2021, the end of the fiscal year. (April 2020) Part of the “Household Survival Program” was an increase of 40 per cent in all rates and fees paid by the Welfare Department to its beneficiaries that served on annual basis (up to BBD 10 million). Social pensions In-kind transfers (April 2020) The government has distributed 4,000 care packages, comprising a 14-day supply of basic food and sanitary items, to vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, the disabled and the impoverished in the community, as identified by social service agencies, including the National Food, vouchers, others Assistance Board, the National Disabilities Unit, Barbados Council for the Disabled, the Welfare Department, Salvation Army, Jabez House, Prison Fellowship. In February 2021, the GoB did another round of distribution of care packages to vulnerable persons during COVID-19 restriction measures. (September 2020) The Ministry of Education, Technological and Vocational Training (METVT), in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Barbados Defence Force (BDF), has distributed approximately 921 hygiene packs to vulnerable and special needs students. These packages included the following items: one bottle of liquid hand soap, one bottle of hand sanitizer, two disposable masks and one roll of toilet paper. School feeding Public works The government implemented a six-month payment moratorium on all existing loans and mortgages for persons and businesses who were directly affected and impacted by COVID-19. (March 2020) The Barbados government has announced that 48 items would fall under the new COVID-19 basket of goods to ensure they were protected from price gouging or shortages. This included the following items: baby food, luncheon meat, tuna, sardines, red herring, pasta, rice, corn meal flour, potatoes, sugar, biscuits, bread, vitamin C, oranges, sanitary items such as adult, baby diapers and toilet paper as well as antibacterial and disinfectant items. (March 2020) The Student Revolving Loan Fund (SRLF) offered borrowers several repayment options to help them cope with the COVID-19 outbreak. The measures intended to cushion the financial impact of the crisis on families. This included reduced monthly payment; deferral of payment for up to six months; suspension of interest for up to three months; and a waiver of late fees. Utility waivers Customers of Digicel and FLOW who were unable to pay their financial commitments due to the negative impact of the pandemic could be placed on an agreed basic package for three (3) months (May – July 2020) where they were expected to pay their current charges each month while they cleared any outstanding debt over the three (3) month period. (May 2020) The Barbados Light & Power Co. Limited (BL&P), Barbados Water Authority (BWA) and National Petroleum Corporation (NPC) have agreed to allow customers to take a payment plan facility. Those customers were expected to pay their current charges monthly while they cleared any outstanding debt over the three (3) month period. (April 2020) The Homes for All Program is a proposed measure to assist with the recovery of the country’s economy, from the COVID-19 pandemic. Its objective is to enable low-income households to offer collateral for a construction mortgage to own their own homes. The aim of this policy was the development of about 1,400 affordable homes, involving BBD $40 M from the Housing Credit Fund. Paid sick leave Health insurance Pensions [March 2020] Persons who were laid off had the opportunity to get their unemployment benefits, guaranteeing them 60 per cent of their insurable earnings, up to a limit of 26 weeks. The National Insurance Board has agreed to relax the requirement to visit the employment exchange at Warrens. Social Unemployment benefits Insurance [April 2020] As part of the economic package introduced on April 29th, 2020, the government implemented the Business Cessation Benefit. This measure consisted of delivering BDD $1,500 per month to self-employed who made contributions to the National Insurance Scheme. This measure was in place on April and May 2020. [March 2020] For those employers who were prepared to retain three quarters of their workforce, even if some on short week, the government deferred their obligation to pay the employer’s Social security contributions contributions for three months, in the first instance, with the preparation to extend it for another three months if the crisis continues beyond that period. [September 2020] The government, in conjunction with ILO, introduced an online upskilling program for unemployed workers commencing with Core Skills module. To be followed by training in OSH and Entrepreneurship. Each course was 8 hours in duration and participants had 2 weeks to complete it. Available during pilot until September 2020. [September 2020] This program was extended, including courses related to entrepreneurship. Activation measures [August 2020] The government, in support of the Commonwealth of Learning, launched the Coursera Workforce Recovery Program. The program aimed at reaching 1,500 unemployed people as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The training involved various free tertiary-level courses between August 31 – December 31, 2020, administered by the Ministry of Labor. Labor [May 2020] The Barbados Optional Savings Scheme (BOSS) consisted of public sector workers Markets opting in or out to receive portion of their salaries in the form of government bonds to be cashed in later with interest accruing at 5% per year. Principal to be repaid in four years. The program proposed that people working for less than $36,000 annually would not be asked to participate, however, they could volunteer if they chose it. As of September 30, 2021, public sector workers held about 18 million of the BOSS bonds. Labor market regulations [July 2020] The government introduced a program that allows visitors to work remotely from Barbados for a year at a time as a creative solution to the challenge of short-term travel in the context of COVID. [July 2020] The government launched an Occupational Safety and Health training for workers in the tourism and transport sectors. Over 700 workers attended these trainings. [March 2020] With respect of the Holidays with Pay Act 2017, the Ministry has advised employers, that while they may determine the date on which an employee starts his/her annual holiday, they must be mindful that Sub Section 4(5) of the Act states that an employee is entitled to at least 14 days’ notice prior to the commencement of the holiday. Reduced work time [April 2020] As part of the economic package introduced on April 29th, 2020, the government implemented the Small Business Wage Fund. This consisted of delivering BDD$500 per month per employee up to 5 employees for those firms which could not be eligible for VAT Loan Fund, were registered at Barbados Revenue Authority (BRA) and National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and Wage subsidies committed to holding 75% of their staff. This measure was initially in place from April to May 2020. This measure involved a planned budget of BDD $20 million. (back to the top) Belarus Cash-based transfers On 24th April 2020, the President issued the Decree No. 143 “On Support of the Economy” Cash transfers (amended on 31st December 2020), which stipulated additional disability benefits to persons (conditional and unconditional) actually caring for a child under 10 years of age attending a preschool or schools if this child has a contact with persons with COVID-19 infection. On March 25, 2020, “Belpochta” (Belarusian Post Office) announced that it would provide pensions Social pensions home-delivery service by post worker due to COVID-19 pandemic. Pensioners could also pay their communal services when they received pensions/benefits. In-kind transfers On April 6th 2020, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection informed that the social services were ready to provide support to elderly people and people with disabilities and to deliver foods and medicines. This support was provided by social workers and volunteers through the 146 territorial Food, vouchers, others centers of social protection of population, located in every district of the country. The number of people living alone and people with disabilities is about 830,000, including almost 160,000 people Social who have no close relatives. Assistance School feeding Public works The Ministry of Anti-Monopoly Regulation and Trade introduced state regulation of prices on medical masks and disinfectants (antibacterial and decontaminating agents). The National Bank of Belarus asked banks of the country to announce payment holidays for their clients, who were natural persons. These measures were extended throughout 2021. The Ministry of Anti-monopoly Regulation and Trade of the Republic of Belarus decided to extend Utility waivers state regulation of the prices of socially important goods in the territory until December 31st, 2021. The list of "socially important goods" includes foodstuffs such as baby food, flour products, canned meats, and fruits/vegetables. On May 18th, 2020, the President signed the Decree No. 169 “On Financial Incentives for Staff Members of the Organizations Providing Social Services”, which provides for social service workers who work according to the rotating scheme with living accommodations in such organizations. Through the Ordinance of the Council of Ministers no. 208 “On Self-Isolation Measures”, the government decided that people who had COVID-19 or were first-level contact should self-isolate for 14 days, whereas second-level contacts should self-isolate for the same period if they manifest respiratory symptoms only. This Ordinance stated that people who worked and paid fees to the Social Protection Fund (or by their employers) were eligible for sick-leave benefits during the period of self-isolation. This involved the payment of 50 percent of the benefit calculated according to the legislation. Non-compliance with the self-isolation behavior rules or other sanitary and epidemiological requirements entailed administrative liability (a fine up to 50 base rates, where 1 base rate equals to 27 Belarusian rubles or administrative arrest) or criminal liability (including deprivation of freedom). Paid sick leave Social Later, starting from 17 July 2021, the conditions for self-isolation were weakened, e.g., the self- Insurance isolation term was reduced to 7 days, adolescents were exempted, more activities for infected persons were allowed, etc. Also uncertified sick leave was allowed for students and pupils for up to 5 days. Sickness benefits are granted out of the state social insurance funds for persons taking care of a child under 10 years of age, who attends an education institution and is in contact with persons with COVID-19 infection. Health insurance Pensions Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor market regulations (April 2020) In order to maintain employment and increase labor mobility, the minimum period for Reduced work time warning workers about changes in essential working conditions by the employer has been reduced (without reducing wages). Labor Through the Decree No. 178 of May 28th 2020, the government provided the possibility to employers Markets of receiving subsidies up to the minimum wage to pay additional payments to their employees in the event of their involuntary underemployment or announcement of inactive period from May 1st to July 31st 2020. Wage subsidies The government has mandated that public sector salaries are kept at least at the legislated minimum and and provided subsidies to public sector organizations which have ceased their operations for a period of time due to the pandemic or are forced into part-time employment. On 16th April 2020, the President issued the Decree No. 131 “On material incentives to the health care sector staff” introduced the monthly salary increase for hospitals staff dealing with COVID-19 in the range from 1500 Belarusian rubles (612 USD) for doctors, and 1300 Belarusian rubles (530 USD) for nursing staff, to 900 Belarusian rubles (367 USD) for hospitals other staff. The Ministry of Health Order No. 892 of 20th July 2021 amended the rules of how the salary increase is computed. Thus, more strict approach was applied from 1st August 2021 to the time of medical staff working in contact with COVID-19 patients in order to reduce subsidy amounts. Belarus Prime Minister mentioned on 19th October 2021 that public budget expenditure for the hospital staff salary increase subsidies have amounted about 1.3 bln Belarusian rubles (530 mln USD) during the COVID-19 pandemic time. (back to the top) Belgium Cash-based transfers Temporary parental allowance for self-employed workers with a monthly allowance of 532.24 euros (875 euros for single-parent families) for the months of May and / or June 2020 for parents of a child under 12 or disabled. A grant was introduced for people working in the creative sector. That support was renewed and increased in November 2020. Any worker in the cultural sector can apply for a maximum of €2,000 in aid if they have received a net income of €3,000 between 1 June and 30 September 2020. If their income between June and September reaches €4,000 net, they may apply for support of up to €1,500. If they had a net income of €5,000 during that period, the amount will be up to €1,000. People who did not receive financial support between 13 March and 31 May can apply for the grant for both periods. In March 2020, the government approved measures to support persons who are self-employed as Social their main activity and were forced to stop work due to the coronavirus crisis, as long as this Cash transfers interruption lasted longer than one week. The financial support amounted to EUR 1,266.37 per Assistance (conditional and unconditional) month if they do not have dependent family members and EUR 1,582.46 if they do. The "droit passerelle" was raised to 1,614.10 euros (with dependents) or 1,291.69 euros (w/o dependents) for the months of March and April 2020. This elevated rate and expanded coverage were extended until the 31st of December 2020 in October 2020. A draft law was passed in October 2020 amending the law of March 23, 2020 establishing a gateway right in favor of self-employed workers and introducing temporary measures in the COVID- 19 framework in favor of self-employed workers. The "crisis gateway" was doubled for impacted self-employed workers, with amounts now amounting to 2,583.38 euros (single self-employed) or 3,228.20 euros (self-employed with family). The measure targets all self-employed workers, carers and assisting spouses working in sectors that have had to completely or partially interrupt their self- employed activity due to COVID measures. In addition, self-employed workers, carers and assisting spouses who are active in sectors dependent on the aforementioned sectors and who have had to completely interrupt their self-employed activity are taken into account. The law was further expanded in January 2021 until June 2021 to remain at the increased rate and cover families impacted by quarantines and sectors who have had at least 40% of turnover impacted by COVID. Supplementary allowance for incapacity for work so that self-employed cohabiting workers who are sick also benefit from an allowance as high as the droit de passerelle (this is already the case for single self-employed workers and self-employed workers with family responsibilities). Concretely, this is a premium of more than 300 euros per month. Extended Nov 6th, 2020. As part of the economic stimulus package of November 2020, the government announced a premium of 50 euros per month for beneficiaries of the integration income, the income guarantee for the elderly (GRAPA) and the income replacement allowance (ARR). As part of the economic stimulus package of November 2020, the government increased the reimbursement percentage (up to 15%) to the CPAS for the payment of integration income. The government introduced a single premium for the self-employed, helpers and assisting spouses whose self-employed activity has been severely affected by the sanitary crisis and who were able to benefit from temporary crisis measures over a certain period. This measure is therefore aimed at the self-employed, regardless of their sector of activity, who have been severely affected by the corona crisis and who actually need additional support due to this unprecedented sanitary and socio- economic crisis. In concrete terms, the measure provides for a single premium and an additional bridging right for a gross amount of EUR 598.80 if the self-employed person meets the condition of having enjoyed the bridging right for at least six months between 1 October 2020 and 30 April 2021. Workers in temporary unemployment will receive an advance of €1450 while their dossier is being processed by the RVA/ONEM (the National Employment Office of Belgium). Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works Evictions from housing were suspended in Wallonia, Brussels, and Flanders in March 2020. Initially intended to last for a period of 30 days, the measure was extended to last until June 30th, 2020. It was later reintroduced during the second lockdown in November 2020, lasting until the end of 2020. Utility waivers Vivaqua decided on March 13 2020 to no longer cut water for households and businesses "until a return to a normal situation", for health reasons linked to the coronavirus. This measure was extended in July 2020 until March 2021, and was later extended to last indefinitely until the end of the health crisis. In Brussels, it was announced that water cuts for under-priveleged individuals would be banned starting in 2022. In 2020, the Brussels government extended by one month - until April 30 2020 inclusive - the period of prohibition on gas and electricity cuts in order to cushion the social consequences of the measures taken to combat the spread of the coronavirus. This ban normally applies during the so- called winter period, from October 1 to March 31. Its extension concerns 546 electricity customers and 465 gas customers (figures as of January 31, 2020). In Wallonie, a ban on cuts had been enacted between December 2020 and June 2021. The financial sector undertakes to grant viable, non-financial businesses and the self-employed, as well as mortgage borrowers with payment problems as a result of the corona crisis, postponement of payment until 30 September 2020 without charge. This has been extended twice since initiated and will now run until 30 June 2021. The first "charter" covered 2020, the second "charter" does run until 31 March 2021 and the third charter will run until 30 June 2021). It includes the payment of mortgages/credits and premiums for fire insurance and outstanding balance insurance for families, viable firms and the self-employed. Grants a tax reduction to taxpayers and companies who have acquired, by December 31, 2020, new shares or shares of companies showing a sharp drop in their turnover and who need resources. Households received a two-month deferral of deadlines for payment of VAT for March and April 2020.. Consumption Check is a paper-based check aimed at offering additional purchasing power to Belgian workers while jointly supporting the revival of the sectors hardest hit by the Coronavirus crisis, such as restaurants, brasseries and cultural and sporting activities. Employers can grant his workers checks with a maximum value of € 10, without exceeding the sum of € 300 per worker. These checks are deductible by the employer and fully exempt from social contributions and personal income tax. The measure was reintroduced in June 2021 to last until the end of 2021 at a higher maximum amount 500 euros per worker. The rate of interest on late payments of VAT is temporarily reduced for the months April, May, and June 2021 and also for the months in the third calendar quarter of 2021 (July, August, and September). People on a low income finding it difficult to pay their rent on the private housing market in Brussels-Capital Region may receive financial support through a rent subsidy, whereas the Walloon Region introduced an exceptional temporary zero-percent loan, covering a maximum of six months rent, to be paid back over a maximum of 36 months. A temporary extension of the status of "protected client" has been provided for those eligible for the lower social tariff, to all households under a certain income threshold, and not only to people on minimum income benefits in order to maintain gas and electricity consumption during the health crisis. The measure has been extended to last through December 2021. Self-employed workers who are incapacitated for work for at least 8 days are entitled to an incapacity for work benefit payable by the health insurance scheme from the first day. New parental leave. The purpose of this leave is to help workers balance their work with the time needed to care for their child (ren) during the coronavirus crisis. This new parental leave coexists with the already existing ordinary parental leave. The new formula provides for more flexible access conditions, a higher allowance and a fast application procedure than the ordinary parental leave. There are 3 possibilities: • The interruption of a fifth, to reduce benefits and continue working 80% of full time; • The half-time break, to reduce benefits and continue working 50% of full time. • Complete interruption. This allows individuals to interrupt their benefits in order to stop working. From July 1, 2020, the complete interruption is only possible for the single parent and for the parent of a disabled child. Other workers cannot take corona parental leave in the form of a complete interruption. Social Paid sick leave Note: Corona parental leave does not provide for the possibility of obtaining a 1/10 interruption. If Insurance individuals want a 1/10 break, they can request ordinary parental leave according to the usual rules. Who can take corona parental leave? • Parents of at least one child under 12 or under 21 if that child has a disability; • The adoptive parents of a child under 12 or under 21 if this child has a disability, who is entered in the population register or in the foreigners register as a member of their household; • Foster parents of a child under 12 or under 21 if that child has a disability that has been placed with their family by the court or by a community approved placement service; • Parents who take care of a child suffering from a disability without age limit, if he or she benefits from a service or treatment in a hospital setting or outside a hospital setting, organized or recognized by the Communities. In this case, corona parental leave can therefore also concern adults. Corona parental leave can be obtained from May 1st, 2020. From July 1st, 2020: Corona parental leave is extended until September 30, 2020. Other changes from July 1: Single parents (living only with one or more dependent children) and parents of children with disabilities will be able to take corona parental leave in the form of a full suspension in addition to the ½-time and ½-time reductions. The amount of the break allowance for single parents and parents of disabled children is increased by 50% compared to the allowance for ordinary parental leave. The amount of this increased interruption allowance will be capped to ensure that the interruption allowance does not exceed the gross salary lost. The law of May 17, 2019 establishing the recognition of informal caregivers (entered into force on October 1, 2019) makes changes to the recovery law of January 22, 1985 containing social provisions and introduces a new thematic leave, namely leave for caregivers recognized relatives. The worker who wishes to take this new leave for informal caregivers must meet a certain number of conditions. The worker must be recognized as an informal caregiver as provided for in the Royal Decree of June 16, 2020 (*). To find out about these conditions, see info sheet T164. From September 1, 2020, workers recognized as informal caregivers can request this new thematic leave from their employer and apply to the ONEM to obtain the allowance to which they are entitled. Health insurance A royal decree provides for the “Corona end of career time credit”. It allows workers of at least 55 years of age who have at least 25 years of salaried professional experience to obtain interruption allowances if the start date of their reduction in benefits is during a period of recognition of the business as a business in restructuring or in difficulty. The aim is, among other things, that pensioners who have an activity as an employee or self-employed can combine their pension with Pensions compensation for temporary unemployment or bridging rights. In addition, the constitution of pensions for temporarily unemployed people will be preserved, including the constitution of the second pillar. It is also necessary to prevent pensioners who temporarily resume an activity, for example in the care or education sector, from losing part of their pension. These measures were extended on Nov. 6th, 2020. [July 2020] The law of July 15, 2020 provides for temporary relaxed eligibility for full unemployment benefits. Under certain relaxed conditions, the worker who has carried out sufficient artistic or technical activities in the artistic sector during the period from March 13, 2019 to March 13, 2020 can benefit from full unemployment benefits for a limited period of from April 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020. Unemployment benefits [Extension] This policy was later extended to September 30, 2021. [March 2020] A worker has the right to take time off work to look after a child who cannot go to nursery, school or reception center for disabled people in due to a measure to limit the spread of the coronavirus, and worker would be entitled to a temporary unemployment benefit due to force majeure corona. The benefit amounted to a maximum of 70% of workers' remuneration (capped). A professional withholding tax of 15% is withheld from this amount. In addition, worker still received a supplement of 5.63 euros per day in addition to the unemployment benefit. [Extension] This measure was extended to the 31st of December, 2021. Legal basis: the law of 23 October 2020. March 19 and 24, 2021 decisions: All schools, except nursery schools, are closed during the week of March 29 until April 3, 2021. Following the complete or partial cancellation of a summer camp or an organized out-of-school reception, the worker who has to take care of a minor child with whom he cohabits during the Easter holidays, may be entitled to temporary unemployment benefits for force majeure corona for the days when he takes care of the child. By partial cancellation, we mean that, before the March 19 decision of the Concertation Committee, more children were registered than currently allowed, thus causing the cancellation of the registration of some children. The worker can only claim this right if the child was already registered by March 18, 2021 at the latest for the colony or organized out-of-school care. [March 2020] The National Employment Office announced on March 17 2020 that it would extend the scope of force majeure to companies that voluntarily close down (although this would not constitute force majeure under normal circumstances). [April 2020] Temporary unemployment available and the associated benefits were increased from 65% of wages to 70% (the ceiling being set at € 2,754.76 per month). The employer was required to submit a file at the National Employment Office (RVA/ONEM) to prove the situation of force majeure [November 2020] All temporary unemployment due to the coronavirus were reopened from the 1st of October, 2020. It was allowed to be considered temporary unemployment due to force majeure corona , regardless of whether or not the employer was recognized as being affected by the crisis or whether or not it belonged to a particularly affected sector. [Extension - September 2021] This measure was extended until December 31st, 2021. The following instances can be qualified as force majeure: For workers whose company is forced to close by the government (e.g. the mandatory closing of all bars, restaurants, clubs and non-essential stores). For workers who cannot be employed due to the abolition of events, cultural activities, sports activities, closure of cinemas, etc. For workers whose company must close down the workplace in order to stop the spread of the virus (e.g. in case employees got contaminated). For workers who are forced in quarantine in another country which makes it impossible for him to work. For workers from suppliers of companies affected by an imposed closure, to the extent that this renders them unable to work at all. For workers of Belgian companies affected by the effects of the Corona virus in other areas – for example, because they are dependent on suppliers from the affected region, if, as a result of production stoppages, it is no longer possible for the company to continue to employ staff. On April 6 2020, temporary unemployment due to force majeure will be extended by 3 months, until 30 June 2020. Temporary unemployment due to force majeure may also be invoked pending recognition of the status of a “company in difficulty”. Companies need to obtain this status to be able to make their employees temporarily unemployed for economic reasons. Obtaining temporary unemployment due to force majeure is possible within three to four days. The system has been extended as well as adapted (starting September 2020). From that date, two systems will apply (one for companies or sectors that are considered to be very badly hit and one for companies that are less impacted but still require the measure. The sectors that are badly hit are: the audiovisual sector, the entertainment companies, the socio-cultural sector, the taxi sector, the hotel industry, the tourist attractions sector. These are automatically recognized due to a second wave of the pandemic. On November 6, 2020: Reopening of temporary unemployment due to force majeure for all companies. During this period, the temporarily unemployed salaried worker receives compensation equal to 70% of his gross monthly salary (capped at 2,754.76 euros). In addition, the salaried worker receives an allowance from the ONEM of 5.63 euros per day of temporary unemployment. This measure will apply until March 31, 2021, with the possibility of extension. [December 2020] The federal government announced a bonus for people who have been on temporary unemployment benefits for more than two months. This premium amounts to 10 euros per allowance, with a minimum of 150 euros. If an individual has received half allowances as a voluntary part-time worker, the premium is 5 euros per half allowance, with a minimum of 75 euros. First part of the premium was planned to be delivered in December 2020. [Extension - September 2021] This measure was extended to the 31st of December, 2021. The amount of the premium is obtained by carrying out the following calculation: (X - 52) x 10 (or x 5 if individuals have received half allowances). X = the total number of allowances or half-allowances received as a temporary unemployed person for force majeure due to the coronavirus or for economic reasons, in the period from March 2020 to November 2020 inclusive. In summary : If, in the period from March 2020 to November 2020 inclusive, individuals received less than 53 temporary unemployment benefits, individuals are not entitled to the premium. If individuals have received between 53 and 67 allowances, individuals are entitled to 150 € gross. From 68 benefits received, individuals are entitled to the minimum amount of 150 € and to 10 € per benefit received beyond the limit of 67 days. The premium is paid automatically by your payment organization. Individuals do not have to take any action. Individuals may already receive in December 2020 a first part of the premium, calculated on the basis of the temporary unemployment benefits that have already been paid to individuals for the months of March 2020 to October 2020 inclusive. When the ONEM has verified all the payments of the paying agency for the months of March 2020 to November 2020 inclusive, individuals will receive a second part as long as a balance has not yet been paid. This second payment can be made, at the earliest, during the months of May / June 2021. (April 2020) The amount of unemployment benefits decreases over time. The Government has decided to freeze the degression of unemployment benefits during the period from April 1 to June 30, 2020. This measure only concerns fully unemployed people receiving benefits. The situation in which the fully unemployed person finds himself on April 1, 2020 is therefore extended by 3 months. There is neutralization of the months of April, May and June 2020. The freeze also targets the determination of the reference period of 12 and 18 months to establish the entitlement to unemployment benefits for artists. Royal Decree of September 27, 2020: A new extension of the freezing period for the degression of unemployment benefits for fully unemployed people receiving benefits has just been adopted: The period of freezing of degression of unemployment benefits, initially scheduled until June 30 then until August 31, 2020 is now extended until September 30, 2020. The situation in which the fully unemployed person finds himself on April 1, 2020 is extended by 6 months (instead of the 3-month period initially planned and then extended at 5 months). The months of April, May, June, July, and August 2020 were neutralized. September 2020 is now also neutralized. The benefit was then extended until Dec 31 2020. February 12 2021 the extension of the freeze on the degression of unemployment benefits until June 2021. "[March 2020] If companies suffer from payment difficulties and want to avoid the recovery of their debt by injunction, the Belgian National Social Security Office may allow them amicable repayment terms. The measure shall apply to the following contributions: - the contributions for the holiday allowance for the financial year 2019, and the financial year 2020 Social security contributions - social contributions for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th quarters of 2020 and the 1st and 2nd quarter 2021 - certain changes in contributions." "[March 2020] On March 20, 2020, the postponement of payment of sums due to the Belgian National Social Security Office (ONSS) until December 15, 2020 was announced. The hospitality, recreational and cultural sectors, as well as any business affected by the compulsory closure automatically benefited from this postponement. Companies that were not affected by a mandatory closure but which had to close because they were unable to comply with health measures could obtain a postponement on the basis of a declaration on honor. Companies that were not obliged to close and which, for reasons other than not being able to comply with sanitary measures, decided to close completely. Companies, which were not required to close but closed for reasons other than non-compliance with sanitary measures, because they had to stop production and sales. These companies were therefore also completely closed. These companies can also benefit from the postponement until December 15 on the basis of a declaration on their honor. " Self-employed workers who are affected by the consequences of the coronavirus can submit a written request to their social insurance fund to request a 1-year deferral of the payment of provisional social contributions, without being charged any increases and with no effect on benefits. Payment plans for self-employed workers who have obtained a deferral of payment of social contributions, while retaining the right to reimbursement of health care costs. Until December 31, 2021. Assimilation: individuals no longer have to pay social contributions for a maximum of 4 quarters, but individuals keep their rights to medical care, family allowances and incapacity for work indemnities. During the period of bridging rights, individuals do not in principle build up any pension rights. Do individuals benefit from classic footbridge rights following an event that occurred between April 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021? From the fourth quarter, the quarters of bridging rights can be assimilated to quarters of activity for the calculation of the pension, for a maximum of four quarters. This extension was introduced as a temporary measure following the crisis. Assimilation can be granted from the quarter following the one in which the event occurred, but only if individuals have ceased their activities for at least one full calendar month. To be entitled to it, individuals must also meet the conditions of the gateway right at least during the entire first calendar month of the quarter following that in which the event occurred. In the context of the crisis gateway law, no assimilation is possible. In this case individuals are only entitled to compensation. If companies suffer from payment difficulties and want to avoid the recovery of your debt by injunction, the NSSO may allow individuals amicable repayment terms. The measure shall apply to the following contributions: the contributions for the holiday allowance for the financial year 2019, and the financial year 2020 social contributions for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th quarters of 2020 and the 1st and 2nd quarter 2021 certain changes in contributions. For the social security contributions in the first two quarters of the year 2020, one year's postponement without interest on arrears or exemption from payment of social security contributions shall be granted. Again, this is provided that there is a demonstrable link with Covid-19. Additional postponement for the payment of the contribution payable by companies until the end of 2020. A postponement was already planned until October 31, 2020; it is now extended until December 31, 2020. Nov 6, 2020: Widening of the scope of the exemption from social security contributions for the third quarter of 2020 to other sectors (than the hotel and catering industry and the events sector) which have been forced to close. Suppliers in sectors that have had to shut down may also resort to this measure if they can provide evidence of a loss of sales of at least 65%. A ceiling will be applied per company with regard to the total amount of this exemption. Due to the Corona outbreak, the government has taken several measures. One of these measures taken on March 20, 2020 is the postponement of payment of sums due to the ONSS until December 15, 2020. The hospitality, recreational and cultural sectors, as well as any business affected by the compulsory closure (in accordance with the provisions of the ministerial decrees of March 13, 18, 23 and 24, 2020) will automatically benefit from this postponement. Companies that are not affected by a mandatory closure (as referred to in the ministerial decrees of March 13, 18, 23 and 24, 2020) but which are closed because they are unable to comply with health measures can obtain a postponement on the basis of a declaration on honor. Other companies that can also benefit from the postponement until December 15 on the basis of a declaration on their honor are: - Companies that are not obliged to close and which, for reasons other than not being able to comply with sanitary measures, have themselves decided to close completely. - Companies, which are not required to close but are closed for reasons other than non- compliance with sanitary measures, because they had to stop production and sales. These companies are therefore also completely closed. An example is the closure of suppliers or the closure as a result of clients being closed. (April 2020) A platform will be set up in cooperation with regional ministers to better match the Activation measures supply and demand of student temporary workers, especially now that the jobs for student in the hospitality and non-food sector have faded away. Employers could submit a request for temporary unemployment for their workers due to lack of work, because of economic reasons. The procedure and conditions for this form of unemployment are stricter than for force majeure. Nov 6, 2020: The federal government has decided to reintroduce the simplified temporary unemployment procedure for all employers and workers (workers and employees) from October 1 2020 until June 30 2021 inclusive. Consequently, all temporary unemployment due to the coronavirus can again, from October 1, 2020, be considered temporary unemployment due to force majeure corona, regardless of whether the employer is recognized as particularly affected by the crisis or whether it belongs to a particularly affected sector. It can therefore be a complete suspension of the performance of the employment contract (for example, following an imposed closure) or a partial suspension of the performance of the employment contract, where the worker can still work certain days a week. This is again a departure from the strict definition of force majeure. The Ministerial Decree of October 28, 2020, Article 3, which concerns salaried (or self-employed) workers living or residing abroad who are temporarily employed in Belgium. Employers or users who call on these persons are required, in the context of contact tracing, to keep a register containing a Labor number of data on these persons (identification, place of residence, telephone number and the Markets persons with whom the employee or the self-employed person worked during his work in Belgium). Labor market regulations This obligation applies to 5 specific sectors (construction, cleaning, agriculture, horticulture and the meat sector). The Ministerial Decree of January 12, 2021 extended Art. 3 of AM Oct 28,2020 to all sectors: all employers who temporarily employ salaried workers or the self-employed foreigners in Belgium (with the exception of employers who are natural persons) must therefore keep such a register. This obligation does not apply to frontier workers or when the stay in Belgium does not exceed 48 hours. The register can be requested by the contact tracing services and by the inspection services (art. 3, §1 MB). Implementation of the agreement of the social partners by which the State partially intervenes in the financing of the holiday pay for the temporarily unemployed. In the calculation of this holiday pay, days of temporary unemployment are assimilated to days worked. In critical sectors, employers and workers may enter successive fixed-term employment contracts without limitation, without this resulting in the conclusion of an employment contract of indefinite duration. This will allow workers, including those who are temporarily unemployed, to enter fixed term contracts of short duration and therefore to offer more labor in the sector where there is a high demand. Fixed-term contracts must have a duration minimum of 7 days. Extended Nov 6, 2020. Employers may temporarily place their workers at the disposal of employers in critical sectors, with a certain flexibility. The workers will have to give their consent. The conditions and duration of this provision must be specified in a document signed by the three parties. The user must ensure that workers can work in safe conditions. The mechanisms of workers’ protection against social dumping, such as the principle of equal pay for equal work, will continue to apply. Extended Nov 6, 2020. (April 2020) Mobilize asylum seekers:Given the current crisis and the lack of seasonal workers due to border closures, there is a great need for additional labor. People awaiting a decision on their application of international protection will be authorized to work (Directive 2013/33 / EU). (March 2020) Employers pay 20 euros / month for the professional use of your own computer system (PC / laptop, printer ...) and for the professional use of your own internet connection. [March 2020] Temporary office allowance of €126.94 per month for teleworking to cover the costs of heating, electricity, small office equipment or other necessary facilities at home was granted free of social security contributions to all employees who work from home, including those who did not work from home prior to the pandemic situation, and therefore without the employer and employee having concluded a formal telework contract beforehand. This was paid by the employer. [January 2021] It was announced that the work-from-home allowance would increase to €144.3 for the second and third quarters of 2021 for employees and business leaders and it would decrease to €126.94 starting from October 1, 2021. [April 2020] There is an increased quota of voluntary overtime up to 220 hours in the care sector, other crucial sectors and essential services. This additional overtime will be tax and parafiscal exempt; no additional salary will be applied. [Extension - November 2020] This measure was extended on November 6th, 2020. The consultation committee decided on Wednesday March 25 to strengthen checks on compliance with the obligation to work from home. It applies to the staff of each company, association and service, unless the nature of the function or the continuity of the management of companies and organizations, services and activities prevent it. Employers will therefore have to keep a register specifying who is present at the workplace and when. Reduced work time Therefore, in order to strengthen the control of this measure, any employer will be required to communicate to the ONSS, each month and from the month of April, the number of workers in service on the 1st working day of the month and the number of workers on duty the 1st working day of the month who do not perform a function that can be performed by teleworking. When a company has several establishment units, it will have to indicate the number of workers per establishment unit, specifies the administration. The social inspection services will use this data as a point of reference to monitor compliance with the measure. "Any worker who occupies an executable function in teleworking but who will be present in the company will have to justify his presence", warns the ONSS. This declaration will also serve as a point of reference when it comes to gradually lifting the measure of compulsory teleworking. The ministerial decree of October 28, 2020 "COVID-19 urgent measures" puts this norm into enforcement. Increased quota of voluntary overtime up to 220 hours in the care sector, other crucial sectors, and essential services. This additional overtime will be tax and parafiscal exempt; no additional salary will be applied. Extended Nov 6, 2020. [April 2020] Students were able to perform student work without restrictions during the period from April 1st to June 30th, 2020 and these hours were not be counted towards the annual quota of 475 hours. They could also work these overtime hours while benefiting from a reduction in Social Security. [Extension] This was extended to the fourth quarter of 2020 and the first quarter of 2021 and subequently, to the end of the second quarter of 2021. [Extension - August 2021] A Royal Decree was published which extended this measure until September 30th, 2021 for students in all sectors of activity. From July 1st, 2020, this decree (L’Arrêté royal n° 46,) allows individuals to obtain a corona time credit, for a period of 1 to 6 months with employers in the private sector. This is a new time credit that coexists with the ordinary time credit that already exists. In the context of the economic difficulties that may arise from the coronavirus crisis, the corona time credit allows employers of companies recognized as restructuring or in difficulty to offer Wage subsidies workers a partial half-time or a fifth break in order to, temporarily, reduce their benefits. Interruption periods taken within the framework of the corona time credit are not deducted from the maximum duration of the ordinary time credit. During the corona time credit period, when all the conditions are met, the worker is entitled to an interruption allowance, in order to mitigate the reduction in his remuneration. This allowance is the same as that provided for under ordinary time credit. (back to the top) Belize Cash-based transfers As a complement for when the Unemployment Relief Program will be discontinued and for those who do not qualify for it, the GoB is planning an expansion (of the number of beneficiaries and value of the transfer) of the Building Opportunities for Our Social Transformation (BOOST) cash transfer program. BOOST targets poor households through the application of a proxy means test. Its cash transfer varies by household structure and averages between US$25 to US$30 per month. The Government is considering a temporary expansion of the program, based on: (i) the relaxation of the eligibility threshold, aimed at including also vulnerable households above the poverty line; (ii) an increased value of the transfer for six months, to match that of the Unemployment Relief Program (BZ$150 every 2 weeks). The government launched direct support to farmers and agricultural households suffering from the Cash transfers effects of two-year drought and the pandemic through reallocation of World Bank funds from other (conditional and unconditional) projects. (September/October 2020) Social (December 2020) the Gov of Belize announced a new temporary cash transfer program to assist Assistance poor and vulnerable households that are not receiving support from any other social assistance program, such as, BOOST, Food Pantry, Unemployment Relief Program and any contributory or non-contributory pension scheme. COVID-19 Cash Transfer Program (BCCAT) will support 21500 households with a series of 3 payments over 6 months (February-August 2021) at a cost of US$9.7 million. The program started on 15 February 2021 and ended on 31 Aug 2021. It covered 21,362 households with a total cost of 11.4 million. Social pensions In-kind transfers 39,129 households have received, and continue to receive, packages under the food assistance program. This has been at a cost of 20 million dollars; and with another 20 million coming from OFID. The government is now doubling the amount of beneficiary families Food, vouchers, others Through the Fiscal policy, the government allocated BZD 29 million in Direct Food Assistance. The Fisheries Department handed over COVID-19 safety equipment for the Fishing Cooperatives and private sector seafood processing facilities. The equipment included seven COVID-19 testing units, sanitizing supplies, and two laptops. Through the nationwide Emergency Food Assistance Programme, the government provided food hampers (2-week supply) to those affected by the crisis. Public officers, teachers, and members of the security forces were not eligible, nor were recipients of the Unemployment Relief Programme, non-contributory pensions, and the pre-existing cash transfer program for the needy (BOOST) and food pantry programs (program offering food items at a lower cost). Children on national school meal programs got take-home hampers and high schools were School feeding encouraged to do same Public works Utility waivers Agriculture: funds for the purchase of eligible agricultural inputs. Access to paid leave: employers must give 16 working days with full pay to all those who have Paid sick leave worked in the same center for 60 days or more. The Labor Act does not provide for furlough (temporary leave due to special circumstances initiated by the employer). Health insurance Pensions Advancing one month of pension payment. [April 2020] The COVID-19 Unemployment Relief Program provides temporary benefits to the Social unemployed and persons who directly lost their job as a result of the crisis. Employed and self- Insurance employed who lost their jobs directly as a result of the COVID19 crisis received BZ$150 every 2 Unemployment benefits weeks for 12 weeks (US$450). Persons who were unemployed prior to the crisis received BZ$100 every 2 weeks for 12 weeks (US$300). Applications were processed online. [Extesnion- August 2020] The government extended the program to end of October 2020. [March 2020] The government allowed the delay in payment of contributions to the Social Security Social security contributions Fund without penalties but with the condition of employers keep on filing returns with information about employees and contributions. Activation measures [July 2020] As part of the recovery strategy for the agriculture sector Belize introduced the automatic extension on all licenses for 12 months. Labor Markets [August 2020] As part of the Labor (Amendment) Act,2020 the government allowed employers to Labor market regulations reduce the wages of workers, conditional on the employees’ agreement. [August 2020] As part of the Labor (Amendment) Act,2020 the government allowed employers to place employees on leave without pay, with the agreement of said employees. [December 2020] The Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labor and Local Government announced plans to transition the Temporary Employment Permit (TEP) System online. Effective from January 14th, 2021, all TEP Applications were processed online only. The measure aimed at increasing the quality and efficiency of the Ministry’s service and mitigating against the spread of COVID-19. Reduced work time August 2020] As part of the Labor (Amendment) Act,2020 the government allowed employers to reduce the maximum number of working hours, conditional on the employees’ agreement. [November 2020] Work from home orders and/or staff shift rotation mandated for employees at all organizations as part of new Covid-19 measures. [July 2020] As part of the MSME Support program the government allocated BZD$7 million on wage Wage subsidies subsidies to promote employee retention on the condition that these businesses keep their employees’ Social Security contributions current. (back to the top) Benin Cash-based transfers On August 26th, 2021, the Beninese government announced further measures to assist enterprises and their workers cope with the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective of the measure is to support the employees of vulnerable micro and small businesses affected by the health crisis. It concerns businesses in all sectors of activity and extends to both formal and informal Cash transfers businesses. Salaried employees will be given cash transfers. (conditional and unconditional) Cash transfer program implemented by Ministry of Social affairs and Microfinance together with UNICEF, the Embassy of the Netherlands and Care Project aims to alleviate household poverty, fight against child marriage and keep girls in school in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic by supporting parents of girls aged 9 to 15 who face economic difficulties due to the pandemic. The project also entails different training components Social pensions In-kind transfers Social Food, vouchers, others Assistance School feeding Public works To promote the use of electronic payment tools, the Western Africa Central Bank (BCEAO) is providing more flexible measures to open a mobile money and making transfers between people backed by the electronic money free. On March 30th, 2020, the national electricity company suspended disconnections for non-payment of bills to ensure the continuity of the electricity supply during COVID-19 pandemic. Utility waivers The government introduced a price control system for the purchase of face masks. On April 09th 2020, the government announced that there should no longer be masks in pharmacies that would cost more than 200 FCFA, under penalty of criminal penalties The government launched a general grant to all citizens who benefitted from a reduction in electricity and water tariffs, which involved a total expenditure of 5.76 billion CFA francs. Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures The government introduced the obligation for employers to install the hand washing device in the workplace and to ensure that the minimum distance of one (1) meter between people is respected. The National Board of Benin (CNP Benin) published a Communiqué on March 17th, 2020, with guidelines against the COVID-19 pandemic to employers and workers, to make them aware of the Labor market regulations sanitary measures to be taken. (April 2020) Labor inspectors were subject to a weekly rotation schedule from April 6th, 2020, in order to allow them to better observe the containment measures. Labor Markets Reduced work time The government introduced financial support over a period of three months. This meant subsidizing 70% of the gross salary of the declared employees. The government delivered cash to 55,000 craftsmen for a period of 3 months of lost earnings. This Wage subsidies included hairdressers, dressmakers, welders, carpenters, small saleswomen, among others. This measure involved a planned expenditure of 4.98 billion CFA francs, distributed as follows: 2.1 billion CFA francs to formal sector enterprises, 1.6 billion to those in the identified informal sector, and 1.2 billion to the unidentified informal sector. (back to the top) Bermuda (UK) Cash-based transfers As the 16-week unemployment benefit came to an end in 2021, the Government was cognizant that many people within the community were still in need of assistance. To address this, the Government introduced the Supplemental Unemployment Benefit (SUB) and allocated funds to support families and individuals who remained in need of assistance. The Supplementary Unemployment Benefit is only for Bermudians and Spouses of Bermudians who do not qualify for support through the Cash transfers Department of Financial Assistance yet still require financial support. Originally scheduled to run (conditional and unconditional) until March 31, 2021, the SUB was extended to June 30, 2021. It has been further extended until March 31, 2022. All Supplementary Unemployment Benefit recipients will receive monthly payments. Social Those recipients who already have health insurance will receive a flat monthly stipend, and persons Assistance without health insurance will receive coverage by the Health Insurance Department in addition to their flat monthly payment. Recipients will receive a monthly flat rate of $1,520 deposited directly into the individual’s bank account or funds can be directly paid to vendors on behalf of clients. Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave Health insurance The government implemented a one-time withdrawal for members from certain occupational pension plans that are younger than age 65 (the normal retirement age) and who are not yet retired. Eligible beneficiaries may request withdrawals of up to B$12,000 (US$12,000) from their account Social Pensions balances. The deadline for requests is June 30th 2021, and pension plan administrators must process Insurance the withdrawals within 20 business days after approving a request. This measure is part of an economic relief package for persons affected by the COVID-19. (March 2020) The government introduced an unemployment benefit for laid-off employees who were not on financial assistance. The transfer amount was set at 60% of gross earnings up to a Unemployment benefits maximum of $500 a week. The benefit is less than $500 per week when the eligible applicant receives a percentage of their salary from their employer. To be eligible, applicants must meet the definition of an employee under employment legislation, and be Bermudian, the spouse of a Bermudian, a permanent resident’s certificate holder, or a work-permit holder unable to leave Bermuda because of travel restrictions. They must have been in full-time employment and have been laid off or had their employment terminated because of the Covid-19 pandemic, put on mandatory medical quarantine without compensation from their employer, or be self-employed and no longer at work because of the illness Social security contributions Activation measures Labor market regulations Labor Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies (back to the top) Bhutan Cash-based transfers The Druk Gyalpo’s Relief Kidu (DGRK) launched on April 14th, 2020, for a duration of 3 months from April 2020 until end of June 2020. It was extended twice: once from 1 July 2020 to end of March 2021 (phase 2) and next from April 2021 to July 2022 (phase 3, announced on 22 April 2021). The DGRK provides immediate financial support for people who have been laid off or placed on reduced salaries, or those whose livelihood was negatively impacted. Eligibility was based on an application. Eligible beneficiaries include individuals laid off, placed on unpaid leave or on reduced pay from businesses, as well as self-employed individuals who lost their earnings either partially or completely. The Kidu amount was revised from Nu. 12,000 per month for full amount beneficiary and Nu. 8,000 Cash transfers per month for partial amount in Phase I to Nu. 10,000 and Nu. 7,000 respectively in Phase II. Kidu (conditional and unconditional) will continue to be granted at Nu. 10,000 and Nu. 7,000 for Phase III. It is reported 52,644 individuals who were granted income support relief kidu amounting to Nu 2.25 billion over the last one year from April 2020 to March 2021. The Relief Kidu application process is designed to ensure accessibility and transparency with simultaneous application through online processes as well as through walk-in centers across the 20 Dzongkhags and a toll-free line (1188) to respond to queries from the people. Furthermore, the committee also ensured widespread publicity through television, Social radio, newsprint and social media. Government officials in the Dzongkhags also provided valuable Assistance support to spread the message as well as assist applicants. Social pensions In-kind transfers On 25th April 2020, the government has stocked essential items enough to last for four months— worth Nu 104 million. By mid-May, the country will have stocked essential items to last for six months. Besides Food Corporation of Bhutan Limited (FCB), 16 wholesalers and large retailers were provided concessional working capital to stockpile essential and other commodities for six months. Food, vouchers, others The country will require 17,000 metric tons (MT) of rice in the next six months. Within this month, 14,000 MT of rice would be procured from the SAARC food security reserve. FCB has stockpiled 972 MT of cooking oil and 530 MT of legumes and grains. The government is stocking at the dzongkhag headquarters, but the stocks will be distributed later to towns and villages. The education ministry in collaboration with WFP and UNICEF will cater dry ration to more than 10,000 vulnerable children identified by the government across the country from May 2020. The School feeding ration will consist of fortified rice, fortified cooking oil, chickpeas, and pulses along with toiletries and menstrual hygiene. It will be distributed through the program called “Take-Home Ration” which will be formally launched 28 May 2021. It is to ensure that the children meet their daily dietary and nutritional requirements and in response to Covid-19. They will supply the ration that will last for a month from the stock left with the school feeding program to each student in the family. The identified students are mostly from economically backward backgrounds??, displaced students, single parent, those with disabilities, landless farmers, and divorced parents, including students depending on Kidu, among many. Each student will receive Nu 905 worth of ration: 12kg of rice, 1.5 liters of cooking oil, half a kg of chickpeas, and 2kg of pulses. The National School Feeding Program spend around Nu 9 million on this project. On July 01, 2020, the Prime Minister of Bhutan launched the Build Bhutan project with the aim to engage around 7000 individuals over a period of two years of which 2000 will be provided with skilling, reskilling and upskilling opportunities in construction trades leading to national certification. The individuals engaged under the program will be paid an engagement top-up and skilling stipend. The benefit ranges from 12,000 to 20,000 Nu depending on your qualification. The project will also facilitate the formation of specialized groups in construction occupations and provide support such as tools and equipment, wage top-up, outsourcing work and also facilitate the creation of a conducive policy environment. The eligibility criteria is a Bhutanese citizen who has completed minimum of class VI and attained minimum of 18 years and who is either: laid-off and/or on unpaid leave due to COVID-19, overseas returnees or job seekers registered in MoLHR job portal. Public works The Tourism Stimulus Package was reported on April 17, 2020. The program will cover 2,436 people formally affiliated with the tourism sector and will provide support to them through cash-for-work and cash-for-reskilling style programs. Work provided under this program includes beautification of the main tourist attractions, maintenance of relevant infrastructure, hotel assessments, support to carrying out of survey and studies aimed to improve performance of the sector, as well as waste management. Those eligible will be provided Nu 6,000 (~USD 80) per month in case of selecting in training, and Nu 15,000 (~USD 200) per month in case of opting out for construction and development work. The duration of the program was not specified. Total budget of the programs is Nu 286 million (~USD 3.8 million). As per the official press release on 11 April 2020, the Interest payment relief includes deferment of loan repayment and 100 percent interest waiver for three months from April 2020 to end of June 2020. As per the official press release on June 26, 2020, the deferment of loan repayment was further extended from 1 July 2020 to 31 March 2021, and 100 percent interest waiver was extended from 1 July 2020 until 31 September 2020 and the rate of interest was reduced by 50 percent from Utility waivers 1 October 2020 to March 2021. On 22 April 2021, the government announced further extension for 15 months starting from April 2021 until June 2022. However, for the latest expansion, only the loans sanctioned as of June 30, 2020, shall be eligible for the deferment of loan repayment for another one year until June 2022. It is reported that 60,002 salaried individuals benefited from the interest payment relief support from April 2020 to March 2021 and it cost 1.15 billion. On 20 August 2020, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests of Bhutan in Thimphu Thromde, published that with the opening of shops in different zones, we have started with the delivery of vegetables to these shops in bulk. With issuing this notification, shops in Babesa and Lungtenphu areas have been supplied with cabbage, potatoes, carrots, and chillies (large and small). To ensure that shopkeepers do not take advantage of the lockdown situation and inflate the price of vegetables, the Ministry has fixed the selling price of vegetables. Prices for other types of vegetables will be announced as and when they are sourced and supplied to the shops. Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor market regulations Reduced work time [July 2020] The Build Bhutan Project (BBP) includes a wage top-up for employees in the Labor construction sector to attract workers. This involves a monthly wage top-up of 15% beyond the Markets wage paid by the employer, depending on the workers’ level of skills. However, if the engagement duration is less than a month, the wage top-up will be provided on a pro rata basis. Wage subsidies [January 2021] The project announced that individuals will be paid a minimum of Nu 25,000 a month as wages. The project aims to employ 7,000 unemployed, laid off and workers returning from overseas in the construction sector. [March 2021] This provision was cancelled as the government said it was "halted because of changes in the policy and plans of the Labor Ministry." (back to the top) Bolivia Cash-based transfers March 2020): The GoB has created three new temporary cash transfer programs: Bono Familia (BF), Bono Canasta Familiar (BFC) and Bono Universal (BU) that together provide economic support for households impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially two cash transfer programs were designed – BF and BCF – that relied on a temporary increase of the value of existing social protection interventions to meet the additional needs of the current beneficiaries (vertical expansion). Together, BF, BCF and BU are expected to reach 3.3 million households and their 11.1 million members (comprising both direct recipients and indirect beneficiaries, who are other household members), or 97.9 percent of the entire population. • The Bono Familia is a one-time only transfer of Bs500 (US$72) for each child enrolled in elementary, primary and secondary schools (public or private). (March 2020): The Bono Canasta Familiar (BCF) is a one-time payment Bs400 (US$58) transfer to Cash transfers low-income households in rural and urban areas to cover the cost of a monthly basic food basket. By (conditional and unconditional) design, it mostly reaches the elderly (86.2 percent of the population 65 years or older), but also pregnant women, mothers of children below 2 years old, and people with disabilities who are Social beneficiaries of existing social assistance programs. Assistance (April 2020): The Bono Universal's (BU) purpose is to minimize the exclusion of informal workers and self-employed. Bono Universal is estimated to directly and indirectly cover 46.5 percent of the population and the transfer amount is Bs $ 500. (September 2020): The government created a new temporary cash transfer program called Bono Contra el Hambre (BCH) for all individuals eligible for the BU as well as pregnant women, mothers of children aged 2 years old or less and people with disabilities who are beneficiaries of existing social assistance programs. Benefits were paid between January and March 2021. Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others (April 2020): The government plans to deliver food to 1.5 million families ($US 58 per family) . In Bolivia, the Jacinto Pinto Voucher, which has existed since 2016 and is awarded at the end of the School feeding year to students in the school, primary and secondary cycle, was advanced to compensate for the lack of school feeding. Public works Families and companies that cannot meet financial obligations are exempt from paying their mortgages and credits. This relief applied for 2 months. Utility waivers (April 2020): The government plans to pay the electric energy bills for three months for the consumers with lower consumption and pay 50 percent of the potable water and gas for all households. As part of revised paid leave requirements, Bolivia is permitting reduction of working hours; paid leave for older adults, pregnant women and people with health conditions; paid leave for workers Paid sick leave with dependent children and who must meet care needs due to the emergency; and paid leave for all workers, public and private, that are suspected cases of having contracted COVID-19. Collective annual insurance for total and permanent disability or death for a period of one (1) year, for professionals and health workers, infected by the care or provision of services related to patients infected by the Coronavirus (COVID-19). Health insurance Social Insurance The government created insurance for death and permanent disability for police officers, which includes death from COVID-19. Pensions Unemployment benefits [April 2020] On April 1, and as part of Supreme Decree No. 4206, the government extended the time limits for the payment of long-term social security contributions that are due during the “lockdown” Social security contributions quarantine period. In addition, the deadline for the payment of short-term social security contributions period for February, March, and April 2020, was extended until June 30, 2020. Activation measures [April 2020] Suspension of the filing requirements of salary, wages and work-related accident payroll Labor market regulations from March 2020, and their presentation is deferred for months of March and April until May 30th, 2020, without penalties. [April 2020] Through Supreme Decree 4218, the government introduced telework in the labor code as a special modality of service provision in the public and private sectors. Labor Markets [January 2021] Through Supreme Decree 4451, the government authorizes teleworking during COVID-19 second wave. The policy is expected to last from January 16, 2021, until February 28, Reduced work time 2021. [August 2021] The government repealed Supreme Decree 4218 and introduced Supreme Decree 4570 which provides updated regulations on the application of special working conditions in labor relations, including teleworking. Wage subsidies (back to the top) Bosnia and Herzegovina Cash-based transfers Individual local governments provided significant sums to assist the elderly and families with low or no income ($250,000 thus far from Sarajevo municipality Stari Grad). Both entities, RS and FBH, introduced top-ups and one-off payments for Permanent Social Assistance beneficiaries, recipients of disability allowance and those in need of permanent home care ranging between one to six months. The top-ups for the permanent social assistance beneficiaries were in place for 6 months. The amount was on average 65-80 US$ per month. The one-off payment was around 110 US$. In addition, coverage of PSA is expected to be expanded to new beneficiaries--approximately 6,000. It is reported on 15 April 2020 in the official Gazette of Republika Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina) 37/2020 and 41/2020 that all employees of public health institutions who have worked for a Cash transfers minimum of three weeks from March 15 to April 15 will be paid tax and contribution free one-off (conditional and unconditional) amount of 1000 KM (i.e., US$ 560) from the Solidarity Fund for the Reconstruction of the Republika Srpska. The aid will be paid in addition to the salary for March 2020. Social Assistance Municipality of Novo Sarajevo (in Bosnia and Herzegovina) gave support to vulnerable categories of pensioners who were selected by the Association of Pensioners of Novo Sarajevo (eligible were pensioners with a disability, those in need of care assistance, recipients of a minimum pension who support other members of the family, and similar categories). The funds were distributed through the FBiH Pension and Disability Insurance Fund on two occasions. The first group of 4,000 pensioners was supported with KM 50 in May, while the second group of 2,400 pensioners received the same amount of assistance in June. The total envisage cost is KM 350,000. The program has been running since 2007, but this year the municipality of Novo Sarajevo allocated more funding for this purpose. Social pensions In-kind transfers Based on Assessments of COVID-19 impacts in social protection sector conducted in 5 Cantons in FBiH and assessment for RS Entity, results indicated that various Local Government Units through Food, vouchers, others Centers for Social Welfare administered distribution of basic care packages ((consisting of food items, personal and household hygiene products) to social protection beneficiaries, particularly from vulnerable groups, i.e., elderly and vulnerable who need permanent care in specialized institutions, families with children, low-income households, families with people/children with disabilities, etc. In October 2020, Gobal giving in Bosnia and Herzegovina had funds (54,165 EUR) to provide daily lunch for 256 children at school during the school year 2020-21, although it had expected to reach 321 students. For € 9 per month, one child receives lunch at school for a whole month. In some schools, the lessons were given in combined groups. To reduce the risk of contamination, older School feeding children received online lessons, which ultimately resulted in fewer lunches being delivered. These lunches will be delivered in the new school year (2021-22). As of August 2021, it is reported that for 2021-22, they have sufficient funds for 394 children and expect to reach 394 children to deliver daily school meals. The delivery process is expected to start in September 2021. Public works On 16 April 2020, the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina has started exemption on calculation and payment of indirect taxes on medical both in the import of equipment and certain assets, as well as in domestic trade. According to the Official Gazette OG 24/2020, it has extended the exempted items list to include medical and personal protective products (masks, gloves, Utility waivers disinfectants, protective suits, mechanical medical ventilators), which initially only included medicines and ambulances. As of March 2021, the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina took a decision to supplement a decision on waiving from indirect tax paid for equipment and means direct of procurement of countermeasures for COVID-19 (i.e., immunization against COVID-19). Paid sick leave Through the Official Gazette of the Republic of Srpska RS OG 44/20 (Decree-Law on Amendments to the Health Insurance Law), the government established that the RS Health Insurance Fund would Health insurance provide health care funds for citizens with no status of an insured person in the compulsory health insurance. Pensions A total of EUR 5.5 million was allocated for unemployment benefits for 2020, but this could increase Unemployment benefits to another EUR 10 million to support job retention and/or increase unemployment benefits. Social [April 2020] The Solidarity Fund is used to social security contributions of employers of business Insurance firms and entrepreneurs who were banned to keep on carrying out their activities during the pandemic. [May 2020] Business entities were entitled to the subsidy of social security contributions, in the Social security contributions amount prescribed by the Law on Mitigation of Negative Economic Consequences. To be eligible, businesses must show turnovers of 20% or more in the month for which the payroll is calculated, compared to the realized turnover in the same month in 2019. The entity would be entitled to a right to subsidy under the condition that it has settled contributions and personal income tax payable, conclusively with February 2020. The government has allocated EUR 33 million for 2020 for activation programs which may be Activation measures reallocated for immediate assistance to unemployed individuals. Labor Labor market regulations Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies [May 2020] The minimum salary contributions will be paid from the state budget. (back to the top) Botswana Cash-based transfers Cash transfers The Tertiary Sponsorships and Scholarships Programme (living allowances for students) continued (conditional and unconditional) uninterrupted, and in some cases did provide genuine social assistance during lockdown. Two pension programs, including the Old Age Pension and the World War Veterans’ Pension continued to be paid despite some delays in payment. Social pensions The Old Age Pension, which is universal for all citizens over 65 years, continued to be paid at post offices and community pay-points, but to only 50 people per pay-point each day instead of the usual 300 on average, to ensure COVID-19 compliance in 2020. The Vulnerable Groups Feeding Programme (VGFP) - monthly food transfers, through clinics, to all under-5 children or under-6 if not yet in school, to malnourished pregnant women and nursing mothers, and to tuberculosis patients – is in place. The Orphan Care Programme (a monthly food basket, school uniform, clothing, transport and psychosocial support to all orphans and some other vulnerable children, up to the age of 18 years) continued to be delivered to beneficiaries, even during Social lockdown, albeit with some disruption and delay. Food transfers within the Community Home-Based Assistance Care Programme (CHBC) continued operating after the advent of COVID-19 and throughout the lockdown period. The government approved P114,839,250 for the Food Hampers program for the month of April, In-kind transfers 2020, assisting households with food packages which included agricultural products. As of May 2020, 405,017 households had received assistance. Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) distributed food parcels to 1,000 families in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, to combat COVID-19 in July 2020. COVID-19 Food Relief Programme: The government disbursed P431 million for Food Hampers as of March 2021, assisting 429,555 households with food packages which included agricultural products.The government approved P114,839,250 for Food Hampers for the month of April, 2020, assisting 393 households with food packages which included agricultural products. COVID-19 Food Relief Programme: The government disbursed P431 million for Food Hampers as of Food, vouchers, others March 2021, assisting 429,555 households with food packages which included agricultural products. Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) distributed food parcels to 1,000 families in Gaborone, the capital of Botswana, to combat COVID-19 in July 2020. School feeding in Botswana stopped when schools were closed during April and May 2020. The government tried to protect children’s nutritional status by delivering food parcels to their homes, in School feeding line with WFP guidelines for ‘school feeding at home’. The Primary School Feeding Programme (PSFP) has been operational since re-opening schools in June 2020. The national public works program, Ipelegeng, suspended most operations in April and May 2020 and resumed activities but with fewer participants in June, when the lockdown was partially lifted. Public works Participants did continue receiving payments they would have received, but with no work requirement. Ipelegeng provides a month of work at 6 hours per day, paying 567 pula/month reaches over 70,000 beneficiaries per month. The government announced that manual statutory filing was not possible during the lockdown period. To avoid incurring late payment and / or late filing penalties, taxpayers were encouraged to use the online compliance platforms provided by the tax authority. Where it was not possible to comply with tax obligations because of failure in the electronic platforms or the impossibility to submit returns because of the lockdown, taxpayers should request tax authority to waive any interest or penalties that may be levied. Utility waivers The government introduced the following tax relief during the lockdown: - Deferral of 75% of any two self-assessment tax quarterly payments due between March and September 2020, with payment of the deferrals to begin from March 2021 - Expedited refunds of value added tax (VAT), with refunds to be made within 21 days from the date of filing the VAT return (instead of the 60 day period for a refund) New work arrangements: The Government is preparing the economy for post COVID-19, developing Paid sick leave an economic stimulus package that will buffer the impact we foresee on our economy, including access to paid leave and to health care. New work arrangements: The Government is preparing the economy for post COVID-19, developing Health insurance an economic stimulus package that will buffer the impact we foresee on our economy, including Social access to paid leave and to health care. Insurance Pensions Currently, there is no unemployment insurance. The work on establishing an unemployment Unemployment benefits insurance fund is ongoing. Botswana currently has very limited social insurance: essentially limited to a non-contributory, Social security contributions defined benefit pension scheme for public officers (civil servants) financed directly from the State budget. Labor Activation measures Markets Labor market regulations Reduced work time (March 2020) Businesses that are registered for tax were eligible for COVID-19 wage subsidies, regardless of whether they owe taxes. The government subsidized 50% of basic salary of employees of affected businesses by delivering subsidies that ranged between P1000 – P2500 per month for 3 months (April, May and June 2020). This measure reached 165,681 beneficiaries in April 2020, involving a total budget allocation of P1 billion. Unless specifically exempted, subsidies were taxable. Wage subsidies Implementation of a Covid-19 Wage Support Scheme to provide financial support to employees in the travel and tourism sector, export-oriented enterprises, ICT/BPO sector, SMEs and other sectors of the economy, who become technically unemployed on a temporary basis due to the impact of the Coronavirus. (back to the top) Brazil Cash-based transfers Considered one of the fastest and most comprehensive responses in the world to the Covid-19 crisis, the Auxilio Emergencial (AE1) started in April 2020 with five installments of R$600.00 to beneficiaries of the conditional cash transfer program Bolsa Família (PBF), individuals over 18 years of age in the single registry (Cadastro Unico) and self-employed or informal workers who were not in the single registry but impacted by Covid (could apply to the program via a cell phone application). Beneficiaries in the BFP were automatically enrolled while individuals in the single registry as well as informal or self-employed were evaluated based on different eligibility criteria (declared income etc). This gave rise to a new social registry called ExtraCad. The limit of two benefits per family was established. In single-parent family arrangements headed by women, the amount of aid was R$1,200.00, and it could reach R$1,800.00 if this arrangement had a second eligible member. A new extension was carried out in September 2020 which authorized the payment of residual installments (AE2) until the month of December 2020. AE2 introduced a monthly reassessment of the eligibility condition and reduced the reference value of the benefit by 50%. The number of direct Social beneficiaries dropped to 56.8 million individuals. Cash transfers Assistance (conditional and unconditional) After three months of interruption (between January and March 2021), given the persistence of Covid-19 and the deterioration of socioeconomic conditions in Brazil, AE was resumed in April 2021 (AE3). The value of the installments was further reduced, and more restrictive eligibility criteria were implemented which resulted in a coverage of 39.4 million direct beneficiaries. AE 2021 established the limit of only one beneficiary per family, which, in practice, implied changing the program's reference unit, which until then was the individual, to the family. In order to face the COVID-19 pandemic, 4 measures were adopted that affect the BPC: i) the possibility of discounting social benefits of up to 1 minimum wage from the per capita family income calculation to access the BPC; ii) the relaxation of the family income limit per capita from one quarter to half a MW, depending on the assessment of additional vulnerability criteria; iii) the possibility of early withdrawal, in the amount of BRL 600, for applicants who have not yet had their requests analyzed by the INSS; and iv) the maintenance of the benefit payment for those not enrolled in the Single Registry, reversing measures to suspend benefits for this group. The anticipation of payments of BPC were made on March 19th, 2020, and will remain active until December 31st, at least. It is paid for up to 3 months. Impact of R$ 5 billion (US$ 1 billion). (March 2020) The government allocated BRL 3 billion for the Bolsa Familia program to add 1.2 million families (2.8 million individuals) and vertically expanding Bolsa Familia program in March 2020. (October 2020) The WB is supporting the GoB to keep the new beneficiaries. The proposed project, for US$1 billion, would finance CCTs for a minimum of 1.2 million families living in poverty added to the BF in response to the crisis. This group comprises a minimum of 2.9 million people who were eligible for the program before the pandemic but had not yet been enrolled due to budget limitations of the program. The BF is executed by the MoC. Financing will last 23 months through 2022 to ensure that the program’s countercyclical expansion lasts during the economic recovery. The 13th salary for retirees, salary bonus allowances and benefits for people with disabilities as well Social pensions as sickness benefits was anticipated, involving a planned budget of R$ 46 billion, or US$ 9.2 billion. In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others A law allowing mayors to use FNDE (Federal fund for school feeding) resources to purchase and distribute food baskets to students was signed on April 7th 2020. In advance of the signing of the School feeding law, mayors and governors began distributing food baskets or topping up Bolsa Familia with the value of the school meal or more. Valid during school suspension period. Public works The term of payroll credit loans was extended to 84 months and the maximum interest was reduced. Furthermore, debt collection was suspended, and the terms were easier to renegotiate. Postponement of real estate financing payment of installments, for three months, benefiting 800 thousand families Debt collection suspension and easier conditions for debt renegotiation by the Attorney General's Utility waivers Office. The Electric Energy Agency (Aneel) suspended energy supply cuts due to non-payment for 90 days. The low-income population registered for lower tariffs (the Social Tarriff program) with Electric Energy Agency (Aneel) was not subjected to the periodic checks for three months, and therefore did not lose the benefit. Workers with Covid-19: the government will pay for the first 15 days of leave of that sick in relation Social Paid sick leave to the virus. Insurance Health insurance The government is allowing the possibility of withdrawal from the FGTS for formal workers (21,500 million Brazilian reals or US$4 billion); an advance of the salary payment for formal workers (12.8 billion Brazilian reals or US$2.5 billion); and an advance of the end of year payment (thirteenth month) for pensioners (23 billion Brazilian reals or US$4.5 billion). Anticipated payments for pensioners (13th salary of INSS pensioners). The payment of the 13th salary of INSS retirees, usually paid in the end of the year, was paid in 2 installments in 2020. Pensions “Portaria Normativa No 30” suspends any payment blockades of pensions for retired military for 120 days. "Portaria No. 373" lifts for 120 days a series of limitations to pension payment, such as proof of life. This measure helps avoid exposure of the elderly to the virus, while guaranteeing a source of income. "Portaria No. 244" of 17/06/2020 simplifies proof of life procedures to over 700 thousand beneficiaries of INSS. New technologies such as life proof using bio-metrics on mobile apps and self- service banking terminals are now allowed. "Portaria No. 680" of 18/06/2020 extended the interruptions to the routines for updating and maintaining benefits administered by the INSS for another 60 days. As a result, benefits will not be denied to those who are unable to authenticate and present documents in person, since direct service at branches was suspended in March this year. The introduction of the program “Beneficio Emergencial de Manutenção do Emprego e Renda” did not affect the unemployment insurance value of workers. Unemployment benefits The government implemented an anticipation of 25% of the unemployment insurance amount for those who earn up to two minimum wages and have wages reduced. This involved a planned budget of R$ 10 billion (US$ 2 billion). Postponement of Social Security Contributions, PIS/PASEP, Cofins and FGTS (FGTS payments for March – May 2020 were collected from July 2020 onwards). Reduction of 50% of “Sistema S” contributions for 3 months (R$ 2.2 billion, or US$ 0.4 billion). Social security contributions Deferral payment term for 4 months (impact of R$ 30 billion, or US$ 6 billion). Advanced withdraw of FGTS (unemployment savings account) up to 1 MW. [March 2020] Relaxing or suspending eligibility criteria or conditionalities by allowing companies to rehire employees before the 90 days period. Labor [Extension - April 2021] Relaunched through Provisional Measure 1046 for 120 days. Activation measures Markets [Extension - June 2021] Through the Act of the President of the Board of National Congress No. 42 of 2021, it was extended for 60 days. [March 2020] Through the Provisional Measure No. 927, 2020, the government allowed employers to inform employees about the anticipation of their vacation at least forty-eight hours in advance. Employers were also allowed to suspend vacations or unpaid leave of health professionals or those who perform essential functions. [Extension - April 2021] Relaunched through Provisional Measure 1046 for 120 days. [Extension - June 2021] Through the Act of the President of the Board of National Congress No. 42 of 2021, it was extended for 60 days. [March 2020] Through the Provisional Measure No. 927, 2020, the government allowed employers to choose to make the payment of the additional one-third vacation after granting employees’ holidays during the COVID-19 pandemic. In case employees preferred to convert a third of their vacation into a cash bonus, the government determined that this had to be done in agreement with employers. In the event of the employee's dismissal, the government stated that employers must pay the amount of paid vacations, together with the payment of severance pay. [Extension - April 2021] Relaunched through Provisional Measure 1046 for 120 days. [Extension - June 2021] Through the Act of the President of the Board of National Congress No. 42 of 2021, it was extended for 60 days. [March 2020] Through the Provisional Measure No. 927, 2020, the government allowed employers to grant, at its discretion, collective vacations and must notify the group of employees affected at least forty-eight hours in advance, the maximum annual period limit and the minimum number of calendar days provided for in the Consolidation of Labor Laws, approved by Decree-Law No. 5,452, of 1943. [Extension - April 2021] Relaunched through Provisional Measure 1046 for 120 days. [Extension - June 2021] Through the Act of the President of the Board of National Congress No 42. of 2021, it was extended for 60 days. [March 2020] Through the Provisional Measure No. 927, 2020, the government suspended: - the administrative requirement of medical examinations connected to employment, except for dismissal examinations. - periodic and occasional trainings of employees, to allow for safety and health at the workplace. - the maintenance of the internal accident prevention commissions, although electoral processes in progress were suspended. [Extension - April 2021] Relaunched through Provisional Measure 1046 for 120 days. [Extension - June 2021] Through the Act of the President of the Board of National Congress No. 42 of 2021, it was extended for 60 days. [March 2020] Through the Provisional Measure No. 927, 2020, the government allowed the suspension of employment contracts for a period of up to four months, including the possibility of employers granting monthly compensatory aid to employees, without a salary nature. The amount of this would be defined in agreement between employees and employers, through individual negotiation. [Extension - April 2021] Relaunched through Provisional Measure 1046 for 120 days. [Extension - June 2021] Through the Act of the President of the Board of National Congress No. 42 of 2021, it was extended for 60 days. Through the Constitutional Amendment No. 106, the government simplified the personnel hiring processes, on a temporary and emergency basis. Through the SEPRT/MS Joint Ordinance No. 20, the government introduced measures aiming at the prevention, control and mitigation of transmission risks of COVID-19 in work environments (general guidelines). Through the Uncomplicated Labor Program, the government guaranteed more safety and health for workers, enabling an effective reduction in the number of occupational accidents with more risk management in a customized way and less plastering and bureaucracy. Specific guidelines were developed for the areas of civil construction; pharmacies and drugstores; meat-packing companies; gas stations; rural sector; health services; supermarkets; teleservices; domestic work and use of PFF1 masks. The government launched a free labor self-diagnostic tool service for employers who want to check if they comply with labor legislation. It has been developed, especially for small entrepreneurs. It is a self-assessment carried out by the user that enables the creation of an improvement plan for the company. The government launched the “Programa Descomplica Trabalhista” (Labor Decomplications Program) to eliminate bureaucracies and provide a more favorable business environment to create jobs and opportunities. 48 obsolete acts of the Ministry of Economy were revoked, a modernized agribusiness labor standard was signed and a simplified eSocial module shared. Overall, two thousand documents from the former Ministry of Labor were reviewed and consolidated in less than ten documents. The “Programa Descomplica Trabalhista”also included the introduction of a Simplified Digital Bookkeeping System for Social Security, Labor and Tax Liabilities - Simplified eSocial is a major advance in the productive sector. Changes to the layout simplify filling and eliminate fields that used to take unnecessary time to fill. The lighter form meets the demands of the country's productive sector, without prejudice to the maintenance of important information for the continuity of public labor and social security policies. The CPF will become the employee's only identification number, dispensing with reference to other registration numbers, such as, for example, PIS and Pasep. Requests for information already included in government bases, such as the RG number and CNH, were also excluded. Through the EPRT/MS Joint Ordinance No. 19, the government established measures aimed at the prevention, control and mitigation of the transmission risks of COVID-19 in the activities developed in the slaughter and processing industry of meat and meat products intended for human consumption and dairy products. [March 2020] Relaxing or suspending eligibility criteria or conditionalities by allowing companies to rehire employees before the 90 days period. [Extension - April 2021] Relaunched through Provisional Measure 1046 for 120 days. [Extension - June 2021] Through the Act of the President of the Board of National Congress No. 42 of 2021, it was extended for 60 days. [March 2020] Through the Provisional Measure No. 927, 2020, the government allowed employers to inform employees about the anticipation of their vacation at least forty-eight hours in advance. Employers were also allowed to suspend vacations or unpaid leave of health professionals or those who perform essential functions. [Extension - April 2021] Relaunched through Provisional Measure 1046 for 120 days. [Extension - June 2021] Through the Act of the President of the Board of National Congress No. 42 of 2021, it was extended for 60 days. Labor market regulations [March 2020] Through the Provisional Measure No. 927, 2020, the government allowed employers to choose to make the payment of the additional one-third vacation after granting employees’ holidays during the COVID-19 pandemic. In case employees preferred to convert a third of their vacation into a cash bonus, the government determined that this had to be done in agreement with employers. In the event of the employee's dismissal, the government stated that employers must pay the amount of paid vacations, together with the payment of severance pay. [Extension - April 2021] Relaunched through Provisional Measure 1046 for 120 days. [Extension - June 2021] Through the Act of the President of the Board of National Congress No. 42 of 2021, it was extended for 60 days. [March 2020] Through the Provisional Measure No. 927, 2020, the government allowed employers to grant, at its discretion, collective vacations and must notify the group of employees affected at least forty-eight hours in advance, the maximum annual period limit and the minimum number of calendar days provided for in the Consolidation of Labor Laws, approved by Decree-Law No. 5,452, of 1943. [Extension - April 2021] Relaunched through Provisional Measure 1046 for 120 days. [Extension - June 2021] Through the Act of the President of the Board of National Congress No 42. of 2021, it was extended for 60 days. [March 2020] Through the Provisional Measure No. 927, 2020, the government suspended: - the administrative requirement of medical examinations connected to employment, except for dismissal examinations. - periodic and occasional training of employees, to allow for safety and health at the workplace. - the maintenance of the internal accident prevention commissions, although electoral processes in progress were suspended. [Extension - April 2021] Relaunched through Provisional Measure 1046 for 120 days. [Extension - June 2021] Through the Act of the President of the Board of National Congress No. 42 of 2021, it was extended for 60 days. [March 2020] Through the Provisional Measure No. 927, 2020, the government allowed the suspension of employment contracts for a period of up to four months, including the possibility of employers granting monthly compensatory aid to employees, without a salary nature. The amount of this would be defined in agreement between employees and employers, through individual negotiation. [Extension - April 2021] Relaunched through Provisional Measure 1046 for 120 days. [Extension - June 2021] Through the Act of the President of the Board of National Congress No. 42 of 2021, it was extended for 60 days. Through the Constitutional Amendment No. 106, the government simplified the personnel hiring processes, on a temporary and emergency basis. Through the SEPRT/MS Joint Ordinance No. 20, the government introduced measures aiming at the prevention, control and mitigation of transmission risks of COVID-19 in work environments (general guidelines). Through the Uncomplicated Labor Program the government guaranteed more safety and health for workers, enabling an effective reduction in the number of occupational accidents with more risk management in a customized way and less plastering and bureaucracy. Specific guidelines were developed for the areas of civil construction; pharmacies and drugstores; meat-packing companies; gas stations; rural sector; health services; supermarkets; teleservices; domestic work and use of PFF1 masks. The government launched a free labor self-diagnostic tool service for employers who want to check if they comply with labor legislation. It has been developed, especially for small entrepreneurs. It is a self-assessment carried out by the user that enables the creation of an improvement plan for the company. The government launched the “Programa Descomplica Trabalhista” (Labor Decomplications Program) to eliminate bureaucracies and provide a more favorable business environment to create jobs and opportunities. 48 obsolete acts of the Ministry of Economy were revoked, a modernized agribusiness labor standard was signed and a simplified eSocial module shared. Overall, two thousand documents from the former Ministry of Labor were reviewed and consolidated in less than ten documents. The “Programa Descomplica Trabalhista”also included the introduction of a Simplified Digital Bookkeeping System for Social Security, Labor and Tax Liabilities - Simplified eSocial is a major advance in the productive sector. Changes to the layout simplify filling and eliminate fields that used to take unnecessary time to fill. The lighter form meets the demands of the country's productive sector, without prejudice to the maintenance of important information for the continuity of public labor and social security policies. The CPF will become the employee's only identification number, dispensing with reference to other registration numbers, such as, for example, PIS and Pasep. Requests for information already included in government bases, such as the RG number and CNH, were also excluded. Through the EPRT/MS Joint Ordinance No. 19, the government established measures aimed at the prevention, control and mitigation of the transmission risks of COVID-19 in the activities developed in the slaughter and processing industry of meat and meat products intended for human consumption and dairy products. [March 2020] The government, through Banco de Horas, allowed the interruption of working hours and compensate at a later stage by working up to 45 hours per week (work outs could be compensated 18 months after the COVID-19 pandemic). [Extension - April 2021] Relaunched through Provisional Measure 1046 for 120 days. [Extension - June 2021] Through the Act of the President of the Board of National Congress No. 42 of 2021, it was extended for 60 days. Reduced work time [March 2020] Through the Provisional Measure No. 927, 2020, the government allowed employers to change the face-to-face work regime for teleworking, remote work or other type of distance work and determine the return to the face-to-face work regime, regardless of the existence of individual or collective agreements, waived prior registration of the change in the individual employment contract. [Extension - April 2021] Relaunched through Provisional Measure 1046 for 120 days. [Extension - June 2021] Through the Act of the President of the Board of National Congress No. 42 of 2021, it was extended for 60 days. [August 2020] Entities qualified in methodical technical-professional training together with establishments complying with the apprenticeship quota must ensure that apprentices have access to the necessary and adequate technological equipment and infrastructure for the execution of theoretical and practical activities of the apprenticeship programs in the distance mode. Wage subsidies (back to the top) British Virgin Islands (UK) Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) Social pensions In-kind transfers Assistance with food supplies delivered to over 800 families’ homes during the 24h curfew period, Social jointly organized by the Social Development Department, BVI Red Cross and the Family Support Assistance Network. It prioritized the needs of the most vulnerable, including the elderly, people with chronic Food, vouchers, others illnesses and with children first, then the unemployed or those with reduced incomes. Items included in each package were basic and essential products, such as flour, rice, beans, water and fruits and vegetables. School feeding Public works (March 2020) Water and Sewerage customers across the territory have been given a month’s Utility waivers suspension in payment of their water charges. Paid sick leave Health insurance Pensions [June 2020] As part of the government's $62.9 million stimulus package, $10 million were allocated to the Covid-19 Unemployment Relief Fund, which supported residents affected by the pandemic Social for a period of up to three months. Compensation was on a case-by-case basis, and individuals had Insurance to provide the relevant information on how they were affected by the pandemic. The SSB Unemployment benefits administered and monitored the initiative. Those who applied must have paid at least 13 out of 20 weeks of SSB contributions before March 30th, 2020; be financially impacted by Covid-19; and be actively seeking employment. The benefit was calculated at a rate of 50 percent of insurable earnings up to a maximum of $1,000 and a minimum of $500 a month. Social security contributions Labor Activation measures Markets Labor market regulations Reduced work time Wage subsidies (back to the top) Brunei Darussalam Cash-based transfers On 13 April 2020, Brunei Darussalam announced a monthly special allowance of B$400 (Four Hundred Dollars), specifically for doctors, nurses, paramedics, ambulance drivers, volunteers, Cash transfers hospital cleaners, security guards and all staff under the Ministry of Health, especially those working (conditional and unconditional) at the Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Saleha Hospital, National Isolation Centre in Tutong and quarantine centers. This monthly allowance started in March 2020 and will be extended until the eradication of COVID-19 in Brunei Darussalam. Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others Social School feeding Assistance Public works On April 1, 2020, Brunei Darussalam government announced provision of deferment of the principal amount or financing for real estate, restructuring the outstanding credit card balance to loans for a period of not more than three years for individuals affected in the private sector only including the self-employed. Individuals may apply for Suspension and Restructuring at their banks or financial institutions between April 1 and December 30, 2020. Utility waivers On April 1, 2020, Brunei Darussalam government announced restructuring and deferring principal amounts on personal loans and hire purchase facilities such as car loans or financing for not more than 10 years. Individuals may apply for Suspension and Restructuring at their banks or financial institutions between April 1 and December 30, 2020. Paid sick leave Health insurance To avoid crowds, delivery of the Service Pension and the Descendant’s Pension were made using Social drive through. Insurance Pensions The Old Age Pension could also be delivered via bank transfer in addition to the previous method via Penghulu and Village Heads. Unemployment benefits [April 2020] The government introduced fiscal measures, which included the deferment of payments on Employees Trust Fund (TAP) and Supplementary Contributory Pension (SCP) contributions for Social security contributions local employees earning less than $1,500 per month working in Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) with less than 100 employees. [March 2020] Companies were encouraged to support the upskilling and reskilling of their staff with the help of the trainings provided by the Manpower Planning and Employment Council (MPEC). Activation measures [March 2020] The government announced the revamping of the Job Centre Brunei (JCB) website and planned to include job matching, real-time notifications for job matches, and talent profiles for Labor companies. Markets Labor market regulations Reduced work time [April 2020] The government introduced a wage subsidy of 25 percent for Bruneian employees Wage subsidies working in MSMEs with less than 100 employees. (back to the top) Bulgaria Cash-based transfers The Ministry of Labor and Social Policy is introducing a one-off cash transfer of BGN 375 (EUR 192) to parents of children under 12 who are on unpaid leave for at least 20 days due to inability to work from home during the state of emergency. The government decided to expand the coverage to parents of children up to 14 years as well as families in which one or both parents have lost their jobs but were not entitled to unemployment benefits. It was also granted to foster families and families of relatives, in which the child is placed under the Child Protection Act. The Government introduced a targeted monthly allowance of BGN 610 for families with children under 14 who study online from home and if the income per family member is equal to or less than 150 per cent of the minimum wage. 35,700 families with children under 14-years have received targeted cash assistance until end January 2021 for a total amount of BGN 30 million. The average assistance per family was BGN 900. The allocation of BGN 73 million is provided for targeted assistance to families with children in 2021. Social Support of personnel on the frontline of the fight with COVID-19, involving a total budget of BGN Cash transfers 192 million Assistance (conditional and unconditional) Parental support package of BGN (180 mn) The disability certificates that are due for renewal will be renewed automatically during the period of emergency and 2 months after that, thereby allowing access to the disability pension. Freelance artists will be entitled to one minimum wage, together with social security contributions, for the period of emergency plus one month thereafter - that is, for 3 months. The money will be donated through the Culture Fund and will be applied for online and by mail. Acceptance of applications and then disbursements should start by April 15th, 2020. Artists who had monthly incomes of less than BGN 1,000 (€500) last year could benefit from the support. The measure will cost BGN 2,7 million (€1,35 million) to the budget of the Ministry of Culture. Agricultural producers were provided support, involving an initial total budget of BGN 85 million. Starting in May 2021, COVID-related aid for agriculture was offered for the second consecutive year, approving up to 7000 euros (about $8500) for each applicant. The support hinged on specific conditions set by the Ministry of Agriculture, including a condition that applicants must have applied for subsidies in 2019 and 2020, unless they're beekeepers or beneficiaries of a valid contract under the Rural Development 2014-2020. Expenditures for household support including bonuses to pensions and minimum pension increase (BGN 1322 mn) Social pensions The disability certificates that are due for renewal will be renewed automatically during the period of emergency and 2 months after that, thereby allowing access to the disability pension. In-kind transfers More than 30,000 hygiene kits containing personal protective equipment, as well as 2,500 activity kits for socially disadvantaged children, have been provided as part of the “Do it for the ones you love” COVID-prevention campaign as of January 6th, 2021. The coverage and scope of in-kind support for the elderly, people with disabilities, and people living under the poverty line was expanded. This included the provision of individual food packages by the Bulgarian Red Cross to an additional 41,000 beneficiaries. The coverage and scope of in-kind support for the elderly, people with disabilities, and people living under the poverty line was expanded. This included the provision of hot meals through municipalities to 50,000 additional recipients. Expanding the coverage and scope of in-kind support for the elderly, people with disabilities, and Food, vouchers, others people living under the poverty line. This included: - provision of individual food packages by the Bulgarian Red Cross to an additional 41,000 beneficiaries - provision of hot meals through municipalities to 50,000 additional recipients. The Ministry of Labor and Social Policy reallocated BGN 45 million (US$ 24.8 million) under Operational Program Human Resources Development for expanding the coverage and scope of the home visiting services provided to elderly people and other vulnerable groups (people with disabilities), including the delivery of food and medicines. The services are provided by the municipalities. The Bulgarian Red Cross continued its other work supporting some of the most vulnerable groups in society at the beginning of 2021. Among the projects undertaken is the Hot Meal Program, through which 1,473 children from socially disadvantaged families received free meals in the winter months and the distribution of food packages to 470,000 socially disadvantaged citizens under the Operational Program for Food and/or Basic Material Assistance. The European Commission announced on May 12th, 2021 that it has approved the modification of operational program under the REACT-EU funding initiative to provide additional funding to Bulgaria to help tackle the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Bulgarian program for the Fund for European Aid to the Most Deprived (FEAD) will receive an extra 19.9 million euro in 2021 to provide daily warm meals to 50,000 people from vulnerable groups living in poverty. This is the first amendment of a FEAD operational program under REACT-EU, the Commission said in a statement. Over 420,000 children and students from more than 3,200 schools received their products under the food schemes "School fruit" and "School milk" in their homes. Fruit and dairy products were School feeding delivered to schools and after that were distributed to families through the home visiting services of the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy. The measure was valid for the entire period of the emergency situation and deliveries were made on a weekly basis Over 169,000 citizens will receive better services and nearly 2,000 employees will receive better working conditions by improving the public environment and social infrastructure of 53 buildings approved for funding in 2021 under the Beautiful Bulgaria public works project of the Ministry of Public works Labor and Social Policy. The total value of the approved projects is BGN 11.9 million. The funds will be used to renovate and repair buildings in the field of education, administrative services, culture, healthcare, social services and sports activities. More than 625 people will be employed during this implementation, of which at least 235 will be registered as unemployed at the labor offices. The Bulgarian Development Bank (BDB) provided guarantee to commercial banks for the loans granted by them to individuals and legal entities. Individuals were granted Interest-free bank loans up to BGN 1,500 per month for a period of three months. On July 20th, 2021, the BDB said it would extend the application deadlines under its interest-free loan guarantee programme for individuals temporarily unemployed due to the pandemic. Individuals will be able to apply for interest-free loans until August 31st, 2021 or until the guarantee limits for financing by partner commercial banks are exhausted. Utility waivers The Ministry of Energy introduced a deferral for the payment of utility bills for electricity for up to 30 days. At the same time the possibility for each client to negotiate and reschedule the amounts due for electricity is preserved. The key fiscal policy responses cumulative for 2020 and planned for 2021 include: (i) tax relief for households with children with disabilities (BGN 143 mn) (ii) reduced VAT rate of 9 percent for restaurant services, books, baby food, wine, beer, tour operators and tourist trips, gyms and sports facilities and food delivery until end-2021 (BGN 343 mn) and (iii) additional financing of medical activities (BGN 748 mn) The government will allocate BGN 200 million (USD 110 million) to the Bulgarian Development Bank (BDB) for guaranteeing non-interest consumer loans up to BGN 1500 (USD 829) for all workers who are on unpaid leave due to the state of emergency. On 10 April 2020 the Bulgarian National Bank announced the long-awaited rules for deferral and settlement of credit obligations of individuals and legal entities towards banks and their subsidiaries in relation to the state of emergency declared on 13 March 2020 in Bulgaria. Deferral of payments under bank loans for a period of up to six months, but no later than 31 December 2020. Subject to deferring may be all amounts due, or the principal only. The scope of the Moratoria covers the widest possible range of borrowers, both individuals and legal entities. A discount of 5% was granted to persons who have paid the real estate tax or the vehicle tax for the whole 2020 up to 30 June 2020. The Act did not contain specific provisions regarding the payment of the garbage collection fees for 2020. The government will provide for an increase in tax incentives for families with children in 2021. The following amounts are increased for 2021 as follows: BGN 4,500 in case of one child (i.e. BGN 450 tax savings per year), BGN 9,000 in case of two children (i.e. BGN 900 tax savings per year), and BGN 13,500 in case of three and more children (i.e. BGN 1,350 tax savings per year). "Access to paid leave During the state of emergency: The employer is obliged to allow the use of paid annual leave or unpaid leave at the request of: An employee who is under 18 years of age; An employee with a permanent disability of 50 and more than 50 percent; An employee with the right to protection upon dismissal (employed or suffering from tuberculosis, Social diabetes, ischemic disease, cancer, mental and occupational disease). Paid sick leave Insurance • The employer has the right to grant paid annual leave to the worker and the employee without his or her consent when the work of the enterprise, part of it, or of individual workers or employees is suspended. The employer may, at its sole discretion, provide to workers or employees half of the annual paid leave, if there is no suspension of the work of the enterprise." "Access to paid leave During the state of emergency: The employer is obliged to allow the use of paid annual leave or unpaid leave at the request of: A pregnant employee, as well as an employee in an advanced stage of in vitro treatment. Mother or adoptive mother of a child under the age of 12 or a disabled child, regardless of its age; An employee who is a single father or adoptive father of a child under the age of 12 or a disabled child, regardless of its age; " Health insurance All medical certificates determining the degree of lost working capacity (the validity of these documents for people below standard retirement age is between 1 and 3 years; working capacity of people above standard retirement age doesn’t need to be reassessed) which expire during the period of the state of emergency and have to be renewed, were automatically renewed for the whole period of the state of emergency + 2 months after that. Approximately 75,000 disability pensioners benefited from that measure Pensions All pensions of working pensioners will be recalculated officially as of April 1st 2020 on the basis of the data in the administrative registers. Pensioners are not required to submit any documents and to contact the NSSI’s staff, in order to limit the number of visitors of the NSSI’s. Approximately 258,000 pensioners will benefit from that measure Increase in pensions with 50 leva a month for a period of three consecutive months. (318 million leva) Unemployment benefit claims shall be submitted by the claimants through the local employment offices at the same time when they get registered as jobseekers. National Employment Agency (a structure to the Minister of Labour and Social Policy) will inform NSSI through the means of electronic data exchange about the submitted claims. The government increased unemployment benefits and other social support, involving a total budget of BGN 297 million. Unemployment benefits [June 2020] 'Employment for you': subsidised employment for hiring unemployed. Unemployed persons can be employed on a full-time or part-time contract for a period of up to three months, during which they will receive funds in the amount of the minimum wage and social security contributions at the expense of the employer. [Extension - October 2021] The Employment Agency has upgraded its webpage information concerning the measure. Currently the total budget allocated to the measure is BGN 210 million (€107 million). At least 45,000 unemployed are expected to be supported through the measure. The duration of the measure has also been extended until 31 Dec 2022. Furthermore the contract period is prolonged to up to 6 months with the obligation for employers to keep 75% of the employed workers for a further period equivalent to half of the period of subsidized employment. [April 2020] A new opportunity for registered unemployed individuals to sign temporary labour contracts with agriculture producers without losing their unemployment benefits has been approved by the Bulgarian government. The new amendment gives a legal right to an unemployed person to receive unemployment benefits from the state and at the same time work at a rural stop and take a salary from there. [October 2020] The minimum unemployment benefit will increase from BGN 9 to BGN 12 from October 1 for a period of 4 months. The measure is expected to affect between 30,000 and 33,000 people. The necessary funds are BGN 12 million for this measure. Coverage of 60% of the social security income for January 2020 and of social contributions payable by the employers for workers and employees in affected sectors that would have been otherwise laid off; Social security contributions Enforcement proceedings under the Tax and Social Security Procedures Code will not be initiated except in special cases to which this prohibition does not apply (no prohibition is provided for the imposition of preliminary security measures in the course of tax control proceedings and for securing evidence in fiscal control). Activation measures Provisions allowing employers to hire workers who are on unpaid leave from other companies without the authorization of the first employer unless there is an explicit prohibition in the main labor contract of the worker. There are no restrictions on the time that employees can work under the second employment contract while on unpaid leave. The only requirement is for the second employer to ensure observance of daily and weekly rest periods Labor Labor market regulations Additional remunerations in the ministries of health, interior, and defense, the Social Assistance Markets Agency, the Employment Agency and the General Labour Inspectorate, involving a total budget of BGN 237 million Doctors and nurses working in the frontline received an additional payment of BGN 1000 a month (USD 566). All employers are obligated to introduce remote work. Where it is not possible due to the nature and Reduced work time specifics of the work performed, employers are obliged to implement all anti-epidemic measures. [March 2020] On March 23rd 2020, the National Assembly adopted an Emergency Measures and Actions Act. Unemployment Fund paid 60% of the income of the employees from sectors most heavily influenced by the COVID-19 crisis for up to three months. The Council of Ministers have adopted the criteria and procedures according to which employers were able to receive support. This measure involved a total budget of BGN 1,019 million. [Extension - July 2020] The 60/40 wage subsidy program allows Bulgarian authorities to finance 60% of the wage costs (including the employers' social security contributions) of businesses that, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, would otherwise lay off workers. The relief generally is available for businesses in sectors that have been most affected by the health crisis including retail, tourism, passenger transport, culture, sports activities, amusement and recreation activities, and others. The 60/40 wage subsidy was scheduled to expire 1 July 2020, but has been extended by a Council of Ministers’ Decree No. 151 (3 July 2020). The payment of funds under the new decree will commence once the European Commission issues a resolution stating that the extension is compatible with EU Wage subsidies rules. [Extension -October 2020] Bulgaria has extended the 60/40 wage subsidy—a response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic—through 31 December 2020. [Extension- January 2021] The Council of Ministers adopted amendments to the “60/40 wage subsidy”—a response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic—concerning the conditions and procedures for paying funds to employers for the purpose of maintaining employment. [Extension- October 2021] The amendments were published in the official gazette (No. 85 dated 12 October 2021) and are effective retroactively as of 1 August 2021. The funding of employers under the 60/40 mechanism will continue for the period from 1 August through 31 December 2021 (provided that the European Commission resolves to extend the term of the temporary framework for state aid measures to support the economy in the current COVID-19 pandemic for the period following 31 December 2021). (back to the top) Burkina Faso Cash-based transfers Cash transfers to informal sector workers (fruits and vegetable sellers). Total cost of US$10 million (5 billion CFA) to help the fruits and vegetable informal retailers affected by the situation, particularly women. Around 2.85 billion CFA francs will be paid to 43,000 direct beneficiaries, or 301,000 indirect beneficiaries in the cities of Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso (on average 7 people per household). This comes as part of the emergency cash transfer operation for the benefit of poor and vulnerable people affected by COVID-19. This initiative, which is part of Component 5 “Intervention and possible emergency component” of the World Bank-funded “Burkin naong saya” Social Safety Net Project, was officially launched on Tuesday, May 26th, 2020, in Ouagadougou. Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) This project applies a rigorous and fair method to identify the poorest, pays them regular cash transfers during three years and accompanies them through social work to improve their access to health, good nutrition and education. The project has recently included enhancements to reach the refugees and host population of the Sahel, through public works, intensified accompanying measures Social to prevent GBV, child marriage and forced labor and radio based primary schooling in areas where Assistance schools had to close under terrorist threats. For 3 years as of August 2021, the ministry in charge of women, in its policy of removing women carrying children from the streets, has been providing support to those who have joined the program. This support consists of food products and development funds that will allow these women to engage in entrepreneurship in Burkina Faso. Social pensions In-kind transfers In-kind transfers to market vendors. This aimed at the most vulnerable people of the markets that have been closed due to the outbreak. Food, vouchers, others 2 million people will benefit from government support to deal with the coronavirus pandemic. This support will be through a distribution of food and a financial contribution called cash transfer. School feeding Public works Price controls for staple foods. Type of food included in this measure are cereals ( rice, millets, sorghum, maize, beans) and others food items (sugar, oil) but also gasoline and cooking gas To promote the use of electronic payment tools the Western Africa Central Bank (BCEAO) is providing more flexible measures to open a mobile money and making transfers between people backed by the electronic money free Utility waivers Postponement of the vehicle tax payment deadline to the end of June 2020 Several utilities support including: subsidies for water bills and water points, subsidies for electricity bills (100% for certain types of connections, 50% for others), removal of penalties on water and electricity bills, reduction of costs of solar panel kits by 50% for poor households, and finally, subsidies on water and electricity costs for market vendors. Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits From April to June 2020, the exemption from the contribution of micro-enterprises in the informal Social security contributions sector; Activation measures From April to June 2020, the suspension of on-site control operations except for proven cases of Labor market regulations Labor fraud. Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies (back to the top) Burundi Cash-based transfers A horizontal extension had been planned to target 80,000 more households. The potential beneficiaries had been registered, but the funds was not available and the extension has been cancelled. Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) The beneficiaries of the national safety net project received 2 Tribert earlier than scheduled in 2020 to respect restrictions measures and social distance and to help them face with some probable shortages. Social Assistance Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding has been suspended for a short period, and no alternative measures have been set School feeding up. Public works The government reduced the price at public water fountains in all of Burundi (rural and urban) by Utility waivers 50%. Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor market regulations Labor Reduced work time Markets Subsidies were planned to help pay salaries in some sectors and avoid massive layoffs. Salaries for Wage subsidies suspended services, such as those provided at the Melchior Ndadaye International Airport, were subsidized with government support. (back to the top) Cabo Verde Cash-based transfers (December 2020) In response to COVID, the GoC announced extra support to the Social Income for Inclusion Program (RSI) by increasing coverage of the ERSI in response to COVID-19, supporting an approximate additional (new) 20,000 households for a period of six months. As of October 2021, a total of 21,048 emergency cash transfer beneficiary households received cash transfers (April 2020) Support for workers in micro and small enterprises and self-employed in the informal sector, including sellers of informal commerce and municipal markets. These workers were Cash transfers guaranteed a value of 10,000 escudos (US$100) for one month. The government expected to reach (conditional and unconditional) 30,000 workers. Benefit was deposited through bank transfers by INPS for REMPE workers. The Ministry of Family and Social Inclusion / Treasury deposited the transfers for non-REMPE workers, to whom vulnerability prioritization criteria applied. Enrollment in the Single Social Register was considered as a first and mandatory condition for obtaining these benefits. (May 2020) UNICEF supported 1,000 families in vulnerable situations with the Emerging Inclusion Income (Cash transfer). Social The Government of Cape Verde is going to extend the Social Pension to all elderly people in a Social pensions Assistance vulnerable situation and who do not have access to the Contributory Social Security scheme. In-kind transfers (March 2020) Immediate Food Assistance to 22,500 families, totaling around 90,000 people, whose income is below the minimum wage or without any source of income. It represents an investment of Food, vouchers, others 21 thousand Contos. This assistance covered around 30,000 vulnerable children. School feeding Public works (March 2020) Individuals and entrepreneurs whose incomes had been negatively affected by the pandemic and who had active loans with commercial banks could apply for a moratorium on their monthly payments for a period of up to 3 months. The application and administration process were handled by individual banks. Utility waivers (April 2020) Home care service to be provided for the elderly and the dependent who live in isolation; for this purpose, social workers, caregivers and volunteers should be recruited; the program aims to guarantee social protection for the elderly, the recruited caregivers should assist the elderly in carrying out their daily tasks (specifically for individuals without family network, with low income and in a situation of light and moderate dependence) Extraordinary subsidy to prophylactic isolation of 14 days, paid at 70% of the reference Paid sick leave remuneration/salary (warranty period of 60 days) Health insurance Pensions Unemployment conditions to have access to the benefit were simplified to facilitate access: Exceptional measures for unemployment subsidy - reduction of the warranty period; formalities of Social an inscription in the CEFP removed; and application of age constraints removed. Insurance Unemployment benefits Reduction of the guarantee period in the period considered for the purpose of awarding unemployment benefit from 180 to 60 days in the period from 1 April to 30 June, at the date of filing the application. In the above period, the age of the insured is not taken into account for the purpose of awarding unemployment benefit. [April 2020] The government decided to exempt companies from paying contributions to Pension Social security contributions Fund for the three months of April, May, and June 2020. Activation measures Labor market regulations Reduced work time Labor [March 2020] The Prime Minister announced that workers whose contracts are suspended due to Markets COVID-19 will be entitled to a subsidy of 70% of the gross salary (35% paid by the National Institute of Social Security (INPS), and 35% by the employer). This policy was in effect until December 31, Wage subsidies 2020. It was later re-introduced in January 2021, with the adjustment of lowering employers' contribution from 35% to 25%. This policy was later extended 5 times, and should end in December 31, 2021. (back to the top) Cambodia Cash-based transfers On 29 June 2021, the government of Cambodia announced to continue to provide cash assistance to nearly 700,000 poor and vulnerable households from July to September 2021. Since June 2020, the program was extended 5 times and the government has disbursed over US$320 million in financial aid, benefiting 2.7 million people. The cash transfers is targeted at households identified using the IDPoor database. According to the program documents, rural IDPoor households will get 80,000 riels (i.e., around $20) for each family, with each family member of “very poor” families getting $6, who are classified IDPoor1. For IDPoor households on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, a family will get around $30, with each family member of IDPoor1 families given an additional $10. In Phnom Penh, families will receive $30, with IDPoor1 family members getting an additional $13 each. Similarly, children under 5, disabled people, citizens with HIV or citizens 60-years-of-age or older will receive between US$4 and US$10, also depending on the areas in which they reside. Cash transfers On 29 June 2021, the Government of Cambodia announced that the workers in the Garment, Textile (conditional and unconditional) and Footwear (GTF) industries that have been suspended from their employment will continue to Social receive financial aid of up to US$40 until the end of September 2021. This financial aid for Assistance suspended workers has been extended 5 times already since its first extension announced as part of the 4th stimulus package on July 31, 2020. The available financial aid is distributed as follows: US$15 for 7-10 days of employment suspension. US$30 for 11-20 days of employment suspension; and US$40 for 21 days to one month of employment suspension. Workers in the GTF industries will receive an additional US$30 per month contributed by their employers besides the aforementioned financial aid. Thus, workers in the GTF industries can receive up to US$70 per month. Social pensions On 1 July 2020, it was reported that the World Food Program (WFP), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MoEYS), has been distributing food to poor households in In-kind transfers Cambodia who have been acutely impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. Some 92,787 children and 2,109 cooks from 1,113 primary schools in 10 provinces participating in the school meals program will receive 15 kg of rice each from June 29 to July 10, along with one liter of vegetable oil. The school feeding transfer is for eligible students from poor families holding IDPoor 1, IDPoor 2 or other equity cards. Food, vouchers, others School feeding On 26 May 2020, The Government of Cambodia announced to implement cash-for-work program to provide short-term employment opportunities with income to meet the daily needs of nearly 1 million people who have lost their jobs and returned to their homeland (both inside and outside the country) as well as people living in the communities. The scheme will also improve community infrastructure: supporting the development and increased productivity for the agricultural and rural economy. It has been expanded to 18 targeted provinces and will operate until 2022. For 2020, the government has decided to increase the budget for the project from nearly USD 38 million to approximately USD 100 million. Public works On 20 October 2020, the Embassy of Sweden announced a COVID-19 response package of SEK 4,300,000 (or 500,000 USD) to financially support rural communities through tree planting activities. The initiative aims to engage over 1,600 rural households in Pursat and Siem Reap provinces to plant local trees, establish nurseries, and participate in other conservation activities across the country and this project is expected to run until June 2021. Across Cambodia, tens of thousands of people have lost their jobs and over 100,000 migrant Cambodians have returned from neighboring countries to their hometowns in rural areas. For some, the search for money and food is becoming desperate. As a coping livelihood strategy during the crisis, an increasing number of people enter the forests to cut trees, hunt animals, and fish, causing additional pressure on already fragile ecosystems Utility waivers Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits (April 2020) Suspension of monthly contributions to National Social Security Fund for enterprises in Social security contributions the garment and tourism sectors. [April 2020] On April 2, the Government announced the allocation of USD 64 million for wage Labor subsidies and skill training program for suspended workers/employees in the garments and tourism Activation measures Markets industries. The Minister of Labor and Vocational Training Ith Sam Heng said more than 6, 000 workers who were suspended or lost their jobs due to the Covid-19 pandemic had now attended a four-month special training course. Labor market regulations Reduced work time [April 2020] On April 2, the Government announced the allocation of USD 64 million for wage subsidies and skill training program for suspended workers/employees in the garments and tourism industries. The government announced a measure to assist minimum wage workers employed in the tourism sector amid COVID-19 fears. This involved paying 20 percent of the workers’ minimum wages of those suspended from their jobs at hotels, guesthouses, restaurants and travel agencies. Wage subsidies [Extended - October 2020] On October 28, the Government announced the extension of the wage subsidy program until the end of December 2020. Garment workers will receive USD 70 per month with the Government paying USD 40 and employers paying USD 30. Tourism workers will also receive USD 40; however, the employer's contribution is voluntary. [Extended - December 2020] On December 24, the Government announced the extension of the wage subsidy program until the end of March 2021, with the same benefits. (back to the top) Cameroon Cash-based transfers The government implemented an increase in family allowance from CFAF 2,800 to CFAF 4,500. (May 2020) The Government of Cameroon announced that it will continue to support the Allocations Familiales (AF) program from May to July 2020 for the staff of companies who cannot pay social contributions or who were put on technical leave due to the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, this administrative change will impact those working in the catering, hotel, transport industries. The GoC also announced and implemented an increase in the Cash transfers Family Allowance (AF) transfer amount from CFAF 2,800 to CFAF 4,500. (conditional and unconditional) The government designed and planned for the provision of a 3-month period cash transfer (Transfer Monetaires Urgence-Covid 19), targeted to the most vulnerable population living in poverty. (July 2020) Under its socio-economic response plan to mitigate the impact of the COVID-19, the GoC will increase spending on its social safety nets program "Filets Sociaux". An additional financing for the project provided by the World Bank, GoC, and AFD aims to increase the program coverage by Social 60,500 households. Many of these families were impacted by the COVID-19 economic crisis. Assistance Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School teachers are working with the WFP to provide vulnerable children with critical dry ration such as rice, pulses, salt and vegetable oil under its school feeding program. Teachers ensure that School feeding everyone washes their hands at the entry point at the dry ration distribution point. This is the first time schools are providing dry ration. Usually during the pre-covid-19 days, schools provided cooked meals to students. In Cameroon, WFP is supporting over 52,300 primary school children through its school feeding program. Public works On March 20th, 2020, MTN Cameroon announced the payment suspension of fees on money transfers between MTN Mobile Money accounts. This measure, which concerned money transfers of Utility waivers up to 20,000 FCFA, was limited to 3 transactions per day, per account, and was valid for a period of 30 days. The aim of this policy was to reduce the use of cash as much as possible, favoring distance payments. Paid sick leave Health insurance The government introduced a 20% increase in pensions for those that did not benefit from the Pensions revaluation following the 2016 reform. The first payment began by the end of May 2020. Unemployment benefits Social Rearranging the payment of the social security contributions for the second quarter over three Insurance instalments and cancellation of late fees. [April 2020] Rearranging the payment of the debt of social security contributions over April, May Social security contributions and June 2020, on justified request. [April 2020] Cancellation of penalties for late payment of social contributions due to the CNPS, on justified request Activation measures Labor market regulations Labor Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies (back to the top) Canada Cash-based transfers Launched on Monday April 6, 2020, the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) provides $2,000 every four weeks to Canadians who’ve lost their income because of the economic repercussions of the pandemic or because they are sick with COVID-19, quarantined, looking after someone who is sick or caring for their children who are home from school. CERB gives financial support to employed and self-employed Canadians who are directly affected by COVID-19. Beneficiaries receive $2,000 for a 4-week period (the same as $500 a week). The Benefit is available to workers: Residing in Canada, who are at least 15 years old; Who have stopped working because of reasons related to COVID-19 or are eligible for Employment Insurance regular or sickness benefits or have exhausted their Employment Insurance regular benefits or Employment Insurance fishing benefits between December 29, 2019 and October 3, 2020; Who had employment and/or self-employment income of at least $5,000 in 2019 or in the 12 months prior to the date of their application; and, Who have not quit their job voluntarily. Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB): The CRB provides $500 per week for up to 26 weeks, to workers Social who have stopped working or had their employment/self-employment income reduced by at least Cash transfers 50% due to COVID-19 and who are not eligible for EI. The application opened in October 2020. Each Assistance (conditional and unconditional) Canada Recovery Benefit (CRB) eligibility period is a specific 2-week period. When an individual applies, they will receive a $1,000 ($900 after taxes withheld) payment for the period that they applied for. The CRB does not renew automatically. An individual must apply for each period separately. One can apply for a maximum of 19 periods out of the total 26 periods available. The 19 periods do not have to be taken consecutively. The benefit ended on October 31st, 2021. The Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit provides $500 per week for up to two weeks, for workers who are sick or must self-isolate for reasons related to COVID-19 or have underlying conditions that would make them more susceptible to COVID-19 (application opens in October 2020). The Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit provides $500 per week for up to 26 weeks per household, for eligible people unable to work because they must care for a child under 12 years old or other family members requiring supervised care, who is unable to attend their school or regular care facility, due to COVID-19 (application opens in October 2020). Only one eligible individual in the same household (living as a family at the same address) can apply for the benefit per week. (July 2020) Seniors to receive up to $500 in a one-time payment to offset added costs due to COVID-19. The payment for seniors provides support through a one-time payment: $300 for seniors eligible for the Old Age Security pension, and an additional $200 for seniors eligible for the Guaranteed Income Supplement. This measure will give a total of $500 to seniors who receive both the Old Age Security pension and the Guaranteed Income Supplement and will help them cover increased costs caused by COVID-19. CESB provides emergency financial relief to students and recent graduates who are unable to work, or unable to find work, due to reasons related to COVID-19. It is also available for those who are working but not making more than $1,000 (before taxes) over the four-week period for which they are applying. Eligible students can receive $1,250 per month, plus an additional $750 per month if they have dependents or a disability for a maximum of $2,000 per month. Students are only eligible to receive one top-up of $750 per month. CESB is available for four months from May 2020 to August 2020, but students will be able to retroactively apply for this benefit until September 30, 2020. One-time increase to CCB payment in May 2020. Eligible individuals received up to $300 more per child with their CCB payment in May 2020. (March 2020) A distinctions-based Indigenous Community Support Fund (305 million CAD) was launched to address immediate needs in First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Nation communities. These funds could be used for measures including, but not limited to support for elders and vulnerable community members; measures to address food insecurity; educational and other support for children; mental health assistance and emergency response services; and preparedness measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Eligible wages period extension for the Wage Earner Protection Program (new as of September 11, 2020): In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the eligible wages period for the Wage Earner Protection Program (WEPP) was temporarily extended by up to 6 months. The WEPP is a Government of Canada’s program that provides financial support to workers who are owed eligible wages when their employer files for bankruptcy or becomes subject to receivership. Eligible wages include wages, vacation pay, disbursements, severance and termination. The Fish Harvester Benefit to provide income support to eligible self-employed fish harvesters and sharespersons crew who cannot access the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy. The Government of Canada is proposing to introduce legislation for the new Canada Worker Lockdown Benefit, which would provide income support to workers whose employment is interrupted by specific government-imposed public health lockdown scenarios and who are unable to work due to such restrictions. The new benefit would be: $300 a week, strictly available to workers whose work interruption is a direct result of a government-imposed public health lockdown, available until May 7, 2022, with retroactive application to October 24, 2021. Should the situation warrant it, it is accessible for the entire duration of a government-imposed public health lockdown (up until May 7, 2022), available to workers who are ineligible for Employment Insurance (EI) and those who are eligible for EI, as long as they are not paid benefits through EI for the same period. Individuals whose loss of income or employment is due to their refusal to adhere to a vaccine mandate would not be able to access the benefit. Extension of the Guaranteed Income Supplement and Allowance payments if seniors' 2019 income information had not been assessed. Social pensions A one-time, tax-free, non-reportable payment of up to $600 was provided to help Canadians with disabilities. In-kind transfers A distinctions-based Indigenous Community Support Fund (305 million CAD) was launched to address immediate needs in First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Nation communities. These funds could be used for measures including, but not limited to: support for elders and Food, vouchers, others vulnerable community members; measures to address food insecurity; educational and other support for children; mental health assistance and emergency response services; and preparedness measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. (2020) In Canada, the Breakfast Club of Canada created an emergency fund to support community organizations who are providing services and meals to children and families, applying processes and resources in accordance with best health practices and where it is most needed. School feeding Public works (March 2020) Introduction of a pause on the repayments of Canada Student Loans in the Canada Student Financial Assistance Act, the Canada Student Loans Act, and the Apprenticeship Loans Act in order to introduce a 6-month moratorium on the repayment of Canada Student Loans for all Utility waivers borrowers currently in repayment. The government also waived the interest for full-time and part- time students on the federal portion of Canada Student Loans and Canada Apprentice Loans until March 31, 2023. Funding to support a one-semester extension for students whose research scholarships or fellowships ended between March and August 2020 and who intend to continue their studies. One-time additional GST/HST credit payment in April 2020. Individuals who were entitled to the GST/HST credit for the period from July 2019 to June 2020 automatically received the one-time additional GST/HST credit payment in April 2020. This amount was calculated based on the information from 2018 tax return. In Canada rental housing falls under provincial jurisdiction. Many provinces have announced measures to suspend evictions in their respective regions. Homeowners facing financial stress may be eligible for a mortgage payment deferral up to 6 months to help ease the financial burden (includes insured mortgages). The deferral is an agreement between the individuals and the lender. The program was ongoing as of November 2021. Changes to Canada Student Grants and Loans have been introduced so students facing financial challenges from COVID-19 can access and afford post-secondary education. Pending government approvals, the new measures will come into effect on August 1, 2020 and will be available to students for 1 year. -Doubling of Canada Student Grant amounts: In response to increased need for the coming 2020 to 2021 school year, the maximum amount of Canada Student Grants will be doubled. The Canada Student Grant for full-time Students will increase up to a maximum of $6,000 and the grant for part-time studies to $3,600. The Canada Student Grants for Students with Permanent Disabilities and Students with Dependents will also be doubled. -Exemption from student and spousal contribution: For the 2020 to 2021 school year, students will not be required to make their fixed student contribution; no spousal contribution would be required either. This will ensure that more students with need can qualify for more financial support. -Increasing the cap on Canada Student Loans: For the 2020 to 2021 school year, the weekly maximum loan limit will increase from $210 to $350. The usual one-week waiting period will be waived for people who are in quarantine or have been directed to self-isolate and are claiming for Employment Insurance (EI) sickness benefits (estimated cost of $5M). Eligible workers with no or limited paid-leave benefits through their employers can apply for up to 15 Social Paid sick leave weeks of employment insurance if they cannot work for medical reasons such as cancer, a broken Insurance leg, or in this case, being quarantined in a public-health threat. The current EI payment is 55% of earnings up to a maximum of $573 a week. Self-employed have access to new temporary sickness benefit for sickness absence due to COVID- 19 or quarantine. Temporary removal of medical certificate requirements (effective October 14, 2020): in response to the COVID-19 emergency, as a temporary measure, employees are not required to provide a medical certificate to take medical leave. For the complete information, consult: Medical leave (unpaid). On September 25, 2021, medical certificate requirements will be reinstated. Health insurance OSFI freezes defined benefit transfers and annuity purchases, extends regulatory deadlines – The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI) has announced that it would implement certain regulatory adjustments in light of the extraordinary circumstances posed by the COVID-19 crisis. OSFI has announced a temporary freeze on portability transfers and annuity purchases relating to defined benefit provisions of pension plans. Additionally, the deadlines for certain actions and filing requirements under federal pension legislation have been extended. Pensions In their economic response plan, the Canadian Government reduced required minimum withdrawals from Registered Retirement Income Funds (RRIFs) by 25% for 2020, in recognition of volatile market conditions and their impact on many seniors’ retirement savings. This will provide flexibility to seniors that are concerned that they may be required to liquidate their RRIF assets to meet minimum withdrawal requirements. [September 2020] On August 20, 2020 the government announced that employment insurance will now be available to more workers in Canada, including those who would not have qualified for EI in Unemployment benefits the past. These changes to the employment insurance program will be in place for one year, starting on September 27, 2020. Social security contributions For the Canada Summer Jobs program in 2020, the Department introduced temporary flexibilities to respond to the needs of employers and youth in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic which will continue for 2021 in order to continue to support employers and youth. The following temporary flexibilities for CSJ 2021 include part-time employment. All funded employers may offer part-time placements (for example, fewer than 30 hours per week). In addition, all funded employers may offer Labor job placements between April 26, 2021 and February 26, 2022 and they may amend project and job Activation measures Markets activities if the proposed project is impacted by COVID-19 restrictions after an agreement is signed. In such cases, the employer should contact Service Canada to discuss potential amendments. All changes must be approved by Service Canada. [February 2021] This program ended on February 3rd, 2021. (April 2020] The government removed the restriction that allowed international students to work only a maximum of 20 hours per week. This applied to those working in an essential services, such as healthcare, critical infrastructure, or the supply of food or other critical goods. [March 2021] Employees working in a federally regulated workplace may be entitled to two types of unpaid leaves related to COVID-19: Leave related to COVID-19 for up to 4 weeks, and leave related Labor market regulations to COVID-19 for up to 38 weeks. The Code does not provide for paid leave related to COVID-19. However, while employees are on leave, they may have access to certain benefits such as the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit, and the Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit. [June 2021] On June 19, 2021, it was changed to: Leave related to COVID-19 for up to 4 weeks, and leave related to COVID-19 for up to 42 weeks. Reduced work time [April 2020] Eligible employers are granted 75% wage subsidy up to CAD 847 per week or CAD 58,700 per employee for up to 12 weeks, retroactive to 15 March to prevent job losses and allow for rehiring workers. The subsidy is available for a subset of employers, excluding public bodies, experiencing a drop of at least 15% of their revenues (for period 1), 30% of their revenues (periods 2- 4). CEWS is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) on a period-by-period basis, with each period spanning 4 weeks (with period 1 starting March 15, 2020). The wage subsidy program was put in place for an initial 12-week period from March 15 to June 6, 2020, providing a 75 per cent wage subsidy to eligible employers. [May 2020] On May 15, 2020, the government announced a 12-week extension, to August 29, 2020. [July 2020] On July 17, 2020, the government unveiled a redesign allowing more employers to access wage subsidy support while ensuring that support is better targeted to their needs, and proposed a Wage subsidies further extension to December 19, 2020. This redesign also stated that the subsidy rate would vary depending on the revenue loss. Another extension was announced until June 2021 and other enhancements were implemented to the program to better respond to the evolving economic and health situation. These proposed changes will make the program more flexible and more generous, and ensure that the program provides continued support to employers. As of October 21, 2021 the CEWS had helped 5.3 million Canadians with over $95 billion value of subsidies paid out. [March 2020] A wage subsidy was granted to increase liquidity for eligible businesses by reducing the amount of payroll deductions given to Revenue Canada. [March 2020] Work-Sharing (WS) is a program that helps employers and employees avoid layoffs when there is a temporary decrease in business activity beyond the control of the employer. The program provides Employment Insurance (EI) benefits to eligible employees who agree to reduce their normal working hours and share the available work while their employer recovers. Effective March 15, 2020 and extended to September 26, 2021, and not limited to one specific sector or industry, the government of Canada is introducing temporary special measures which extend the maximum possible duration of an agreement from 38 weeks to 76 weeks, waive the mandatory cooling off period for employers who have already used the Work-Sharing program, reduce the application requirements, expand eligibility to employers affected by accepting business who have been in business for only 1 year rather than 2, eliminate the burden of having to provide sales/production figures at the same time, and expand eligibility for staff who are essential to recovery, Government Business Enterprises (GBEs) and non-for-profit organization employers. The Government of Canada has extended these measures to September 24, 2022. For the Canada Summer Jobs program in 2020, the Department introduced temporary flexibilities to respond to the needs of employers and youth in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic which will continue for 2021 in order to continue to support employers and youth. The following temporary flexibilities for CSJ 2021 include wage subsidies. Funded public and private sector employers will be eligible to receive a wage subsidy reimbursement of up to 75% of the provincial or territorial minimum hourly wage. [February 2021] This program ended on February 3rd, 2021. [June 2021] The Canada Recovery Hiring Program (CRHP) was the second pandemic-related wage subsidy introduced. It is designed such that, as support from the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) program declines, eligible employers can benefit from the CRHP as they reopen. It started on June 6th, 2021 and was planned to run until November 20, 2021. Most types of employers who are eligible for the CEWS will also be eligible for the CRHP, however, for-profit corporations may only be eligible if they are Canadian-controlled private corporations or cooperative corporations that are eligible for the small business deduction. Partnerships may be eligible if at least half of the interest in the partnership is held by employers who are eligible for the CRHP. The CRHP uses the employer's revenue drop percentage to determine if they are eligible for the subsidy. [October 2021] On October 21st, 2021, the government proposed to extend the program until May 2022. (back to the top) Caribbean (Netherlands) Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) Social pensions In-kind transfers (April 2020) The government launched a Food Package Support for households who do not have enough money for food. Around 680 households suffering from food shortages as a result of poverty were supported in Bonaire. This concerned approximately 480 families with children and 200 households without children. The benefit included the following: (1) 400 hygiene packages with Food, vouchers, others information material for low-literate persons, (2) monthly food package for all households in need, with basic supplies such as rice, pasta, oil, canned vegetables and sometimes fresh vegetables, (3) weekly breakfast package for families with children, who previously received this through school, and (4) hot meals at least once a week for the most urgent households, provided through many private Social initiatives and actions by restaurants. Assistance (April 2020) The government launched a Food Package Support for households who do not have enough money for food. Around 680 households suffering from food shortages as a result of School feeding poverty were supported in Bonaire. This concerned approximately 480 families with children and 200 households without children. The benefit included the weekly breakfast package for families with children, who previously received this through school. Public works The government reduced the costs of electricity and water bills of households and companies by nearly USD 60.00 per month as of May 1st until the end of 2020. This measure involved a total budget of EUR$ 7.8 million, which were raised by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy (for electricity) and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management (for drinking water). The measure was implemented from May to December 2020. Utility waivers (April 2020) Households in need could qualify for support when paying fixed costs such as rent, WEB or internet bills. (March 2020) The Belastingdients / CN took measures to mitigate the consequences of the Corona virus for entrepreneurs and private individuals by applying a special deferral of tax payments, as well as giving special extensions for all assessment and tax returns for a period of three months. This included General Spending Tax (ABB), Wage Tax (LH), Income Tax (IB), Gaming Tax, Proceeds Tax and Property Tax. Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor market regulations Reduced work time March 2020] To prevent employers from having to dismiss employees, the government launched a temporary emergency regulation for employers and independent entrepreneurs faced with a loss of turnover (at least 20%) on Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius. Employers received a contribution towards labor costs, which also covered independent entrepreneurs or people who were employees, but no longer have an employer because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Initially, the arrangement was Labor put in place for a period of three months, until June 12th 2020. It was later extended until July 12th Markets 2021. To be eligible for the 80% compensation of daily wages, entrepreneurs must have faced a loss Wage subsidies of turnover of at least 20% and keep staff working. Employers making use of this emergency measure are obliged to keep their staff in service and to continue to pay them in full, for which they are therefore compensated to a considerable extent. [Extension-May 2021] The deadline for the measure was extended until October 2021 and for the fifth time, entrepreneurs in the Caribbean Netherlands can receive a fixed-cost compensation from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate (EZK). The amount of support can range from $500 to $400.000 and is calculated based on turnover figures. An application can be made starting on the 3rd of May 2021 (back to the top) Cayman Islands (UK) Cash-based transfers Seafarers, Veterans & persons on Permanent Financial Assistance were provided a one-time payment of KYD $425 on Friday, 27 March 2020 in recognition of the extra and anticipated expenses that are likely to be incurred by these individuals and their families in buying additional supplies due to the rapidly evolving COVID-19 situation. (June 2020) For Caymanian individuals impacted negatively by the tourism industry downturn, the government has provided cash transfers of $1,000 each for three months. (July 2020) The National Gallery, in partnership with the Ministry of Culture and the private sector, are offering one-time artist grants of $1,000 per artist. Initially, 20 grants were available on a first come, first served basis. To qualify, artists should be reliant on their artwork as their primary source of income and should be experiencing significant loss of income due to the pandemic. (June 2020) The government relaunched the Ready2work program due to the COVID 19 pandemic. Social The program was designed to provide industry-specific training and re-tooling of Caymanian Cash transfers workers to better prepare them for the workforce. This included: paid internships (by employer Assistance (conditional and unconditional) and/or by the government when required); support for childcare if applicable and counselling and coaching. Benefits include: 1) For the job seeker: - Stipend provided along with support services such as childcare, counselling and career coaching. - Experienced and knowledgeable facilitators to deliver an establish Employability 101 training program. - Provides a structured pathway to employment whilst addressing barriers to employment. - Opportunity for full-time employment that aligns with the needs of both participants. - Dedicated Officer and HR Support to ensure they are provided with the tools and support to ensure a successful connection with employment. 2) For the employer: - Subsidy offered for 6 months. - Potential candidates are provided with training and development of employability and soft skills to better prepare them for accessing employment. - Opportunity to fill job vacancies with Caymanians. - Make a contribution to the development of Caymanians ensuring a vibrant economy. - HR support and a dedicated officer to support with any performance issues or barriers to employment that would impact the ability to be successful. (June 2020) The government implemented a one-time honorarium payment of $1,000 for those public servants delivering essential services during the COVID-response. This stipend was paid by participating agencies and within the civil service. Social pensions In-kind transfers (March 2020) Work permit holders who urgently required food supplies and who had insufficient income or savings to sustain themselves were eligible for a KY$150 (US$180) food voucher from April 1st, 2020. The voucher provided support over a two-week period to those who qualified until the airport reopened or they could resume their jobs. Food, vouchers, others As of May 21st, 2020, nearly 24,000 reusable cloth masks had been distributed across the Cayman Islands by the Community Policing Branch of the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service. This included some 21,500 on Grand Cayman, 2,300 on Cayman Brac and 87 on Little Cayman. The Cayman Islands government will organize the voucher and daily lunch program with distribution through school cafeteria providers and NGO partners. The Department of Education has support from Kiwanis and Feed Our Future (FOF) to run the voucher and daily lunch program. At the Government Primary school level, Feed our Future will continue to work through school canteens to School feeding prepare hot meals for delivery through the help of their dedicated bus services provider from the week of March 23rd 2020. At the Government Secondary school level, Feed our Future will be working with school counsellors to distribute supermarket food vouchers in staged intervals across the period of school closure to families in order to ensure access to food. Public works Support for Rent and Utilities was provided to Needs Assessment Unit program. This was extended from three to six months. Beneficiaries must have had a household income lower than KYD $3,000 per month to be eligible. According to the press, 1,653 families have benefited from this policy. The government launched the COVID 19 Farmers' Assistance Program to increase farmers' capacity Utility waivers to yield greater quantities of high-quality produce and livestock. Each successful applicant received a voucher card to purchase seeds, fertilizers, and other essential agricultural inputs from the Department of Agriculture. The program, which began in December 2020, was developed to stimulate increased agricultural activity by providing USD $1 million in funding for farmers to use towards the purchase of products and services from the Department of Agriculture. Paid sick leave From April until June 2020, the Ministry of Health in conjunction with the Health Insurance Commission offered an initial assistance program to those persons who needed help paying their Health insurance health insurance premiums. During that period, 1,250 people received assistance at a cost of approximately $400,000. The government allowed an emergency withdrawal of pensions, subject to certain provisions. Through the National Pensions (Amendment) Law, 2020 on April 23rd, 2020, eligible persons could withdraw a single lump sum of: Pensions - 100% of the balance up to KYD $10,000; and - In cases where the balance exceeds KYD $10,000, up to KYD $10,000 plus up to 25% of the remaining balance. Social There was no requirement to repay the withdrawal amount. Insurance Unemployment benefits [April 2020] On April 20, a six-month temporary suspension of pension contributions was announced for employers. The pension holiday commenced on April 1st, 2020, and it is automatic for all employers and employees, including self-employed persons. [Extended - September 2020] The pension holiday, which should have expired on September 30, has Social security contributions been extended to December 31. [Extended - December 2020] The cabinet has approved a six-month extension of the pension holiday until June 30, 2021. [Extended - June 2021] On June 17, the Hon. Deputy Premier announced the extension of the national pension holiday until December 31, 2021. [June 2020] On June 12, the Ready2work program relaunched due to the COVID 19 pandemic. As part of the program, job seekers receive labor market employment services and: - A structured pathway to employment whilst addressing barriers to employment. - Opportunity for full-time employment that aligns with the needs of both participants. - Dedicated Officer and HR Support to ensure they are provided with the tools and support to ensure a successful connection with employment. [June 2020] As part of the Ready2work program, workers receive industry-specific training and re- Labor Activation measures tooling to better prepare them for the workforce. The program provides job seekers with training Markets and development of employability and soft skills to better prepare them for accessing employment. [June 2020] The Passport2Success (P2S) program, which is a 16-week soft skills training program that bridges the gap between high school and the world of work for young people aged 17 to 24 years, will be moved online. As of June 2020, more than 500 young people have participated in the 10-year-old program. Cohort#31 starts on June 22, 2020 via Zoom. The program aims to increase employment skills for Caymanians, while addressing barriers to employment such as attitude and behavior. It develops workplace readiness skills and addresses psycho-social-emotional issues. [March 2020] On March 27, the government introduced a guideline related to labor rights. Employers terminating or temporarily laying off workers as a result of the coronavirus pandemic must upon termination pay severance pay of one week’s wage, at the employee’s latest basic wage, for each completed twelve-month period of employment. The employment period is to reflect any time during which the employee worked for any previous owners of the same business. Employees are also entitled to any earned vacation leave, sales commission owed, as well as gratuities earned. In the cases of temporary termination, employers do not need to pay severance to their employees. Labor market regulations [Extended - April 2020] Under the Labor (Extension of Severance Pay Period) Regulations 2020, the current 30-day layoff period where severance pay is not required by the employer, has been extended to 60 days. [April 2020] On April 21, the Immigration (Transition) (Work Permit Exemptions) Regulations 2020 were passed by the Cabinet to permit non-Caymanians recruited by the Health Services Authority or by any private hospital to the posts of medical personnel to be temporarily exempt from certain provisions of the Immigration (Transition) Law 2018. Reduced work time [June 2020] As part of the Ready2work program, designed to provide industry specific training and re-tooling of Caymanian workers to better prepare them for the workforce and relaunched on June Wage subsidies 12, 2020, due to COVID 19 pandemic, job seekers receive a 6-month placement with a business and a stipend provided along with support services such as childcare, counselling and career coaching. Employers, on the other hand, are provided with a wage subsidy for one new employee for 6 months. (back to the top) Central African Republic Cash-based transfers The World Bank is supporting additional financing to the ongoing Projet d’Appui Aux Communautés Affectées Par Le Déplacement (PACAD), which currently supports communities affected by displacement. This additional financing will support cash transfers to those impacted by the COVID- 19 pandemic. The project is designed in close collaboration with partners to maximize synergies with Cash transfers efforts by UN Agencies such as WFP, United National Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and (conditional and unconditional) United Nations Development Program (UNDP). Premiums of 1 billion to health personnel involved in the fight against the pandemic. A delay in Social payment until November 2nd, 2020 had caused a strike amongst healthcare workers. Assistance Social pensions In-kind transfers The Programme d’appui en réponse à la pandémie de Covid-19 (PABRC-RCA) provides direct Food, vouchers, others support to the most vulnerable households. About 1,000 households, with 50% women at the head, will receive food kits. School feeding Public works Direct support to the most vulnerable households. About 500 farms, half of which are headed by Utility waivers women, benefited from sustainable agricultural inputs. Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor market regulations Labor Markets Reduced work time The government introduced intermittent work for civil servants in the public and private sectors. Wage subsidies (back to the top) Chad Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) Social pensions In-kind transfers Vulnerable households in the capital N'Djamena were selected to receive food aid through NGOs and local community structures, starting in May 2020. Each food parcel was composed of oil, rice, beans and sugar. The program is coordinated by the National Food Security Office (ONASA) and plans to roll out food distribution to other parts of the country as well. Social Assistance Food, vouchers, others The National Solidarity and Support Fund was established to close geographic and coverage gaps in the provision of existing social protection programs and to provide emergency aid to vulnerable individuals across the country. The Fund collects donations from the government, private sector, and NGOs and is envisaged to fund a variety of social protection and relief measures. The Fund will aid vulnerable populations across the country and it will reach out to provinces not covered by existing projects. Take home ration to 120,000 vulnerable students covering 3 months. This will begin in the week of School feeding March 23, 2021. Public works Electricity and water bill of vulnerable households will be paid by the State throughout the territory Utility waivers for six months for water and three months for electricity. Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor market regulations Labor Markets Reduced work time Wage subsidies (back to the top) Chile Cash-based transfers (May 2020) The Ministry of Social Development has introduced the Ingreso Familiar de Emergencia – a new, transitory transfer program intended for households that depend on informal work for their livelihood. Nearly 2 million households are expected to receive the transfer which will be granted for a maximum of three months. The first payout corresponds to 100 percent of the full transfer amount, the second payout 85 percent and the third 65 percent. The transfer amount depends on household type (whether the household is exclusively informal, or whether the household is vulnerable and partially informal) and size of the household. • The policy was extended from the second payment onwards. Households which do not fulfil the requirement of earning informal incomes but have at least one member older than 65 years who is also beneficiary of other benefits (Pensión Básica Solidaria de Vejez (PBSV) or Aporte Previsional Solidario (APS) or with a total pension less than PBSV) or one member beneficiary of Pensión Básica Solidaria de Invalidez received the cash transfer from the second payment onwards. • There were up to 6 payments Social • According to the government's website, as of February 25th, 2021, the government spent Cash transfers Assistance $3,140,403,000M, which involved an average of 2,556,915 households and 6,670,811 (conditional and individuals between May 2020 and February 2021. unconditional) • According to the government's website, as of April 2021, the government spent $4,982 billion, involving 12,121,438 individuals. (November 2020) Covid Christmas Bonus: a monetary support for households whose sources of income were affected by the pandemic generated by the Covid-19 virus. This benefit was automatically delivered to families who received the sixth payment of the Family Emergency Income (IFE). The amount of the bonus varied according to the phase in which the commune of residence was from November 24th to November 30th, 2020. Each member of households in communes in phase 1 received $ 55,000, while this was reduced to $25,000 for those living in communes on phases 2, 3 or 4. The payment of this benefit started on December 21st, 2020. According to the presidency's website, the measure aimed to reach 3.3 M households, involving 8.2 M individuals. (August 2020) Covid Transport Bonus: this benefit consists of a one-off bonus of $ 350,000 that can be requested by micro-entrepreneurs and drivers of passenger transport (both for drivers and vehicle owners). More precisely, this measure involved taxi drivers, urban and rural groups, executive taxis, tourism, urban and rural buses and minibuses, and school transport vehicles. This payment will be made within a maximum period of 20 business days after the start of the process. According to the General Treasury's website, the measure planned to reach 74,159 drivers and 107,146 vehicle owners from September 12 to November 12, 2020. (April 2021) The program was reintroduced with a one-time CLP 500,000 cash benefit that is given to vehicle owners and holders, or drivers. (April 2020) Bono de Emergencia COVID-19: this grant was awarded to those families that belong to the Chile Seguridades y Oportunidades program and the Family Subsidy, and to those households in extreme poverty (60% more poorer, according to the Registro Social de Hogares (RSH)). This one-off bonus implied a cash transfer of CLP$ 50,000 per household which is paid through RUT account of BancoEstado RUT Account, deposited into that account. Beneficiaries are automatically subscribed to this program, but in case they do not receive it, they can claim the transfer within one year from April 2, 2020. According to the government's website, the measure implied a total actual budget of CLP$ 132,993 M and 1,528,459 households. (March 2020) The government introduced a monthly subsidy aimed at formal workers aged between 18 and 65 years old. The Guaranteed Minimum Income (IMG) allows guaranteeing a minimum wage for those who receive less than CLP$ 380,000 (gross wage) or equivalent to a net salary of CLP$ 300,000. To be beneficiary of this policy, workers must not be within the richest 10%. The subsidy will be CLP$41,092 for those who earn a salary of CLP$326,000 (maximum subsidy). The subsidy is paid in the bank account indicated by the beneficiary or in person at the BancoEstado and ServiEstado branches. According to IPC-IG, this measure involved a total planned budget of USD 200,000,000. (April 2020) The government launched a bonus equivalent to the Unique Family Subsidy (SUF) bonus, which aimed at benefitting 2 million people without formal work. The benefit involved a monthly transfer of $50,000 per household. The one-off bonus is paid through the Instituto de Previsión Social. (August 2020) Middle-class protection plan: this program is aimed at supporting the middle-class families that have suffered a reduction in their incomes as a result of the COVID 19 pandemic. This is a one-off benefit which consists of a maximum bonus of $ 500,000 to all workers who have gross formal income between $ 400,000 and $ 1,500,000 per month, and who have experienced a decrease of at least 30%. When income is greater than $1,500,000, the benefit amount will be as follows: $400,000 for incomes between $1,500,000 and $1,600,000, $300,000 for incomes between $1,600,000 and $1,700,000, $200,000 for incomes between $1,700,000 and $1,800,000, and $100,000 for incomes between $1,900,000 and $2,000,000. On May 27, 2021, the middle-class bonus was extended until August and more vulnerable households became eligible (with a cost of 3.3 percent of GDP). Social pensions In-kind transfers The government announced the program “Alimentos Para Chile”, a new program that delivered food baskets to vulnerable families in May 2020. Approximately 2.5 million baskets of nonperishable food and hygiene products were delivered directly to the homes of the beneficiaries. The government Food, vouchers, others planned to reach 70 % of the most vulnerable through this program. A second round was announced, aiming the distribution of 3 million boxes of food (1 million and a half to the regions of the country and 1 million and a half to the Metropolitan Region), totalling nearly 5.6 million boxes (3 million families) (March 2020) Distribution of food packages out of special buses, at schools or from alternative distribution sites. Some schools remained open only for the food distribution. The government has School feeding designed a food delivery system to continue to benefit 1,600,000 children and adolescents. Individual baskets were delivered, containing breakfasts and lunches for ten (10) business days Public works Postponement of payment of the first installment of contributions. The payment of the first contribution installment for April 2020 was extended for three months, with no fees nor interest, together with the second (June), third (September) and fourth (November) contribution installments. Real estate owners who have a tax assessment that did not exceed $ 133 million as of March 2020 were considered beneficiaries of this measure. Forgiveness of interest and fines for taxes and late declarations and facilities to enter into payment agreements in the Treasury. The government provided these measures to dependent and independent workers whose annual income did not exceed $90 annual tax units ( CLP$ 4,400,000 per month) for April, May and June of 2020. Utility waivers Reduction to 0% of the Stamp Tax for 6 months, starting on April 1st, 2020. For all workers with monthly income over $ 400,000, who have experienced a decrease in their income of 30% or more, a soft loan granted by the government will be offered, on a voluntary basis. For each month of reduction in income and up to a maximum of three months, the loan may be requested within a period of five months following August 8, 2020. Exceptionally, those who do not have access to the state contribution directly (bonus for middle class families), they may request a solidarity loan for an additional month (that is, for up to four months in total). The loan will cover up to 70% of the decrease in people's formal income, obtaining up to $ 650,000 per month. The loan must be requested from the Internal Revenue Service (SII) 100% online. It does not have an interest rate (it is only readjusted by inflation) and will have a term of four years to be paid, with a one-year grace period. The first installment will be paid in April 2022 and will correspond to 10% of the total requested. The three remaining installments, corresponding to April 2023, 2024 and 2025 will be 30% each. To facilitate the payment of fees, a 3% payroll discount is established as of September 2021 for dependent workers; an additional withholding of 3% on the fee slip; and an increase in the payment of Provisional Monthly Payments, of 3%, for individual businessmen and women (own account). These amounts will be used exclusively to pay the solidarity loan payment. The loan will be repaid by people only if they earn income to pay each installment. The maximum amount of each installment will be up to 5% of the annual income. Meanwhile, if at the end of the four years the person did not obtain enough money to pay the loan, the balance that remains pending will be forgiven. (August 2020) The measure Middle-class protection plan also included a postponement of mortgage loans, incorporating state guarantees on deferred installments through an agreement with the banks. (August 2020) The Middle-class protection plan also involved having access to financial aid of up to $ 250,000 per month, for three months, to pay part of the rental value of a home. Beneficiaries of this initiative were families who rent a home, who proved the loss of employment or decrease of more than 30% in the income amounts and who have a lease contract for a maximum amount of $ 600,000 per month. (August 2020) An exceptional application process was opened for higher education students who need to finance their studies through State Guaranteed Credit (CAE), and who meet the following requirements: • They do not have other student benefits (either gratuity, scholarship and/or credit). • Financial situation has been affected after the last application process for student benefits in March 2020. Leave with pay (guaranteed through the Solidarity Unemployment Fund) for all workers, public and private, who due to emergency reasons must remain at home without the possibility of remote work (USD $ 2 billion). Within the Protected Parenting Law, a regulation that supports mothers, fathers and caregivers Social Insurance Paid sick leave during the COVID-19 pandemic, two benefits were given related to care and upbringing of both newborn babies and children born after 2013: 1) COVID-19 parental preventive medical leave: This is an extension of the paid leave for those who have received the common parental postnatal leave. 2) Unemployment benefit: On the other hand, mothers, fathers and caregivers of children born since January 1st, 2013, are allowed to benefit from the Unemployment Insurance payment. To be beneficiary of this measure, people must have contributed for three continuous months prior to suspension or for six continuous or discontinuous months. Initially, this measure was in place until September 14th, 2020. It was extended for a period of 90 days. Health insurance Early withdrawal - It offers the possibility to citizens who have pension savings in the AFPs (Pension Fund Administration institutions), to withdraw up to 10% of their savings, up to a maximum amount Pensions of approximately 4,300,000. This measure has been active since July 30, 2020, and there have been 3 withdrawal cycles as of October 2021, with a 4th one that is currently in the Senate. [July 2020] Within the Protected Parenting Law, mothers, fathers and caregivers of children born since January 1st, 2013, were allowed to benefit from Unemployment Insurance payments. To be a beneficiary of this measure, people must have contributed for three continuous months prior to the suspension or for six consecutive or non-consecutive months. [September 2020] Initially, this measure was in place until September 14th, 2020. It was extended for a period of 90 days.[October 2020] This measure ended on October 6, 2021. [July 2020] People are permitted to perform a withdrawal of 10% of AFC (Administradora de Fondos de Cesantía). It is a benefit for people who have contributed to the AFC, but do not meet the requirements to access Unemployment Insurance. The benefit application began on July 30th, 2020 and allowed people to withdraw the total balance without showing documents of the termination of Unemployment benefits the employment relationship. [April 2020] As per the Employment Protection Law, if an employment contract has been suspended by act of authority or by mutual agreement, the worker will receive income through Unemployment Insurance, funded by his/her Individual Account or, in case of insufficient funds, by the Solidarity Unemployment Fund. The company must continue to pay workers' pensions and health contributions, excluding contributions for work-related accidents. The validity of the employment protection law is until October 6, 2021, in the case of contract suspension. [September 2020] Through (Law 21,269), private household workers became eligible for unemployment insurance. [June 2020] Through Law 21,232, the government introduced a change in the social security contributions, which from June 2020 were fully paid by the employer. This meant that employees were exempted from contributing to the Social Security system. Social security contributions Through Law 21,232, the government introduced a changed in the social security contributions, which from June 2020 were 100% paid by the employer. This means that employees are exempted from contributing to the Social Security system. Servicio Nacional de Capacitación y Empleo (SENCE) has 46 free virtual courses related to ICT, entrepreneurship generation, and soft skills. A platform was offered to organizations to connect their Activation measures courses, which have an average attendance of 75%. Through an agreement with the Family Foundation, access to computers and Wi-Fi in 84 Digital Family Centers nationwide was provided to those who needed it. [July 2020] The government introduced different protocols and recommendations that economic sectors must follow to reduce the risk of contagion of COVID-19 in the workplace. This includes Protocolo Nacional Modo Covid de Vida, Step-by-Step protocol, protocols for restaurants, cafes, fishing, wine cellars, cinemas, construction businesses, delivery service, grocery stores, tourism businesses, gyms and casinos. Labor market regulations [June 2020] Through Law 21,240, the government announced sanctions for employers who order their employees to go to their place of work while they are in quarantine or mandatory sanitary isolation decreed by the health authority. [January 2021] Through Resolution 66, the government introduced sanitary measures for the agriculture sector, involving modes of transport and use of face masks, among others. [April 2020] The Employment Protection Law allows for the temporary suspension of employment contracts either by an act of authority or by mutual agreement. Under the provision for the Labor Markets temporary suspension of the employment contract by an act of authority, if the government decides to close the economic activity, individual work contracts will be suspended temporarily. Workers who must remain at home without the possibility of carrying out their work, may suspend the employment contract while maintaining the contractual link with the company, but will receive income through Unemployment Insurance, funded by their Individual Account or, in case of insufficient funds, by the Solidarity Unemployment Fund. The company must continue to pay workers' pensions and health contributions, excluding contributions for work-related accidents. Under the temporary suspension of the contract by mutual agreement, employers whose activity is totally or partially affected by the crisis generated by the Covid-19 pandemic, outside the validity of Reduced work time the act or declaration of the authority, can individually or collectively agree with their workers affiliated to Unemployment Insurance a pact of temporary suspension of the employment contract. This agreement will have the same effects and will be requested in the same way as the suspension of the contract by act of the authority. The agreements may have a maximum extension of 6 months as indicated in the Employment Protection Law. The validity of the employment protection law is until October 6, 2021, in the case of contract suspension. [April 2020] The Employment Protection Law includes a provision for the reduction of working hours by mutual agreement. Employers may agree with the worker individually or collectively to reduce the working day by up to 50%. In this case, the employer must continue to pay the remuneration and social security contributions proportional to the day agreed with the worker. Therefore, the worker will receive, in addition to their remuneration and contributions, a supplement charged to their Individual Unemployment Insurance Account and, once exhausted, against the Solidarity Unemployment Fund that will be up to 25% of their remuneration, if the reduction in working hours is 50% (with a ceiling of $ 225,000 per month). In addition, they will keep benefits such as bonuses, allowances and other exceptional or sporadic items. The validity of the employment protection law is until December 31, 2021, in the case of temporary reduction of working hours. [March 2020] Through Law 21,220, the government modified the Labor Code to introduce the option of telework, including the right to disconnect and to have elements of personal protection and adequate management of occupational risks. [September 2020] Return benefit: aimed at companies with at least 20% decrease in their sales that had suspended workers and have returned to work. Workers must have a gross monthly remuneration equal to or less than 3 minimum monthly income ($ 979,500). The subsidy involved delivering $160,000 pesos per month for each worker, with a maximum limit of 6 months. In the case of women, young people between 18 and 24 years old, people with disabilities and beneficiaries of a disability pension, the amount of the benefit is $ 200,000 per month. This measure is set to end on December 31, 2021. Wage subsidies [September 2020] Hiring benefit: subsidy was delivered as a percentage of the worker's gross monthly remuneration, for up to 8 or 10 months, depending on the size of the firm and the type of subsidy benefit. The subsidy was equal to 65% of the gross monthly remuneration for women over 18 years of age, people with disabilities, men from 18 years to 23 years with income less than $450,000, and $290,000 for the same group of beneficiaries with income between $ 450,000 and $ 979,500. The subsidy was equal to 50% of the gross monthly remuneration for men aged 24 years old or more with a gross monthly remuneration less than $ 500,000, and $250,000 for the same group of beneficiaries with an income between $500,000 and $979,000. This measure is set to end on December 31, 2021. (back to the top) China Cash-based transfers A government policy directive (6 March 2020) instructed local governments to extend coverage of "dibao" (Minimum Livelihood Guarantee Scheme) and temporary assistance programs, simplify the application and approval process, and increase the benefit level to cover the families who are affected by the epidemic (both directly through infection and indirectly through economic impacts). Examples are available at local level (information collected by WBG): i) In Hubei province, RMB 500 for urban Dibao recipients and RMB 300 for rural Dibao recipients were transferred as temporary living allowance subsidies. Temporary assistance (emergency help in nature) supported more than 13000 people with cash transfer of RMB 30 million and provided temporary resettlement for more than 6000 people in 69 sites. ii) In Chongqing, a transfer of twice the monthly Dibao amount was introduced as temporary assistance to some recipients if they were infected. iii) In Shenzhen, the amount of cash transfer as temporary assistance could range between 2-18 times of the local Dibao threshold based on the individual recipient's situation. The total top up was RMB 156 billion ($22 billion) by June 2020 and total new beneficiaries totaled 62 million by March 2020. Social A one-off cash transfer for retention migrant population in Wuhan was provided in the amount of Cash transfers Assistance RMB 3000. (conditional and unconditional) Unemployment social assistance was provided for up to 6 months for the unemployed not eligible for unemployment social insurance benefits (covered 2.38 million workers by March 2020). The government provided emergency income support to the stranded population. The emergency assistance cost RMB 37.6 million ($5.3 million) by March 2020 and benefited 15,000 who received cash transfers and 6,000 who received temporary resettlement by March 2020. The central government announced multiple measures in January 2021 to continue to support populations impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, including: "...subsistence allowance recipients, extremely poor people, and low-income family members suffering from COVID-19, temporary assistance will be provided in a timely manner as required, and the assistance can be increased on a case-by-case basis. For urban and rural residents who are unable to go out for work, business or employment due to the impact of the epidemic, resulting in a decline in income and difficulties in basic living conditions, the government will simplify confirmation procedures for subsistence allowance. In areas severely affected by the epidemic, additional aid payments, temporary living allowances and living supplies, and withdrawal from the subsistence allowance can be postponed." The government announced that uninsured and unemployed migrant workers, such as unemployed migrant workers, who meet the conditions, will be granted a one-time temporary relief fund from the place of employment or usual residence. Children left unattended due to parents or guardians in quarantine or anti-epidemic work were offered cash transfers, care and health services. The government increased the inter-provincial allocation reserve of the basic old-age pension fund Social pensions from 3.5% to 4% to better support low-income regions. In-kind transfers The government provided emergency income support to the stranded population. The emergency Food, vouchers, others assistance cost RMB 37.6 million ($5.3 million) by March 2020 and benefited 15,000 who received cash transfers and 6,000 who received temporary resettlement by March 2020. The government increased the inter-provincial allocation reserve of the basic old-age pension fund School feeding from 3.5% to 4% to better support low-income regions. Public works Circular 19 extends the February 2020 statutory tax filing deadline to February 24, 2020. This can be further extended by local tax authorities where the outbreak is identified as serious (such as in Hubei province). Affected taxpayers and withholding agents can apply for further extension. Circular 19 also encourages local tax authorities and taxpayers to deal with tax matters online or via mobile application. Full tax deductibility of the following types of donations made by individuals: (1) donations in cash or in kind, made by individuals through non-profit social organizations or governmental authorities at the county level or above or their subordinate departments; and (2) donations in kind, made directly by individuals to designated hospitals undertaking the tasks of the prevention and treatment of Utility waivers COVID-19. Exemption of Value-Added Tax for a wide range of consumer services (“lifestyle services”), including medical services, catering, accommodation services, and sundry personal services (e.g., hairdressing, laundry). VAT exemption for small-scaled taxpayers in Hubei and VAT collection rate reduction (from 3% to 1%) for small-scaled taxpayers in other areas. The exemption/reduction was valid between March 1st and May 31st, 2020. The government continued to implement price controls to ensure food security as of January 2021. Ministries are mandated to maintain the price stability of important commodities, strengthen price monitoring and market supervision, and ensure the production of daily necessities such as rice, noodles, oil, vegetables, meat, eggs, and milk during the Spring Festival Normal, unimpeded transportation, adequate supply, stable prices, and reliable quality, and guarantee the needs of urban and rural residents for materials during the festival. Reimbursement of online consultations for chronic and common diseases from the national medical insurance fund. CNY 3.71billion (USD 525 million) of price subsidies offered to people in need. Paid sick leave The 2020 Government Work Report urges a series of measures to meet people’s basic living needs. Those include raising government subsidies for basic medical insurance for rural and non-working urban residents. Government subsidies per capita will be increased by 30 yuan to no less than 550 yuan per person per year. Delivery fees of internet-based medical services were included in the scope of the Medical Insurance Health insurance payments. The payment of employees' medical insurance can be reduced by half in the provinces, for a maximum period of 5 months. Social Medical, nursing and related staff not previously covered by work-related injury insurance were also Insurance eligible to receive work-related injury benefits and treatment. Basic pension increases for retirees. Starting January 1, 2020, the basic pension level is adjusted by 5 Pensions percent of the 2019 monthly basic pension for retirees. Nearly 300 million people in the country receive pensions. Unemployment benefits The finance ministry cut social insurance payments by RMB 1 trillion to incentivize companies to retain employees. Between February and June 2020, all enterprises enrolled in China's Social Security Schemes are Social security contributions exempt from making employer contributions to pension, unemployment, and work-related injury insurance schemes. For instance, this is the case of the Hubei province. For other provinces and cities (except Hubei), micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises are exempt from making employer contributions to pension, unemployment, and work-related injury insurance schemes. Large enterprises may reduce employer contributions to pension, unemployment, and work-related injury insurance schemes by 50%. (RMB 600 billion ($84.6 billion) by June 2020) The conditions to receive UI contribution refunds were relaxed to allow extended coverage of the benefits. Governments encouraged using UI refunds for wage subsidies or worker retention, for SMEs, so that these funds will also benefit workers, which reflects the objective of protecting jobs rather than firms. By the end of March, it was reported that 1.46 million enterprises received RMB 22.2 billion (USD 3.2 billion) refunds from the unemployment insurance funds, covering 49.51 million workers. The government has opened access to online platforms or APPs for firms and workers to seek various UI subsidies. The amount varies by locality, but for example in Nanjing, it has been 100 yuan per worker per day. • Cost: RMB 5.6 billion ($790 million) by May 2020 • Beneficiaries: 5.9 million migrant workers by March 2020 In China’s major cities (Beijing / Shanghai / Guangdong), companies that are found to be in temporary difficulties owing to the coronavirus outbreak and do not lay off employees or minimize the layoffs can get a refund of unemployment insurance premiums. Promotion of online recruitment and training, vocational training subsidy. New vocational skill training program launched to stabilize employment for migrant workers - enterprises subsidized to train migrant workers especially from impoverished counties. The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security pilots an electronic vocational skills training coupons system. Activation measures In addition, a wide range of policy measures have been announced for SMEs at the regional level in Labor China. These include subsidies for training and purchasing teleworking services. Markets [March 2020] The government launched a new vocational skills training program to stabilize employment for migrant workers returning to their hometowns. This included professional online training courses in accordance with employment intentions, regional characteristics and industrial needs. Labor market regulations [July 2020] The State Council of China issued a policy supporting flexible employment arrangements Reduced work time including part-time employment opportunities. In addition, a wide range of policy measures have been announced for SMEs at the regional level in China. These include subsidies for training and purchasing teleworking services. Wage subsidies (back to the top) Colombia Cash-based transfers New cash transfer program, “solidarity income”, included monthly payments of COP 160,000 ($108) for informal workers and their families. This involved 3 million households identified via SISBEN and tax collection databases. Since its creation in April 2020, the program has progressively increased coverage until reaching the initial goal of 3 million households (April 2020 - March 2021). The government announced the extension of the program until June 2021. In June 2021, it was announced that the benefit would be granted until August 2021 and then the program has been extended until December 2023. The government will reassess then if it continues or drops. (Familias en Acción): Through Decree 417/20 on March 17th, 2020, Familias en Acción has made bi- monthly additional cash payments to 2.6M households (10,548,119 individuals) since May 2020 until February 2021. The program will continue to make additional cash transfers until June 2021. The transfer is of COP 145,000 ($98 in 2011 PPP). The program also horizontally expanded to include households previously excluded due to conditionality non-compliance. Social (Jóvenes en Acción): Through Decree 417/20 on March 17th, 2020, Jóvenes en Acción has made bi- Cash transfers monthly additional cash payment from May 2020 until February 2021 (COP 356,000, or $240). The Assistance (conditional and unconditional) program also horizontally expanded to 296,222 beneficiaries (208,430 people were benefiting from the program prior to Covid). The program will continue to make additional cash transfers until June 2021. The program “Bogotá Solidaria en Casa”, now "Ingreso Mínimo Garantizado", has provided poor and vulnerable households of the district with a transfer that was estimated to cover 70% of their expenditure. Conditions and requirements include comply with quarantine and not having been reported of domestic violence. The benefit was COP 423,000 ($286) for the poor and COP 178,000 for the vulnerable ($120), delivered through bank operators and operators with mechanisms for dispersing payments through cell phones. This program involved the distribution of vouchers through cards to the population which could be used to make withdrawals or purchases. As of September 2020, this measure has benefited 402,620 households identified via the 2018 Census, SISBEN, and District’s own data (plus data from cell phone operators). Through Decree 486 of March 27th, 2020, the government launched economic support for those workers and producers within the agriculture sector. This benefit only applies for the elderly who needed to self-isolate and were not beneficiaries of other social programs. According to the press, the aim of this measure was to benefit nearly 500,000 elderlies in vulnerable conditions, through monetary support for COP$ 80,000 for two months. The budget allocated to this policy was COP $ 80,000 M. Through Decree 557 of April 15th 2020, the government introduced an unconditional cash transfer of COP$ 585,000 per month for tourist guides registered in the National Tourism Registry, not receiving other social programs (Familias en Acción, Colombia Mayor, Jóvenes en Acción, Ingreso Solidario or Devolución del IVA). This measure, which was in place for three months only, pretended to reach 1,500 tourist guides. The benefit was delivered through bank accounts (for those who were in the banking system) or in person at Banco Agrario. Through Decree 770 of June 3rd, 2020, the govenrment launched the Assistane program for workers in contractual suspension, which consisted of unconditional cash transfers of COP $160,000 to suspended workers. To be eligible, beneficiaries must 1) have earnings up to four times the minimum wage, 2) have been suspended or in unpaid leave, and 3) not be beneficiary of other social programs (Colombia Mayor, Jóvenes en Acción, Familias en Acción, Ingreso Solidario and Devolución de IVA). The benefit was delivered for 3 months through bank accounts. As of December 2020, there were 188,000 beneficiaries which involved an expenditure of COP $45,047 M. Through Decree 538 and Resolution 1774 of 2020, the government has issued COP $ 364,742 million in temporary, one-off cash transfers to health personnel that provided services during the pandemic. This measure involved 239,841 workers in the health sector, such as doctors, nurses, bacteriologists, nursing assistants, among others. The benefit amount ranged between 1 and 4.5 minimum wages. The government launched economic support for those who tested positive for COVID 19 and required self-isolation from August 2020. The cash transfer was equivalent to 7 days of the minimum wage, which approximately was COP$204,000. As of October 2020, the program reached 61,288 beneficiaries, which consisted of COP$ 94,781 M. Another special measure was to anticipate the implementation of the VAT Refund (Devolución del IVA) to the poorest households. The program was scheduled to start on January 2021, with a pilot of 100,000 families; however, due to the pandemic, the program started to operate on April 2020, and has made bi-monthly cash payments (COP 75.000 each from April 2020 to February 2021) to the 700,000 most vulnerable families from FA and 300,000 households from Colombia Mayor. The policy document that created the program (CONPES 3986) establishes that the VAT Refund will be implemented until December 2022 (CONPES 3986). The head of the Department of Social Prosperity recently announced that, during the second semester of 2021, the government will horizontally expand the coverage of the program to 2M households (the extra 1M will be the poorest households targeted in Sisben not covered by any social assistance program, and the most vulnerable households among the beneficiaries of “solidary income”) Throughout the non-contributory pension benefits program Colombia Mayor (this is the old-age subsidy program for the poor and extreme poor over 60+ years old population), the government has Social pensions made monthly additional cash payments (COP 80.000 each) to the program’s 1.7 million beneficiaries since May 2020 until February 2021. Additional cash payments of Colombia Mayor will be extended until June 2021. In-kind transfers Food baskets were delivered to vulnerable groups Voucher of $100,000 for food basket delivered by the Red Cross and including in-kind donations from supermarket chains (people and firms can donate through a new platform: bogotasolidariaencasa.gov.co). Food, vouchers, others Within the School Feeding Program, the government implemented a Food Voucher which consisted of a monthly card of $ 50,000. This voucher could be exchanged for certain foods and at the points established by the Territorial Entity. Within Bogotá Solidaria en Casa program, the government delivered in-kind rations directly to each household, especially for those that could not access to cash-transfers or vouchers due to their living conditions or geographic location. 1) Industrialized Ration: it is defined as the food supplement ready for consumption, composed of processed and unprocessed foods such as fruits. Must be delivered individually and in the primary packaging that guarantees compliance with the grammage established in the standard minutes defined by the Ministry of Education and the other conditions and required characteristics, as well as current packaging and labeling regulations. These food supplements are delivered weekly, biweekly School feeding or monthly, depending on the expiration times of the products to be delivered and the logistics available, and must include 5, 10 or 20 days of supply respectively. 2) Prepared-at-home rations: it is defined as a basic food basket equivalent to one mealtime per day for a month. This includes food items such as cereals and fortified flour, milk and dairy products, protein food, fats and sugars, so that the preparation and consumption at home can be carried out. These food packages are delivered per month with distribution for 4 weeks for 5 days. Public works Water services were provided free of charge for low-income families (strata 1 and 2). Also, financial Utility waivers relief measures were provided to individuals and firms that were not able to pay their financial obligations for two months. The measure included the possibility to freeze all credit payments, including mortgages, car loans, credit cards, etc. During April and May 2020 billing period, in the Municipality of Bogotá vulnerable people in strata 1 to 4 received discount on energy, natural gas, water and toilet, depending on the socioeconomic stratum to which they belong: 20% discount for people in strata 1 and 2 and 10% discount for those in strata 3 and 4. To achieve this reduction, COP $94 billion was invested from the budget of the District Government and the companies that provide public services. In addition, large financial institutions, such as Bancolombia, Grupo Aval and Davivienda froze for three months all credit payments including mortgages and consumption credits for individuals, and microcredits for SMEs. Through Decree 540 of April 13th, 2020, the government aimed to guarantee access to telecommunications. This measure allowed the affordability of internet service for four months. COVID-19 as an occupational disease: it includes COVID-19 as a direct occupational disease, with respect to workers in the health sector. The Occupational Risk Management entities (ARL) must Paid sick leave recognize all the assistance and economic benefits derived from the incapacity of labor due to this disease. Health insurance for people who lost their job: It guarantees health insurance for those people who, Health insurance in the Health Emergency derived from COVID-19, lost their job and consequently the ability to pay the General Social Security System in Health. Pensions Colombia may allow partial withdrawals from pensions during crisis. Social Insurance The Ministry of Labor issued the Decree 488, allowing formal workers affected by the COVID-19 to request an advance from their Unemployment Mandatory Saving (Cesantías) to cover any labor Unemployment benefits income gap caused by the COVID-19. Through the Cajas de Compensaciones, the government provided three monthly unemployment payments equivalent to 2 monthly minimum wages in total (COP $1,961,314 in two installments). Through Decree 588 of April 15th, 2020, the government implemented a reduction of pension contributions to 3%, which should be paid 75% by the employee and 25% by the employer. Social security contributions Independent workers' pay 100% of this 3%. This measure was non-mandatory and placed for May and June 2020. Activation measures Through Decree 771 of June 3rd, 2020, the government indicated that employers must recognize the Labor value established for transportation assistance as an aid to digital connectivity for those employees Markets Labor market regulations working from home and whose wage is up to two minimum wages. Through Decree 488 of March 27th, 2020, the government allowed employers to release workers with at least one day in advance, the date from which they must grant anticipated, collective or accumulated paid vacations. Similarly, workers had the right to request within the same period that paid vacation. By this way, the government suspended the 15-day notice period. Through Decree 770 of June 3rd, 2020, the government implemented changes in the working conditions of workers. - Through consultation between employers and workers, successive work shifts can be organized so they do not exceed 8 hours a day and with a maximum of 36 hours a week. Reduced work time - With prior agreement between employers and workers, working hours can be distributed over 4- week days with a daily working day of a maximum of 12 hours. Through the Circular 0041 of 2020, the Ministry of Labor defined the framework of the new modality of 'working at home'. Through Decree 805 of June 4th, 2020, the government introduced economic support for firms in the notary activity. The benefit amount was 40% of the minimum wage per worker. This measure, which began on June 2020, lasted four months only. The government launched the Support Program for formal employment (PAEF), which was aimed at granting a wage subsidy up to four times, in order to support and protect formal employment during the COVID-19 pandemic. This subsidy was equivalent to 40% of the minimum wage per worker. In order to be beneficiary, firms must show at least a 20% reduction of their revenues due to the COVID 19 pandemic, as well as being registered in the commercial register. This program, which was initially in place during May and August 2020, was extended until March 2021. For specific economic activities (tourism, hotel, restaurants and artistic and entertainment sectors), firms received a subsidy equivalent to 50% of the minimum wage per worker. Also, if firms employed women, the subsidy was equivalent to 50% of the minimum wage per working woman, irrespective of the Wage subsidies economic sector. Through Law 2155, the government launched an incentive for the creation of new jobs which is aimed at financing labor costs of firms. The incentive depends on the type of worker: - If firms hire young people aged between 18 and 28 years, they receive 25% of the legal monthly minimum wage per new worker. - If firms hire people aged 28 years or more with wages up to three legal monthly minimum wages, they receive 10% of the legal monthly minimum wage per new worker. - If firms hire women aged 28 years or more with wages up to three legal monthly minimum wages, they receive 15% of the legal monthly minimum wage per new worker. This measure is aimed to last until August 2023. The employer may only receive, within the term of this incentive, a maximum of twelve payments. Through Law 2155, the government granted employers economic support aimed at paying wages of May and June 2021. The amount of the wage subsidy was up to 20% of the legal monthly minimum wage. To be beneficiary, firms must show a decline in revenue of at least 20% in March 2021. (back to the top) Comoros Cash-based transfers (February 2021) The Government plans to provide emergency support to the vulnerable in need, through social cash transfers. The number of beneficiaries is estimated to be equal to 23.5 percent Cash transfers of the total population, involving 160,000 people. The Unconditional cash transfers (UCT) in (conditional and unconditional) response to COVID-19 are intended for 20,000 households in urban and suburban areas. The project has completed the launch of targeting 21,600 COVID-19 response beneficiaries across the urban/peri-urban areas of the three islands. Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others Social School feeding Assistance Public works Prohibition on the National Company of Exploitation and Distribution of Water (SONEDE) and the National Company of Electricity of Comoros (SONELEC) to cut water and electricity to households. Establishment of a system of price controls for necessities supervised by the Ministry of the Economy to monitor price increases and prevent unjustified inflation Utility waivers (March 2020) The Central Bank will authorize the rescheduling of debts and the freezing of agios, for loans affected by this epidemic (March 2020) Import taxes on food, medicines, and items related to hygiene were reduced by 30 percent during 2020 but returned to previous levels from the beginning of 2021. Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Labor Activation measures Markets Labor market regulations Reduced work time The government allocated CF100 million per month to public companies in the aviation sector Wage subsidies (Com’Air Assistance, Anacm and ADC) to support the payment of salaries whose activity has been interrupted by the closure of the airports (back to the top) Congo, Dem. Rep. Cash-based transfers The Solidarité par Transferts Economiques contre la Pauvreté à Kinshasa (STEP-KIN) program identified vulnerable individuals impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and paid them cash transfers. In three months, STEP-KIN identified, registered, and paid more than 100,000 individuals in 50 poor neighborhoods, becoming the largest cash-based operation in Kinshasa. The program is now expanding to 250,000 recipients for a total of $37.5 million to be transferred in monthly Cash transfers payments of $25. (conditional and unconditional) A third additional financing has been approved for the DRC Eastern Recovery Project. Component 2, called "Livelihoods and Employment Generation" (US$215 million equivalent) provides social safety net options. Part of this component entails unconditional cash transfers (UCT) in rural areas, complemented by accompanying measures (AM) to promote human development and economic inclusion. Social pensions In-kind transfers Social The Republic of Congo has donated 84 tons of food for the displaced people of Nyiragongo in the Assistance Food, vouchers, others DRC School feeding A third additional financing has been approved for the DRC Eastern Recovery Project. Component 2, called "Livelihoods and Employment Generation" (US$215 million equivalent) provides social safety net options. One aspect involves labor intensive public works (LIPW) carried out in urban centers. Public works Building on its previous experience in the region, FSRDC designed an emergency Cash-For-Work (CFW) program to sustain the resilience of communities, support the local economy, maintain priority infrastructure, and strengthen social cohesion. The government granted 2 months of free of charge supply of water and electricity to households, hospitals as well as micro & small and medium-sized enterprises which are affected by the closure measure as part of the response against COVID-19. Utility waivers Suspension of the collection of VAT on the import and sale of basic necessities and mass consumption products from March 20th 2020, for a period of 3 months. Ban on eviction of tenants who have not honored their commitment only for the period from March to June 2020. Prime Minister Ilunga Ilunkamba instructed the Ministry of Economy to control and stabilize prices in the markets, and the Minister of Foreign Trade to organize a large market which will be supplied directly by wholesalers for the benefit of the population. Elimination of fees on electronic money transactions and variable fees on transactions below CDF2,500,000, until the end of December 2020. (June 2020) Under the DRC Eastern Recovery Project a new intervention called "Livelihoods and Employment Generation" (US$215 million equivalent) to provide social safety net options was announced. The project has supported agropastoral activities to increase resilience in rural areas by boosting production and productivity with almost 43,000 rural households assisted with in-kind transfers (seeds, tools, etc.) and technical assistance. Paid sick leave Health insurance Coverage at the expense of the Government for all cases tested positive throughout the country Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures [March 2020] The government suspended any massive layoffs based on the measures of Labor market regulations containment. Labor [March 2020] The possibility of implementing staff rotation in the event of a proven decline in Markets activity and minimum service was introduced. Reduced work time [March 2020] The minimum service within companies and public administration, provided by essential staff, was established. No office was allowed to accommodate more than 5 agents. Wage subsidies (Back to the top) Congo, Rep. Cash-based transfers (May 2020) Emergency cash transfer to vulnerable people in the outlying arrondissements of Brazzaville; this allowed them to buy food in an identified shopkeepers network. (April 2020) 100,000 families affected by COVID-19 to receive around 50,000 CFA each (around 5 billion CFA) Cash transfers (June 2020) The minimum CCT benefit level per household was set at CFAF 5,000 (US$8.2) per (conditional and unconditional) month. Child benefit was set at CFAF 5,000 per child per month for a maximum of three children, while elderly benefit was set at CFAF 10,000 (US$16.4) per elderly per month. Due to the multigenerational nature of households, the maximum transfer per household was CFAF 40,000 (US$66), representing a household with three children and two elders. This transfer is aligned with the current Lisungi Program that transfers on average CFAF 23,500 a month per household due to different household composition and multigeneration households. The transfer was paid over a period of 12 months. Social Social pensions Assistance In-kind transfers (March 2020) The “Telema” project was reoriented in favor of 5,000 people in the humanitarian care of Covid-19, which included the distribution of food kits and Covid-19 awareness equipment. The food kit received by the Minister consisted of 2,000 bags of rice, 1,200 boxes of salted fish, among other things. The food kits are distributed in the departments of Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire and Pool while the awareness kits concern the twelve departments of the country. According to the Agence Francaise de Development, the third agreement was concluded to provide assistance of 200 million FCFA to the food support. Food, vouchers, others (May 2020) 16,000 people chiefly elderly, children and student looked down to receive food and hygiene packages (April 2021) Nearly 80,000 coronavirus victims will receive a donation from France through the World Food Program (WFP). This donation aims to provide concrete answers to the problems of these people living along the Oubangui River, victims of the floods that occurred last November. This assistance from France should make it possible to strengthen the subsistence conditions of populations in a situation of food insecurity and to meet the nutritional needs of populations which are essential for the proper development of individuals, especially children. (March 2020) For the entire 12 administrative regions of the country, communication packages on covid-19 and hygiene materials have been distributed (the cost is over 200 million CFA) (June 2021) Households in the eleven districts of the municipality of Nkayi, in the department of Bouenza, will benefit from modern latrines. This will be within the framework of the “resilient cities” program, and financed by the European Union to the tune of approximately CFAF 21 billion through the 11th European Development Fund. Before the outbreak, 80,000 children were benefiting from the school feeding program in Congo. The take-home rations initiative is now reaching 61,000 of them, while some others are receiving School feeding cash transfers. As school activities were replaced by radio and TV programs under the ‘education at home' slogan, WFP launched its ‘school feeding at home' initiative through the provision of take- home rations consisting of rice, peas, vegetable oil, salt and sardines. (September 2021) The activities of the “Bissalu bia kidzunu” project have just been launched. It aims to finance a set of income-generating activities and providing financial autonomy to ex-combatants and their families. The "Bissalu bia kidzunu" project is intended for ex-combatants, young people, Public works wives of ex-combatants as well as households in targeted villages, and it aims to strengthen peace, security, cohesion, community resilience, through income-generating activities, in order to reduce idleness, fertile ground for renewed violence. It will run for two years, the time for families to have a comfortable seat, for their long-term care. Utility waivers (April 2020) Free water and electricity for all households during the confinement period Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor market regulations The government called for the strengthening of hygiene measures in public administrations and Labor private companies. Markets Reduced work time The government announced the establishment of the minimum service in public administration and in companies producing essential goods. Wage subsidies (back to the top) Cook Islands Cash-based transfers On 18 March 2020, the Cook Island Government announced the COVID-19 Economic Response Package which also included one-off welfare support. This one-off support is to assist the most vulnerable as they are not only at health risk from the COVID19 but also likely to be exposed to its economic impact. A one-off welfare payment of $400 will be made to all current individuals registered in the welfare system for the old age pension, care givers allowance and the infirm and destitute allowance on top of their regular payments. People who are on foreign pension funds already and any new applicants are excluded. N.B. 0.87 million NZD is spent on one-off welfare support. Payments were planned to be administered in April 2020 by the Ministry of Internal Affairs. No application is required to access the one-off payment. A NZ$400 payment was made to those who access existing support, comprising pensions for residents above the age of 60 (1,809 beneficiaries, 51.8% of whom are women), and to infirm and destitute people and caregivers (362 beneficiaries, 60.2% of whom are women). On 18 March 2020, the Cook Island Government announced the COVID-19 Economic Response Package which also included School Closure Support. School closure support will assist parents in Social their duty of care and will be available to all the children currently residing in the Cook Islands, Cash transfers between the age of 0-16 years, with no exception, until the school reopens. For each child, currently Assistance (conditional and unconditional) on the child benefit, an additional $100 on top of the current $50 will be allocated for every fortnight during closure of school outside of the school holidays. An application process is not required. For each child, currently not on the child benefit, an allocation of $100 will be allocated for every fortnight during closure of school outside of the school holidays. An application process is required. N.B. the measure is expected to cost 1 million NZD. In April 2020, 4,742 children received the payment, of which 4.4% (209) were made to families of non-Cook Islanders and 47.8% (2,265) were made to families of girls. In the pre-covid-19 days, 3,388 children (in 2017) received the childcare benefit. On July 1, 2020, the Cook Island Government announced the second phase of the COVID-19 Economic Response Package (ERP) which also included the Emergency Hardship Fund. This measure commenced on 24 June 2020 and will conclude on 30 June 2021. The purpose of the fund is to provide essential relief for families and individuals during emergency situations that cannot be supported through other available benefits, subsidies or grants. The Emergency Hardship Fund has two levels of support. A one-off payment to help recipients get back on track, or a fortnightly payment for a period of one month. Applicants are required to answer questions about their circumstances and provide supporting documents to be assessed. This fund requires applicants to visit the Ministry of Internal Affairs office to complete the application and also to answer necessary questions to assess eligibility. The one-off payment is for immediate relief needed to support recipients in quickly getting on their feet. While the fortnightly payment is for ongoing assistance where recipients may need sustained support and guidance in order to get back on track. The fortnightly payment will be paid for an eligible period of one month. A monthly extension is available for up to 3 months for cases where applicants are unable to work due to medical reasons, and due to a situation made worse by COVID-19. The payment amount is determined by the number of family members in a household, and whether or not other family members are receiving an income or benefits. Individual applicants will receive a fortnightly payment of $150 for up to 2 months, or a one-off payment of $600 depending on the circumstances being faced. As updated on January 2021, due to the prolonged border closure continuing to impact those facing hardship, in Phase III of the ERP, the eligibility period for the Fund has been extended to provide 3 months of support, with a 3-month extension available on the condition that recipients participate in volunteer work or community service for at least 5 hours per week (or 20 hours per month). An extension of up to 6 months is available for those unable to work for medical reasons. Individual applicants who meet the eligibility criteria will receive a fortnightly payment of $150 for up to 3 months, or a one-off payment equivalent to 1-3 months of support, depending on the circumstances being faced. For families, $25 per fortnight is added for each eligible family member. Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others The School Closure Support will assist parents in their duty of care given the mandatory closure of schools and will be available to all the children currently residing in the Cook Islands, between the age of 0-16 years, with no exception. For each child, currently already on the child benefit, an additional $100 on top of the current $50 School feeding will be allocated for every fortnight during closure of school outside of the school holidays. An application process is not required. For each child, currently not on the child benefit, an allocation of $100 will be allocated for every fortnight during closure of school outside of the school holidays. An application process is required Public works On 18 March 2020, the Cook Island Government announced the COVID-19 Economic Response Package which also included an electricity subsidy. Electricity subsidy of 100 per cent for households Utility waivers on Rarotonga and Aitutaki for 3 months starting from the 19th of March 2020 meter reading. Monthly electricity bills will be 100 per cent discounted to all domestic customers on Rarotonga and Aitutaki by Te Aponga Uira (TAU) and Te Mana Uira o Araura respectively for a 3-month period, which will be reviewed every month. Customer bills will be adjusted by the two electricity companies. No application is required to access the subsidy. N.B. 1 million NZD was expected to be spent on the electricity subsidy. On May 30, 2020, the government announced details of the support to be provided by Te Aponga Uira under Phase 2 of the Economic Response Plan which will be effective from the middle of June 2020 meter reading. Every household will be credited for their electricity costs up to $100 each month for 3 months. On January 13, 2021, the Te Aponga Uira in Rarotonga provided electricity subsidy (as part of ESP phase 3). Support involves every household connection being credited for their electricity costs up to $80 each month, for a further 3-month period. The Phase 3 electricity discounts from Te Aponga Uira will come into effective from January 2021 meter reading, until March 2021 meter reading (expected to be completed on 21 March 2021). The Phase 3 electricity discounts from Te Aponga Uira will be effective for April 2021 meter reading and has been formalized by the TAU Board of Directors. The discounting will be reviewed again during April 2021. On June 2, 2021, the Government of Cook Islands has re-introduced the electricity subsidy. This time, Te Aponga Uira board in Rarotonga has approved a new June discount rate of up to $30 off every domestic household power bill. The new discount rates will be applied to power meter readings from 8 June 2021 and will continue until June 30, at which time it is expected that the power bill discount scheme will come to an end. To support businesses covering staff absences due to self-isolation requirements and who are not under the wage subsidy scheme and in the prevention of a pandemic outbreak, it is important to encourage everyone to respect and comply to all self-isolation instructions without worrying about loss of income. The self-isolation support will not impact an employee’s accumulated leave entitlement. It is a separate category of emergency leave entitlement offered under the COVID19 stimulus package for a maximum period of 14 days at a time, at the minimum wage. It is possible that the same employee may have to self-isolate more than once throughout this pandemic, as such, the support can be requested by the employer as often as needed. Paid sick leave Social This support will only cover self-isolation as defined under the public health guidelines, where the Insurance employee is: - not sick, cannot perform work remotely and has been advised by the Ministry of Health to self-isolate; - not sick but has to care for dependents who are required to self-isolate or who are sick with COVID-19. In cases where the affected employee is not sick and can perform work remotely whilst in mandatory isolation, they will continue to be paid as per their usual rate of pay in agreement with their employer. Health insurance Pensions [July 2020] In July, the government announced the provision of unemployment benefits to provide temporary financial support to individuals who are unemployed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This benefit can be claimed for up to 4 months, until 31 December 2020. Eligible recipients will be paid $266 per week for a period of 4 weeks. This measure commenced on 1 April 2020, with payments administered by INTAFF. Recipients that are unsuccessful in securing new Unemployment benefits employment within the 4 weeks that they receive the unemployment benefit can apply with INTAFF for review and extension of an additional 4 weeks of the benefit. Extended payments beyond the first 4 weeks will be reduced to $150 per week. [Extended - January 2021] In January, the government announced the extension of unemployment benefit provision for 7 months, until June 2021. Social security contributions [July 2020] In July, the Cook Island's Government introduced the Training Subsidy program to assist businesses in upskilling their employees and improve their productivity for recovery phase. The training subsidy is based on the minimum wage for 35hrs/weekly over an additional period of 3 months, available only to those businesses qualified for the wage subsidy. Employees have to be enrolled in an official training by the 1st of July 2020 and to commence by 30 July 2020. If training has occurred prior to these dates, the payment will only be available from 1 July 2020, not prior. All training courses must be endorsed or provided by an approved training entity and must run for a period of at least two months, at a minimum of 10 hours per week. The training subsidy program duration is 7 months, from June 1 to December 30, 2020. Activation measures [July 2020] To further support the upskilling of workers and businesses that had opted to participate in the training subsidy under Phase II of the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan, a “fees Labor free” initiative was included to cover the costs of a select number of courses delivered by the Cook Markets Islands Training and Tertiary Institute (CITTI) and the University of the South Pacific, Cook Islands Campus (USP). These CITTI and USP fees free courses were available from June to December 2020. [Extended - January 2021] The extended fees free initiative will apply from January to July 2021 for existing students continuing with certificate and diploma courses undertaken in Semester 2 of 2020. The cost of the Fees Free Extension is $0.3 million. Labor market regulations Reduced work time [April 2020] The government delivered financial support for businesses affected by the impact of Covid-19 to keep their employees on the payroll and avoid unemployment. This consisted of wage subsidies based on the minimum wage for 35hrs/weekly over a period of 3 months: $266 per week Wage subsidies for a full-time employee working 20 hours per week or more; and $133 per week for a part-time employee working between 5 and 19 hours per week. The wage subsidy will be provided for a period of up to 3 months. [Extended - July 2020] On July 1, the Cook Islands Government's COVID-19 Economic Response Plan Phase II was announced, starting July 1, 2020 to September 30, 2021, with an increased rate of $320 per week for full-time staff. In Phase II, businesses have the option to continue to receive the wage subsidy, or alternatively, to receive the training with wage subsidy. The estimated cost for Phase II Wage and Training Support Initiative is $27 million over the next 6 months. [Extended - December 2020] In December, the Cook Islands Government announced the extension of the wage subsidy program starting January 1, 2021 to February 28, 2021, with an estimated cost of $9 million. [Extended - January 2021] In January, the Cook Islands Government's COVID-19 Economic Response Plan Phase III was announced, starting January 1, 2021 to April 30, 2021, with an estimated cost of $15.2 million. [Extended - April 2021] In April, the Cook Islands Government announced the extension of the wage subsidy program starting May 1, 2021 to June 30, 2021, with an estimated cost of $8 million. [Extended - October 2021] In October, the Cook Islands Government announced the reinstatement of the wage subsidy program effective October 1, 2021, with an estimated cost of $4 million for the month of October. [Extended - November 2021] In November, the Cook Islands Government announced the reinstatement of the wage subsidy program effective November 1, 2021, with an estimated cost of $4 million for the month of November. (back to the top) Costa Rica Cash-based transfers Social services for social transfer beneficiaries – nurseries open for those workers that need to work even during the containment measures/partial lockdown. By Decree 42,305 - MTSS - MDHIS, the government launched the Protect Bonus which is an extraordinary, monthly and temporal cash transfer aimed at people who have been affected by the COVID 19 pandemic, in terms of their labor situation. This measure is implemented for 3 months only. Beneficiaries are workers who have been dismissed or ceased, suspended, independent formal workers and formal self-employed or informal workers who have lost their jobs or whose revenues have declined due to the pandemic. The benefit ranged between CRC$62,500 and CRC$125,000. This measure reached 375,000 families economically affected by COVID-19. Emergency benefit (one-off 125k colones – USD 223K) for 33,000 poor families in the social registry Cash transfers (SINIRUBE) who do not receive any social transfers. This program is aimed at poor households with (conditional and unconditional) female household head, elderly people, disabled, and children. As of October 2020, there were 35,143 Social beneficiaries (individuals), which concerned a budget of CRC$7,617 M. Assistance The implementation of the conditional cash transfer program Avancemos will keep being active with transfers depending on grade levels ($40-$62). Similarly, the Crecemos program, which delivers an average of $35 scholarship per student, will not be interrupted. The Board of Directors of the Social Protection Board (JPS) launched a subsidy of CRC$200,000 to each active seller of the national lottery and popular lottery affected by the suppression of the draws, as a result of the prevention measures against COVID-19. The Board of Directors' agreement establishes the payment of this subsidy on a monthly basis for up to 3 months based on what is projected by the health authorities. Social pensions Expansion of 10K non-contributory social pension. In-kind transfers Alimentos En Casa is a special program that delivers food packages and sanitary items to families in extreme poverty. This program is aimed at children, pregnant and lactating women beneficiaries of Food, vouchers, others other programs, such as Atención y Protección Infantil (API) y Comidas Servidas within CEN-CINAI. The government planned to target 38,667 individuals in extreme poverty. The government delivers food rations for two and a half weeks, which includes the following items: rice, beans, tuna, liter of sunflower, corn or soybean oil, corn flour, and pasta, among others. In addition, the government worked in alliances with the private sector to distribute hygiene and cleaning items. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock launched the “Donate Seeds, it is time to be solidary” to meet the needs of vulnerable families and communities in rural territories that have been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative consists of the donation of seeds to distribute throughout the national territory to small producers, in order to improve their productive activity and expand their family diet. The program has 3 specific objectives: - Diversify the crops produced by vulnerable communities and populations, in order to improve their diet by expanding food options, building greater resilience to climate change or other adversities. - Support the supply of seeds to vulnerable groups that need to strengthen their livelihoods and the provision of basic foods. - Provide support in the integral management of seeds, from the recovery and selection of seeds, characteristics of the cultivation, production of seedlings, cleaning, production systems, storage, etc., as a way to improve productive efficiency with the use of seeds of good quality. The National Council of People with Disabilities (CONAPDIS), in coordination with the National Commission for Risk Prevention and Emergency Care (CNE), delivered food, nutritional supplements, cleaning supplies and diapers to families with disabled people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Each package had items depending on the specific needs of each person with a disability. As of April 30th 2020, 721 food rations were delivered out of a total estimated of 1,541 supplies. School feeding Public works 3-month deferral for some taxes (including self-employed workers). The Fiscal Relief Package against COVID-19, implemented by Law 9,830, is a measure aimed at mitigating the impact of COVID-19 on citizens. The tax moratorium is for a period of three months (March, April and May 2020), with the condition of paying them later, before December 31st, 2020. This package includes the postponement of the following taxes: VAT, Selective consumption tax, and tariffs on the importation of goods. There is also a VAT exemption on commercial leases. Utility waivers Through a guideline, the government urged water operators not to suspend water services due to users' non-payment for at least 60 days, as a measure to prevent the transmission of COVID-19. It also requested restoring the services in those cases where it was canceled due to late payment. The Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE) urged the Public Services Regulatory Authority (ARESEP) to suspend for three months any increase in electricity, transportation and fuel supply with the aim to avoid affecting users during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through the Special Law of leases payment, the government implemented a moratorium, partial and total, in the payment of housing rents, for a period of 3 months. In cases where lessees have suffered from a 100% reduction in their incomes due to contract suspension or unemployment, they could apply for a total or partial moratorium. When lessees have suffered from a 50% reduction in their incomes or less, they were allowed to pay at least 50% of their rent. In the case that lessees were affected by a reduction in their incomes of about 20%-50%, the reduction in the payment was proportional to the income reduction. Paid sick leave Health insurance The Costa Rican Social Security Fund informed the advancement of the deposit of pensions for both the Non-Contributory Regime and the Disability, Old Age and Death Insurance (IVM) with the purpose of guaranteeing payment and allowing financial entities to dispose of the resources in advance so that they can organize their service platforms and avoid crowds in their offices. The Pensions deposit was implemented in advance on March 27th 2020. Social Authorization for complementary pension operators to provide partial funds to employees affected Insurance by COVID-19. Unemployment benefits The government announced a deferral of the payment of social security contributions until the end of 2020. Social security contributions [April 2020] By Law 9839, formal workers whose working hours were reduced were given the right to withdraw their social security savings accumulated in their favor from the Fondo de Capitalización Laboral (FCL). [September 2020] This has resulted in disbursements amounting to CRC 56 billion so far. [June 2020] The government, through the Ministries of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG) and of Labor and Social Security (MTSS), created a number of virtual channels for agricultural workers to apply to carry out agricultural work. From the MTSS portfolio, the labor intermediation channels were enabled, as well as a new option on the institution's website. Labor Activation measures Markets [June 2020] The Protect Skills Plan is a scholarship program for online training promoted by the government, which plans to benefit 50,000 individuals affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. This program is aimed at individuals who are unemployed and beneficiaries of Protect Bonus. The program offers the possibility of accessing hundreds of free-courses in Spanish and English, allowing beneficiaries to train for new jobs. [March 2020] The government offered training about business development to SMEs in order to boost economic activity. [April 2020] The Foreign Trade Promoter of Costa Rica (PROCOMER) developed a new training program for the export sector to be prepared to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new topics in the exporter training plan included: 1) “COVID-19 and its impact on transport insurance and responsibility in the insurance contract between buyer and seller”; 2) “Introductory talk” that allows companies to make a self-diagnosis and define an action plan to attend and recover from the impacts of the crisis; 3) "Boosting my sales in the digital world, an opportunity in the face of the crisis"; 4) "How to maintain an international client in times of crisis?". These sessions were taught free of cost between April and May 2020 through Microsoft Teams and Moodle platforms. [April 4th, 2020] Through Decree 42286-MTSS-H-MIDEPLAN, due to the extraordinary situation of emergency, the government decided to suspend the application of the increase in the base salary of the Central Government public servants. Labor market regulations [October 2021] Costa Rica's Congress approved a bill to suspend the annual salary increase to public employees for two years. According to the government, it could save more than USD 111 million which would be used to address the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The law will go into effect once it has been signed by President Carlos Alvarado. [March 2020] Through the Law 9832, it is permitted to modify employment contracts, with prior authorization from the MTSS, depending on the decrease in the company's gross income: - If the decrease is at least 20%, the working day can be reduced by up to 50% of the hours. - If the decrease in income is at least 60%, the working day can be reduced by up to 75% of the hours. Wages are reduced in the same proportion and the worker does not need to agree to the reduction. The measure cannot be applied to pregnant or lactating women and can last for 3 months, extendable for equal periods if the reduction in income continues. [Extension - January 2021] The President signed Law No. 9937 which allows employers to request a Reduced work time three-month extension in the reduction of working hours of its workers if it can demonstrate that it has been adversely impacted by the pandemic. [March 2020] The Ministry of Labor and Social Security (MTSS) issued a recommendation to companies to temporarily readjust workers who occupy non-teleworking positions and have risk factors (e.g. elderly, diabetic, hypertensive, immunocompromised etc.) to allow them to join the teleworking modality. It offered companies the option of granting such employees paid vacation in advance (in agreement with the worker). Wage subsidies (back to the top) Côte d'Ivoire Cash-based transfers (April 2020) A total of 125,000 households have received 75,000 CFA francs (136 USD) per quarter (25,000 per month for 3 months) as part of the implementation of a special solidarity fund 13.3 billion CFA francs (approximately 25 million USD) set up by the Ivorian government. This special fund, intended for vulnerable people, began Phase 1 on April 23, 2020 in the Greater Abidjan region, with the goal of expanding into the interior of the country in May 2020. The beneficiaries identified from the available databases of vulnerable households coupled with inclusive and participatory community targeting aim to ensure greater equity and transparency. The government has opted for the electronic distribution of aid by cash transfers alongside the physical distribution of food and non-food (food and hygiene kits). The identification of beneficiaries was made on the basis of existing data in certain structures. Cash transfers (April 2020) The Government of Côte d’Ivoire (GoCI) issued a cash transfer of 500,000 FCFA per (conditional and unconditional) family of destitute people who died due to the pandemic. [May 2020] Workers whose contracts were suspended or terminated were given government Social support. This benefit was given to the 20,326 employees registered at the end of April 2020. The Assistance total allocation was CFAF 4.4 billion, with a benefit amount ranging between 60,000 CFAF and 360,000 CFAF, according to educational and management level. This benefit was delivered for two months. (June 2021) As part of the Productive Social Safety Net project, the Ivorian government distributed, in the first quarter of 2021, CFAF 42.7 billion to households in the form of family allowance and subsidies. Social pensions In-kind transfers (April 2020) The GoCI opted for the electronic distribution of aid by cash transfers alongside the physical distribution of food and non-food (food and hygiene kits). The identification of beneficiaries was made on the basis of existing data in certain structures. After the first phase, operation will be Food, vouchers, others extended to the entire national territory from May 2020. (May 2020) Food baskets were distributed to female beneficiaries, including health workers in rural areas, that had been selected by the government and local authorities. The baskets contained basic foods such as vegetables and rice, and were delivered to the beneficiaries' houses via a nationwide distribution campaign. The GoCI issued food provisions and basic supplies to quarantined populations. School feeding Public works To promote the use of electronic payment tools the Western Africa Central Bank (BCEAO) is providing more flexible measures to open a mobile money account and making it free for people to transfer money between mobile accounts. The GoCI announced postponed payment deadlines for electricity and water bills from the month of April 2020 to the month of July 2020 and, from the month of May 2020 to the month of August 2020. The GoCI announced it would cover the costs of electricity and water bills for disadvantaged groups (i.e., households subscribed to the social electricity tariff, and households whose water consumption is under a certain amount). The GoCI plans to cover the cost for April and May 2020. This impacts Utility waivers more than one million households, or about 6 million beneficiaries. The GoCI announced price controls on hydroalcoholic gels. These measures apply to all distribution networks, including supermarkets, stores, pharmacies, gas stations, and convenience stores, and will be in effect as of March 25th, 2020. (April 2020) The GoCI announced measures to strengthen price controls on consumer products and enforce penalties for violators. (June 2021) The Minister of the Budget and the State Portfolio, Moussa Sanogo, handed over, on Saturday June 5, 2021, the keys to social housing to 77 subscribers of the Cité Lilium, in Ebimpé (commune of Anyama). Paid sick leave The GoCI announced three months of Universal Health Coverage (Couverture Maladie Universelle, CMU) premiums to all beneficiaries of financial support in the form of cash transfers. Health insurance Social The GoCI announced that it would conduct free diagnosis and management of all suspected and Insurance confirmed cases of COVID-19. Pensions Unemployment benefits Social security contributions [April 2020] The "Fond d'appui aux acteurs du secteur informel" (FASI) is a program that provides financing via loans to informal sector actors impacted by the COVID-19 health crisis. The FASI covers all the municipalities of Côte d'Ivoire impacted by COVID-19. Informal sector actors (production units and employees) impacted by the coronavirus seeking to relaunch their work Activation measures activities can benefit from the FASI. Eligible beneficiaries include employees of informal production units who have suffered a loss of income, and Ivorian entrepreneurs in the informal sector proving an economic activity impacted by the pandemic with supporting documentation. The program is divided into four phases : Phase 1: (3 months): Identification of beneficiaries and implementation of grants; Phase 2: (6 months): Training and follow-up-support for beneficiaries. Labor Markets [April 2020] The "Fond d'appui aux acteurs du secteur informel" (FASI) is a program that provides financing via loans to informal sector actors impacted by the COVID-19 health crisis. The FASI covers all the municipalities of Côte d'Ivoire impacted by COVID-19. Informal sector actors (production units and employees) impacted by the coronavirus seeking to relaunch their work Labor market regulations activities can benefit from the FASI. Eligible beneficiaries include employees of informal production units who have suffered a loss of income, and Ivorian entrepreneurs in the informal sector proving an economic activity impacted by the pandemic with supporting documentation. The program is divided into four phases. Phase 3 of FASI involves the recovery of loans granted and formalization of beneficiaries. Reduced work time Wage subsidies (back to the top) Croatia Cash-based transfers On 11 December 2020, the local government of Zagreb in Croatia, aware of the dire situation decided to give a one-off financial support to young artists on the pressure from the artistic community with a gross amount of HRK 5,000 (€666.7). A one-off support to young artists is financed from the budget of the City of Zagreb. Cash transfers On April 1, 2020, Croatia’s Ministry of Culture announced emergency aid payments for freelance (conditional and unconditional) artists whose contributions are paid from the budget of the Republic of Croatia and who can prove that, due to special circumstances conditioned by the coronavirus, they have been prevented or significantly impeded from performing artistic activities. The emergency payments ranging from HRK 1,625 (€217) to HRK 3,250 (€433) net per month were allotted to independent artists. The emergency payments were planned for three months - from 15 March to 15 June 2020 - and would be subject to review each month, depending on the inflow of funds from the state budget. Social pensions In-kind transfers Social Food, vouchers, others Assistance On 8 November 2021, the School feeding Scheme in Croatia, which is aimed at promoting a balanced diet and is now in its eighth year, has been expanded to another 67 schools and 21,000 children as well as to another 106,000 children consuming milk and dairy products. The expansion is the result of a campaign the ministry conducted from October 2020 to October 2021, together with the Paying Agency for Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development, among schools, suppliers and other School feeding state authorities. The program promotes EU health policies and includes ensuring fruit and vegetables in primary and secondary schools as well as milk and dairy products in primary schools as additional meals. In the 2022-21 school year, 803 schools participated in the program with 49 suppliers and 289,686 pupils, for whom 639.5 tons of fruit and vegetables and 312,411 liters of milk and dairy products were utilized. Public works On 17 March 2020, The Croatian government announced the deferment of public obligation payments (income and profit tax and social security contributions) for three months, which can be Utility waivers extended by additional three months if necessary, and the temporary suspension of payments of selected parafiscal charges. On 17 March 2020, The Croatian government announced that individuals will be entitled to an early personal income tax refund. Under the present legislation, a personal income tax refund based on an annual tax assessment is made upon expiry of the deadline for objection to the provisional notice of assessment issued in June, which was usually during August of the current year. The tax refund procedure has been changed so that the refund will be made at the time of delivery of the provisional assessment notice to the individual, who remains entitled to the objection rights. Based on this new measure, the individuals will receive their personal income tax refund for 2019 during June 2020. As of April 10, 2020, for the lease of state-owned properties/premises, the Croatian government has adopted a decision for deferral of payment of the annual rent for 3 months. As long as the deferral is in place, the Republic of Croatia will not claim statutory default interest nor be allowed to declare a cancelation or termination of the underlying lease agreement on the grounds of non-payment of rent. However, this is not applicable on a private property. Paid sick leave Health insurance The government of Croatia paid pension contributions for both public defined benefit (DB) scheme and funded defined contribution (DC) individual accounts for the next 3 months (with possibility of Pensions extension for another three months), in parallel with net wage subsidy of HRK 4000 per employee in a sector/establishment that qualifies for the support. Unemployment benefits Social The government covered the health and pension benefit costs for all coronavirus-stricken Insurance entrepreneurs, or HRK 1,460 per employee, i.e for entrepreneurs who have seen a year-over-year decline in revenue of 20-50%. The benefit had been requested by 66,000 entrepreneurs for more than 400,000 employees. Social security contributions The government of Croatia will pay pension contributions for both public defined benefit (DB) scheme and funded defined contribution (DC) individual accounts for the next 3 months (with possibility of extension for another three months), in parallel with net wage subsidy of HRK 4000 per employee in a sector/establishment that qualifies for the support. Activation measures March 2020] As home offices are not intended for working, employers may not be expected to fulfil all safety requirements pertaining to the specific job position and that statutory health and safety Labor requirements should be fulfilled to the full possible and permissible extent, especially making sure Markets Labor market regulations that employees’ health and safety are not put at risk. [March 2020] The measure for permanent seasonal workers was extended by six months to ensure at least the minimum wage and the health and pension insurance coverage. [January 2021] On 21 January 2021, the Croatian Employment Service issued the Guidance for seasonal workers for 2021. The duration of the measure is six months with the possibility of extension due to the pandemic. It usually covers the cost of extended pension insurance for the first 3 months, and for the next 3 months the 50% of extended insurance. [March 2020] The government enacted a decision on 18 March by which all employers were obliged to ensure work from home arrangements for their employees wherever possible. In addition, employers would be allowed to unilaterally determine that employees should perform their duties at Reduced work time a place different than stipulated in their respective employment agreement. The government also stated that in the case of low-risk jobs (such as office and administrative work) remote work may be in force as long as extraordinary circumstances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic are in place. [March 2020] The government created a program to support the preservation of jobs in sectors affected by the pandemic. Eligible employers included those operating in sectors such as transport and storage, accommodation services, food and drink preparation and service, event organization etc. Employers who could not operate due to the Decisions of the Civil Protection Headquarters or those who faced a decline in income of more than 20% due to the circumstances were also eligible. The support could not be granted if a certain percentage of employees had been dismissed from 20 March 2020 until the date of application; the threshold varied according to the size of the company. The amount of the grant - HRK 3,250 or HRK 1,625 per worker - was applicable for March 2020, while for April and May 2020 it was increased to HRK 4,000 (€534) for full-time jobs or HRK 2,625 (€267) for part-time jobs. [May 2020] The program was continued for the month of June 2020 for employers who still could not operate or faced a decline in revenue of 50% or more. The Croatian Employment Service also announced that an employer would have to repay support if it pays a dividend or profit share by the end of 2021. Wage subsidies [July 2020] It was extended for the months of July and August 2020 and employers needed to show a decline of 60% in revenue compared to the same month the previous year. [August 2020] The program was extended to also include micro-entrepreneurs who would be granted HRK 2,000 (€266.67) per month per full-time worker. [September 2020] The program was extended until the end of 2021. [March 2021] The list of eligible activities was reduced to exclude financial and insurance activities as well as gambling and betting activities. [April 2021] The support was extended for the months of March and April 2021. [July 2021] The program was extended and an additional condition was added which stipulated that employers whose 70% or more workers had been vaccinated against COVID-19 would be eligible to receive the support in full amount. [September] The program was extended for the months of August and September 2021. [July 2020] In late June 2020, a grant was introduced for the preservation of jobs in sheltered workshops, integrative workshops and employment units for people with disabilities, to be applied from the period between July to December 2020. Employers who were eligible for this grant included sheltered workshops, integrative workshops and work units for the employment of people with disabilities, regardless of the sector in which they were operating. Employers had to prove a decrease in turnover of at least 50% in the month preceding the month for which the grant is sought, compared to the same month of the previous year (based on VAT returns submitted to the Tax Authority). An employer could receive a grant in the amount up to HRK 4,000 per month per eligible employee. [January 2021] The measure was extended until 30 June 2021. (back to the top) Cuba Cash-based transfers Sick workers endorsed by medical certificate received a subsidy equivalent to: a) 50% of the average wage if they were hospitalized. b) 60% of the average wage if they were not hospitalized Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) The government extended the term of validity of the temporary monetary benefits of Social Assistance for a period of 6 months from its expiration, to families already receiving the cash Social transfers, without being subject to updates and ratification from the Ministry of Labor and Social Assistance Security. Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works Utility waivers Paid sick leave Health insurance Pensions Social Unemployment benefits Insurance [March 2020] The payment of obligations for the Special Contribution to Social Security of self- employed workers whose activities are suspended were deferred. Social security contributions The government established that those workers who received economic support were exempted from paying income tax as well as special contributions to the Social Security System Activation measures [April 2020] There was no reduction in wages for those workers who needed to self-isolate for Labor fourteen days due to COVID-19. Markets Labor market regulations [April 2020] The government introduced a set of labor measures on how work interruptions should be handled: - If workers are relocated to another position within or outside the entity, they must earn the wages of the new position, without losing their employment relationship with the original entity. - If workers are relocated to an activity without holding a position, they must receive basic wages. - In all cases, it should be ensured that the relocation is carried out in labor activities in correspondence with the current epidemiological situation and food production and care for vulnerable people should be prioritized. [April 2020] The government reduced procedures in the Public Administration to avoid crowding in public places. This included: 1) Suspending the procedures for granting new authorization of self-employment status. 2) Extending work permits to foreigners for 6 months from March 2020 to work in Cuba and suspending procedures for new requests. [April 2020] The government established a set of labor measures, including encouraging remote Reduced work time work or telework in all activities for which workers must be paid 100% of their wage. [April 2020] Elderly workers and people at risk of getting COVID-19 received 100% of their salary during the first month they remained at home, and from the second month 60% of their salary. [April 2020] Working parents of children with classes suspended in primary or special education must receive their full wage for the first month (100% of the basic wage) and if the suspension continues, he/she should receive 60% of the basic wage. Wage subsidies [April 2020] In case a worker cannot be relocated, they should continue to receive 100% of the basic wage during the first month, and 60% of the basic wage from the second month onwards. If the worker does not wish to relocate with no justification given, they should be able to maintain their labor relationship with the original business entity, although no wage will be paid during this period (back to the top) Curaçao (Netherlands) Cash-based transfers Social assistance recipients could receive a fortnightly credit in addition to the social assistance benefit received on a personal rechargeable card. The amount of the deposit depended on the family composition: singles ANG $75, couples without children/single parent with children ANG $150, couples with children ANG $225. This measure was in place on April 22nd, 2020. Cash transfers People who lost their jobs before March 15th, 2020 and are still unemployed will be eligible for a (conditional and unconditional) personal rechargeable card, if they were registered as a job seeker from January 1st 2019. The amount of the deposit depends on the family composition: singles ANG $300 per month, couples (with or without children) and single parent ANG $450 per month. Self-employed entrepreneurs without employing staff can receive additional benefits up to ANG $1,335, if they were unable to work from March 30th, 2020. Social pensions Social In-kind transfers Assistance (May 2020) Emergency food and hygiene package of ANG 50, to be provided weekly for the duration of 1 month to 550 families (intended) based on established criteria. Implementing organization: Food Bank. Total planned budget ANG 110,000 for one month. Food, vouchers, others (May 2020) Emergency hygiene package of ANG 16, with hygienic items in connection with Coronavirus, to be provided monthly to 7,200 welfare recipients for one month. Implementing organization: Kas di Bario. Total planned budget ANG 115,200.00 for 1 month. School feeding Public works (March 2020) Temporary regulations introduced with maximum prices for hygienic products (hand sanitizers, latex gloves, disinfectant sprays, antibacterial wipes and alcohol) and fruits and vegetables Utility waivers with a high vitamin C content. (March 2020) Basic discount in income tax will be adjusted/increased retroactively for the year 2020 to January 1, 2020 (March 2020) Fines for late or non-payments will not be imposed. (March 2020) Current payment of taxes (deferred payment) can be suspended on request. Paid sick leave Health insurance Pensions Unemployment benefits (March 2020) Temporary regulations introduced with maximum prices for hygienic products (hand Social sanitizers, latex gloves, disinfectant sprays, antibacterial wipes and alcohol) and fruits and vegetables Insurance with a high vitamin C content. Social security contributions (March 2020) Basic discount in income tax will be adjusted/increased retroactively for the year 2020 to January 1, 2020 (March 2020) Fines for late or non-payments will not be imposed. (March 2020) Current payment of taxes (deferred payment) can be suspended on request. [March 2020] The Solidarity Package announced by the government included the launch by the Activation measures Ministry of Economic Affairs Development of "KLA PA TURISMO" 2.0 which was aimed at providing hospitality training digitally to stakeholders within the tourism sector. Labor market regulations Reduced work time To provide temporary support to companies affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Labor Social Affairs and Employment has introduced the Temporary Emergency Measure Bridging Work Markets for the Preservation of Work (NOW). This reached employers as well as statutory directors of firms from certain branches, such as hotels, restaurants, cafes, transport, non-food retail, construction and storage. To be eligible, firms must have suffered from revenue loss of at least 25% due to the Wage subsidies COVID-19 pandemic. The compensation varied between 20% and 80% of their maximum wages, depending on the revenue loss. Another condition is that the employer keeps all employees in service and continues to pay them, taking into account any reduction based on mutual consent. [June 2021] The compensation for employers has changed from July 2021 and is now equal to between 18% and 57% of the monthly wage bill, based on expected decrease in turnover (at least 25%). (back to the top) Cyprus Cash-based transfers The government introduced an extraordinary measure to support the unemployed in March 2020. The measure was first introduced for the period from 16 March 2020 to 12 April 2020 and, since then, it has been continually renewed on a monthly basis. Initially (that is between 16 March and 1 July 2020) the amount of the benefit was €360 per month. As of 1 July 2020, this amount was increased to €500 per month. The duration of the allowance is for one month and covers only people who have been recipients of the regular unemployment benefit (registered with the public service employment registry) and who have exhausted their right to a regular unemployment benefit. Cash transfers This allowance is not provided if the unemployed person receives a regular unemployment or (conditional and unconditional) sickness benefit or a maternity/paternity allowance or receives a statutory pension. The government provided a lump-sum allowance for students studying abroad during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic between March and April 2020 to the tune of 750 EUR. Beneficiaries were all students with a permanent residence in Cyprus who were studying abroad during the first wave of the pandemic and could not return to the country during the Easter period due to the Social suspension of flights. As of April 8th, 2020, 3,000 students had received the benefit. Assistance Social pensions In-kind transfers Around 13,000 students received a special allowance in July 2020 to make up for the school Food, vouchers, others breakfasts they missed during March and April 2020. School feeding Public works A tenant support scheme was approved to financially protect tenants by incentivising landlords to reduce rents. Specifically, in cases of a rent reduction, a tax credit is granted to the landowner equal to 50% of the rent reduction provided that the rent reduction is between 30% and 50% for a specific period of months. This plan was introduced in May 2020 and was reinstated in January 2021 (it was Utility waivers extended until March 2021). The only difference between the two periods is that initially the landowner should have made a rent reduction for a period of up to three months within 2020 to gain the tax break, while, for 2021, the period of rent reduction extends to up to six months. The measures target, in principle, all tenants (15.6% of the total population) The government has taken multiple measures in 2021 to support vulnerable households in light of a difficult global economy including the reduction of the VAT rate on electricity consumption in vulnerable households, from 19% to 5%, for a period of 6 months, reduction by the EAC by about 10% in consumer tariffs, a measure that will apply in the two months November - December 2021 and January - February 2022, a € 5 million Plan to provide sponsorships for the replacement of energy- intensive appliances and, in particular, air conditioners, refrigerators and washing machines, with new high-efficiency products, and in the near future vulnerable consumers will be subsidized to replace old type bulbs with LED bulbs. Three-month suspension of a scheduled increase in the interest for housing loans for four years. Suspensions of the VAT payment obligation from April to June 2020 and acceleration of refunds were provided until 10 November 2020. The deferral of payment of VAT due only applies to periods ending on 29 February 2020 (1/12/2019 - 29/2/2020), 31 March 2020 (1/1/2020 - 31/3/2020) and 30 April 2020 (1/2/2020 - 30/4/2020), provided that: the relevant VAT returns will be timely submitted (10/4, 10/5 and 10/6 respectively); and taxable persons do not fall into the specific categories specified in the amending law. Following a proposal from the government, the Cyprus Energy Regulatory Authority (CERA) decided on a universal reduction of 10% of the final electricity price, excluding VAT and the renewable energy sources (RES) and energy saving fee (FDI). This measure was initially implemented in the first phase of the pandemic, in March 2020, for a period of four months. On 30 March 2020, the Cypriot Minister for Finance issued a decree providing for an extension of the deadline for submission of tax returns and payment of tax extended. Further, by the same decree, the Minister of Finance has extended the deadline for the payment of tax due under the aforementioned tax returns for 2018 until the same date. The purpose of this measure was to protect families and people paying rents and facing financial difficulties from the risk of an eviction. This legislation came into force in March 2020 and was amended in May 2020 so as to further extend the protection of renters from any procedure for the recovery of property-ownership until 30 September 2020. This measure targeted any person or household living in a rented house or apartment who faced financial difficulty in paying the rent, and who was therefore at risk of receiving a notice of eviction. 0.18% of the total population or about 1,500 people. An interest rate subsidy scheme for new mortgages was passed with the purpose of providing financial support to households with new home mortgages which have been taken out for buying or building a prime residence (not loans for renovating or buying a secondary residence). This is achieved through subsidizing their interest rate payments up to a certain level and for a period that cannot exceed four years. The scheme was approved by the cabinet on 27 May 2020, while its extension was approved by a subsequent cabinet decision on 25 November 2020. The scheme covers new housing loans for which loan agreements have been signed from 1 March 2020 onwards and will be approved by the financial institutions by 30 June 2021. On 30 March 2020, the Cypriot Minister for Finance issued a decree providing relief in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The decree provides for the extension of the deadline for submission of tax returns and payment of taxes as well as the deadline for the filing of tax returns. The government has taken multiple measures in 2021 to support vulnerable households in light of a difficult global economy including the reduction of the VAT rate on electricity consumption in vulnerable households from 19% to 5% for a period of 6 months, reduction by the EAC by about 10% in consumer tariffs, a measure that will apply in the two months November - December 2021 and January - February 2022, a € 5 million Plan to provide sponsorships for the replacement of energy- intensive appliances and, in particular, air conditioners, refrigerators and washing machines, with new high-efficiency products, and in the near future vulnerable consumers will be subsidized to replace old type bulbs with LED bulbs. Within the content of the Emergency Measures Taken to Cope with the COVID 19 Pandemic Act 2020 aiming at supporting employees responsible for the care of children up to 15 years of age and/or children with disabilities of all ages, the "Child Care Special Leave" allowance is granted in Social accordance with certain terms and conditions. The Child Care Special Leave Allowance will be Paid sick leave awarded to working parents who are responsible for the care of children up to 15 years of age and/or Insurance children with disabilities of any age and due to the nature of their work cannot work either by teleworking or working from home or with flexible working hours provided there is no in-house assistance. Granting of a sickness benefit of EUR 800 per month to workers (including self-employed) who are dealing with special health issues, for cases of compulsory absence from work and certain senior citizens. Health insurance Pensions [March 2020] Workers who have lost their employment or full employment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic are entitled to receive the Special Unemployment Benefit to workers. The Unemployment benefits Special Scheme for Partial Suspension of Business and provision of a Special Unemployment Benefit provides support from 16/3/2020 to 12/4/2020. [Extension-September 2020] Deadline was prolonged until 31st October 2020 [March 2020] In order to strengthen the health sector in the effort to combat the virus and not to affect the incomes of employees and enterprises, a suspension of additional contribution by employers and employees to the General Healthcare System will be introduced. This is scheduled as of 31/3/2020 for two months. The estimated budget is €98 million. Social security contributions Extension of the time period for the submission of appeals at the Social Insurance Services for self- employed persons; Three-month suspension of a scheduled increase in the contribution to the General Healthcare System and interest subsidy for new business and housing loans for four years, which benefit both businesses and households. Special schemes for the training of employees, aiming to enable SMEs to train their employees; Activation measures [September 2020] The Incentives Provision Scheme aims to provide young people aged 15 to 29 years who are out of work with education or training (for immediate recruitment). The estimated budget amounts to €4,000,000 and the scheme is scheduled to be implemented after the end of October 2020. Labor [April 2020] All the businesses that are still operative in compliance with the Quarantine Markets Labor market regulations (Determination of Measures to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19) related decrees, are required to organize and implement a disinfection procedure which shall be implemented after the end of every working day in all the premises that are visited by the public, to prevent the spread of the virus. [January 2021] Private enterprises/services that remain in operation are required to promote teleworking, with a regulation for simultaneous physical presence of 15 % of their staff, with a Reduced work time maximum number of employees who may be physically present at 20 persons per professional premise, to prevent the spread of the virus. The measures will apply from Sunday, January 10, 2021 until 31 January at midnight [Extension- May 2021] The measure of physical presence of up to 30% of employees remains, with a maximum number of 50 employees that can be physically present in each professional structure, and with a minimum number of 5 employees, until 16 May 2021. From 17 May 2021, physical presence of up to 50% is allowed. [March 2020] The government launched the Special Self Employed Benefit to cope with the COVID- 19 pandemic. This was particularly aimed at those self-employed who suffer from a reduced turnover of more than 25% in March 2020. Eligible individuals were granted with an allowance equal to 60% of the weekly amount of the insurable remuneration for which the payee was obliged to pay contributions to the Social Insurance Services, which ranged between € 300 and € 900. To receive this benefit, self-employed must not dismiss any of its employees. This measure was in place between March 16th and April 12th, 2020. [Extension-September 2020] Deadline was prolonged until 31st October 2020. [March 2020] With a view of supporting enterprises, businesses (legal or natural persons who are employers) that have partially suspended their operation and have a turnover decline greater than 25% in March 2020 and are projecting a corresponding drop in turnover for April 2020, as compared to the corresponding months of the previous year and the decline in turnover solely due to the state of the business as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, are entitled to receive the Special Wage subsidies Unemployment Benefit to workers. The Special Scheme for Partial Suspension of Business and provision of a Special Unemployment Benefit provides support from 16/3/2020 to 12/4/2020. In the cases of businesses that were not active during the corresponding period of the previous year, the basis for comparison will be the months immediately preceding March 2020. The estimated budget is 110 million Euros. [Extension-September 2020] Deadline was prolonged until 31st October 2020 [March 2020] The government announced a support Plan for Small Businesses employing up to 5 people, under the condition that these businesses have suffered a loss bigger than 25% of their turnover but that will keep employing their employees. The estimated budget is €10million and the Plan foresees a subsidy of 70% of the workers’ salary. Support plan for small businesses that have suffered losses to subsidize 70 percent of workers' salary and the self-employed (including those who are not on the VAT register), including a lump sum to cover debts in rents and other operating expenses; those who are on the VAT register do not need to apply for this subsidy. (back to the top) Czechia Cash-based transfers In March 2020, Czech Republic announced a compensation bonus for self-employed workers which shall be paid by tax authority upon receipt of the application. It is paid as a lump sum up to CZK 25,000, ie CZK 500 for each day of the bonus period in which the self-employed person has met all the conditions for awarding the bonus. The first bonus period lasts from March 12 to April 30, 2020. Self-employed persons submit applications for CZK 500 for every day during this period, during which they could not perform their activities in whole or in part above the usual health risks or emergency measures. On May 7, 2020, the government announced to extend the period for which self-employed can claim a bonus. The second bonus period applies from May 1 to June 8, 2020. The conditions for obtaining the compensation bonus will be the same. However, the self-employed will have to reapply for the bonus for this period and submit a new affidavit. Also, if someone has not yet applied for the first bonus period, then from 7 May 2020 onwards it is possible to submit both applications together. This program was re-introduced in October and since then it has been extended six times. On 24 February 2021, the government increased the bonus from CZK 500 to CZK 1,000 per day for entrepreneurs while the employees would get only CZK 500 and it was Social applied retroactively from February 1st, 2021. The pool of potential applicants was larger, now Cash transfers Assistance bankrupt people, volunteers in care services and foster parents working on an agreement could also (conditional and unconditional) apply. This was further extended until May 2021. March 4, 2021, the Czech government approved daily quarantine compensation bonus of CZK 370 per person to be paid to those who have been ordered to quarantine or isolation between March 1 and April 30, 2021. If the Parliament approves, payments should be extended until June 30. On 8 March 2021, Czech Republic announced that doctors, other medical staff, non-medical professionals, and social service workers will receive an extraordinary bonus for their service during Covid-19. Doctors and other medical staff will be paid a bonus of up CZK 75,000 via the subsidy program of the Ministry of Health, depending on the number of hours actually worked in the period from 1 October 2020 to 28 February 2021 at the provider’s workplace, up to the amount of their agreed workload. Non-medical employees in these facilities will receive a bonus of CZK 30,000 if they work full time. The government has set aside CZK 12.2 billion from the State budget for these bonuses, and the employees should receive them with their April 2021 wages. Employees in social services will also receive the bonuses of CZK 25,000. The amount of their extraordinary remuneration will depend on the workload and the number of hours actually worked and the complexity of the work. Employees of the 1st category founders in direct care and medical staff will be entitled to up to CZK 50,000 if they are working in direct care, and to CZK 30,000 if they are other employees; in the 2nd category for other services, the numbers will be CZK 25,000 for employees in direct care and CZK 15,000 for other employees. In addition to the financial possibilities of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, the government released another CZK 5 billion for these bonuses. On 20 August 2020, Czech Republic announced the COVID Spa program, to support Czech spas, which had been badly damaged by the anti-COVID-19 measures and the sharp decline in the tourism sector (with a loss of 180,000–200,000 clients per year in Czech spas). Thus, the government of the Czech Republic delivered CZK 1 billion (€37,481,260 approx.) in the form of discount vouchers worth CZK 4,000 (€150) per person (250,000 vouchers are available in total). The call was opened on 24 August 2020 with the deadline of 30 September 2020. On April 6, 2021, the second call of this program (i.e., re-introduction) COVID Spa 2021 was opened. The decisive period is from 1 January 2021 until 31 December 2021. The call is opened for applications until 28 May 2021. The total amount for this call is CZK 743.8 million (€28,607,692). From the first round, CZK 150.58 million was spent (as reported on 31 May 2021). As of 2 October 2020, 147,000 vouchers have been downloaded out of 250,000 for 2020 and as of 10 September 2021, 128,000 vouchers were downloaded from the total number of 185,000 vouchers for 2021. On November 11, 2020, Czech Republic’s Region Development of Czech Republic under the COVID Tourism program supported tour guides (i.e., individuals) with an amount of CZK 50,000 or 40,000 depending on the conditions given below. The calls have been opened from 11 November 2020 until 11 January 2021 (the application deadline was extended until 29 January 2021).Tour guides will receive CZK 50,000 (€1,852 approx.), if he/she provides educational services to a school facility for the duration of at least ten teaching hours by 30 June 2021 at the latest or completes further education or a retraining course accredited by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic for additional employment on the labor market by 31 December 2021. Or else, CZK 40,000 (€1,482 approx.), if the guide does not meet the conditions above. Total allocated funds for this is CZK 25 million (€925,926 approx.). As of 31 May 2021, according to the Ministry it was spent CZK 18,580,000 (€714,615 approx.) on 404 tourist guides (out of 619 applications). On 18 August 2020, the Czech government introduced a program for self-employed artists and technicians in the field of culture to cover ex-post vain expenditures on cultural events which have been cancelled or postponed in the period from 10 March 2020 to 31 August 2020. They introduced a one-time support for artistic and technical professions in the field of culture in the amount of CZK 60,000 (€2,204 approx.). The total allocation (including funds for business) of the first call was CZK 900,000,000 (€33,063,923 approx.). This program was re-introduced on 22 October 2020 to cover vain expenditures on cultural events which were cancelled or postponed in the period from 1 October to 20 November 2020. The total allocation (include funds for business) of the second call is CZK 750,000,000 (€27,553,269 approx.). On 5 February 2021, they introduced policies for self-employed in the culture (actors, acrobats, sound engineers, illuminators, painters, writers etc.) and audiovisual industry (audiovisual professions). A one-off support in the total amount of CZK 60,000 (€ 2,300 approx.) per person was provided. Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Public works Utility waivers Antivirus Employment Protection Program: an employee who is affected by COVID-19 or ordered into quarantine in connection with COVID-19 is entitled to sick pay. This rule applies to all insured persons notwithstanding the place of quarantine (national territory, another EU member state or a third country). Same rules apply as in the case of a sick worker (the employer has the obligation to pay the employee a salary reimbursement in the amount of 60% of reduced average earnings for the first 14 calendar days of the quarantine, with no waiting period; after 14 days the employee is further reimbursed through sickness insurance). The employee must be covered by Czech sickness insurance to be entitled to this sickness allowance. The program has now been extended until 31/08/2020. New law that came into effect on 26 March 2020: care/nursing allowance (also called attendance Paid sick leave Social allowance) is prolonged for the whole period of school closure as a result of anti-epidemic measures Insurance for workers with children aged 0-13 (compared to up to 10 years old before) or persons taking care of disabled persons (regardless of age) if the facility designed for their care has closed. The attendance allowance is provided from sickness insurance by the Czech Social Security Administration and thus not considered as a family benefit. It might or might not be paid at the same level as a sickness benefit The government approved a proposal for legislative changes in the field of employment. It will now be possible for a job seeker to register at the Labor Office online and from anywhere. Persons registered with the Labor Office will now have up to 3 days to prove a medical certificate in case of illness. Health insurance Self-employed can apply for a 6-month waiver of health insurance payments. Pensions The government paid out a one-off benefit for pensioners of CZK 5,000 (CZK 15bn in total). Unemployment benefits [June 2020] As part of the Antivirus Employment Protection Program, social security contributions will be waived for the months of June, July and August for companies with up to 50 employees, an additional targeted support aimed at mitigating the effects of the coronavirus crisis in order to maintain the maximum possible number of jobs. The Antivirus C is expected to help approximately 88% of employers and 1.4 millions of their employees. The impact on the state budget is expected to Social security contributions amount to a maximum of CZK 13.5 billion. Social security contribution relief for self-employed affected by COVID-19. Waiver of penalties related to pension and state employment policy contributions payments. This measure waives penalties for late filing payments and statements to state pension and allows for deferral of monthly pre-payments into pension and state employment policy contributions. The government approved a proposal for legislative changes in the field of employment. It will now Activation measures be possible for a job seeker to register at the Labor Office online and from anywhere. Labor market regulations Reduced work time [March 2020] The Antivirus Employment Protection Program, designed to help businesses protect their jobs will compensate companies for payments through the Labor Office of the Czech Republic, helping employers to better manage the current situation and not resort to redundancies. Employers can apply to the Labor Office for a contribution in two modes: Labor - Mode A covers employers whose employees have been quarantined or have had to reduce their Markets operations as a result of crisis or emergency measures issued by the government, the Ministry of Health or the regional hygienic station. The maximum aid amount is 80% of the salary paid (incl. Wage subsidies levies) or CZK 39,000 per employee. - Mode B covers employers who had their number of employees dropped below tolerable levels due to quarantine and childcare, or the closure of the company due to lack of raw materials or inputs or reduced demand for products or services. The maximum aid amount is 60% of the wage compensation paid, including mandatory contributions or CZK 29,000 per month per employee. [Extension- June 2020] Extensions of the eligibility period and validity period started for both Mode A and B (back to the top) Denmark Cash-based transfers Cash transfers (conditional and unconditional) Social pensions In-kind transfers Food, vouchers, others School feeding Social Public works Assistance Around 500,000 households in various parts of Denmark can apply for assistance paying sky-high heating bills during the winter of 2021-2022. The government has announced funds of 100 million kroner to be earmarked to help low-income households in affected areas to pay the high bills. Municipalities will be able to apply for the funding. Local authorities would then use the money to Utility waivers directly subsidize residents, the Ministry said. Individual residents can already apply for the subsidies through their municipalities. The "Summer and Business Package" of May 2021 provided a framework of 110 million DKK for cheaper domestic transport during the summer period. Sickness Benefits Act amendment (new bill adopted on March 17 2020) provides a right to receive and be reimbursed for sickness benefits from the first day of absence in case of COVID-19 infection or due to quarantine imposed by health authorities, provided that the other general conditions in the Sickness Benefits Act for receiving and being reimbursed for sickness benefits are met. This applies to both employees (standard and non-standard) and self-employed workers. Social Paid sick leave For workers on sick leave benefits, the remaining entitlement period will be frozen for three months Insurance and all job search and activation requirements are canceled. Sick leave benefits subsidy by the Ministry of Finance. Sick leave benefits are normally provided by the employer in the first month of illness, however now, if related to COVID-19, the government will cover these. This is so far valid until the 31st of January 2021. Health insurance Pensions [March 2020] Unemployment benefit recipients will have increased access to unemployment benefit as the period from 1 March to 31 May does not count in the unemployed seniority. However, the person must be a member of the unemployment insurance fund during the period. Suspension of G- days: Employer's payment of unemployment benefit (G-days) to employees who are covered by a division of work or returned home is suspended. [Extension -July 2020] Due to the Corona situation, the Danish Parliament has decided to extend the temporary period by one month until 30 June 2020. [Extension -December 2020] Reintroduction of the suspension of unemployment benefit consumption for all unemployment benefit recipients in the period from 1 January 2021 to 28 February 2021, corresponding to the extension of the targeted compensation schemes. [Extension - February 2021] The parties to the agreement agree that the suspension of unemployment benefit consumption will be extended until and including April 2021. [Extension - May 2021] The Danish Parliament passed a bill (L 218) to extend the suspension of benefit consumption until 30 June 2021. Unemployment benefits [April 2020] A so-called 225 hours rule in force requires that the unemployed needs to have had 225 hours of employment over the last 12 months in order to continuously receiving a cash benefit. The government and the Parliament have suspended this rule on the grounds that finding a new job is impossible in the current situation. The government and the Parliament on 6 April 2020 decided to put the 225 hours rule on hold with effect from 9 March 2020 and three months forward. This means that the unemployed person receiving social security benefits in this period will receive the cash benefit without documenting 225 hours of employment in the last 12 months nor having continuously to search for jobs. [Extension - July 2020] Due to the Corona situation, the Danish parliament has decided to extend the suspension of the 225-hour rule for social security protection recipients until September 8, 2020. [Extension - February 2021] The parties to the agreement agreed to extend the suspension of the 225-hour rule by a further two months until and including 30 April 2021. [Extension -May 2021] The Danish Parliament passed a bill (L 219) to extend the suspension of the 225-hour-rule until the 30 June 2021. Social security contributions Activation measures Labor Markets [February 2021] A bill requiring employers to ensure that traveling employees are PCR-tested for Labor market regulations COVID-19 after entry into Denmark entered into force on 2 February 2021. It contains a so-called sunset clause, so the law will be repealed on 1 July 2021, unless this period is extended prior to that date. With the adopted bill, employers who employ workers traveling into Denmark to work are required to ensure that the arriving employees are tested for COVID-19 after entry. The requirement does not apply to individuals who live in Denmark. In connection with the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Employment and the Labor Inspectorate has decided to adopt a force majeure provision in the occupational health and safety regulations on Reduced work time rest periods. This means that the rule that employees must have a rest period of at least 11 consecutive hours a day and a weekly day off can be waived to the extent necessary in companies that face an extraordinary workload due to COVID-19. This is a temporary measure. [March 2020] A 2.6 billion Danish krone short-time work scheme was announced on March 15, 2020 and will apply retroactively from 9 March until 9 June, 2020. It applies to companies facing having to fire at least 30 percent of employees or more than 50 employees. Conversely, companies undertake not to fire employees for financial reasons while receiving compensation from the state. For employees paid on a monthly basis who would otherwise have been fired, the Danish government would cover 75% of the employees’ salaries if firms committed not to lay off workers up to a maximum of 23,000 Danish krone/month ($3,418). Firms will also have to cover the remaining 25% to ensure employees can keep their full salary. For hourly workers (with no notice period) the compensation rate is 90% up to a maximum of 26,000 kroner (or EUR 3500). From the employees' side, it is a question of each individual having to take five vacation days - either vacation, time off or without pay - in order to receive the salary compensation. [Extension - April 2020] The government and the social partners have agreed to extend the temporary wage compensation scheme by one month to apply until and including 8 July. Wage subsidies [May 2020] Wage subsidy scheme for companies that have apprentices or want to hire apprentices. The initiatives are intended to ensure that pupils can complete their education in the event that they lose their apprenticeship as a result of the crisis. Companies will receive 75% of their current apprentices' wages. In addition, wage subsidies are given for new agreements of 45% for short appointments and 90% for ordinary training agreements, respectively. All employers in both the public and private sectors will receive an increased salary refund during school stays by 20% in the second half of 2020. Funds are allocated to a number of initiatives to ensure that pupils have easier access to school internships. It also envisages investing in the quality of school internships. The AUB scheme will be balanced by introducing a flexible AUB contribution from 2021 to ensure that income and expenditure balance over time and can accommodate an increased activity in vocational education and training. (back to the top) Djibouti Cash-based transfers (March 2021) The GoD has secured funding to its Integrated Cash Transfer and Human Capital Cash transfers Project. This additional finance permits an extension of cash transfers to about 2,500 households in (conditional and unconditional) urban areas. The transfers will be fixed at DJF 30,000 (about US$169, or US$56 per month) in the regions of the interior, and DJF 24,000 (about US$135, or US$45 per month) in Djibouti-ville. Social pensions In-kind transfers (April 2020) WFP, in partnership with the Ministry of Social Affairs and Solidarity (MASS), in response to the pandemic, has started a new phase of distribution of vouchers to vulnerable populations affected by the November 2019 floods, for a value of FDJ10,000 per household to 4,500 households in Djibouti city. WFP and MASS staff finalized the voucher distribution on 1 April. These households received their vouchers to be redeemed at retailer sites to receive food in the various neighborhoods of Djibouti city. In addition, UNHCR, ONARS and MASS agreed to include refugees in Social the cash assistance program Assistance (April 2020) Over a three-month period from April to June 2020, the Integrated Cash Transfer and Food, vouchers, others Human Capital project was restructured to accommodate new support for in-kind transfers to cushion the impact of COVID-19 on the vulnerable population. Food vouchers (FDJ10,000/USD56.5 per month per family for 3 months) were given to 27,567 poor and vulnerable urban households (154,000 people), exceeding the target of 27,000 households. It targeted approximately 16,000 households under the poverty line, and approximately 11,000 households active in day labor, temporary and/or independent work. In addition, the food voucher platform catalyzed government financing for food vouchers for one month to about 49,000 additional households. The vouchers entitled beneficiary households in Djibouti-ville and its suburb of Balbala to a basket of food staples, including rice, flour, cooking oil, sugar, dates, pasta, and tomatoes. The intervention was designed and carried out with a series of measures designed to mitigate the risk of transmission of the coronavirus School feeding Public works (March 2020) An electricity subsidy of 168.7 USD to cover 94% of the population as well as a Utility waivers universal postponement on the payment of utilities bills from March to June 2020. A presidential decree (2020-63/PR/MTRA) has been introduced, requesting exceptional measures for businesses with 11 workers or more, including paid leave. The employee benefits from compensation for lost wages, the rate of which will be fixed by a Paid sick leave government decree. All civil servants and employees in the parastatal and formal private sectors are paid during the containment period. Social Health insurance Insurance Pensions Unemployment benefits [April 2020] The government announced that it would provide support for the employers' social contributions paid by companies which are affected by confinement and commit to maintaining Social security contributions staff salaries. This amounted to 0.5 billion FDJ. [July 2020] On July 24, 2020, the African Development Bank mobilized additional funds to help Djibouti continue with this policy. Activation measures (March 2020) Presidential decree (2020-63/PR/MTRA) puts in place health and safety measures for the protection of workers in the workplace (in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic) of enterprises of 11 workers or more. Measures include: - Employer must set up a work environment that promotes barrier gestures, for example washing hands regularly and using disinfectant for hands and surfaces. Avoid touching face; covering mouth when coughing or sneezing. If a person is not feeling well, they should isolate themselves and seek Labor market regulations medical assistance. - Employer is required to respect and enforce barrier gestures in the workplace. - Companies are invited to rethink their organizations to: limit meetings to what is strictly necessary; Labor limit groupings of employees in confined spaces; non-essential trips must be canceled or postponed Markets by the organization. The government promised support measures to enterprises who would follow the rules, as well as sanctions to those which openly broke the instructions. ( [March 2020] Presidential decree (2020-63/PR/MTRA) proposed exceptional measures, requesting enterprises of 11 workers or more, to protect their workers contracts, by adopting alternative working Reduced work time measures (paid leave, teleworking, partial work). For the teleworking measure, the employee and his/her employer must agree to use telework. They must imperatively formalize this agreement by the means of their choice. The employee must agree to be teleworking. The fact of refusing to be teleworked cannot constitute a reason for dismissal. However, in the event of exceptional circumstances or force majeure, teleworking may be imposed on the employee without his/her agreement to contain the epidemic. [March 2020] Presidential decree (2020-63/PR/MTRA) proposed exceptional measures, requesting enterprises of 11 workers or more, to protect their workers contracts, by adopting alternative working measures (paid leave, teleworking, partial work). For the policy of partial work, the employer can place his employees in a position of partial activity when the company is forced to reduce or temporarily suspend its activity during the duration of the coronavirus crisis in consultation with the workers (staff representatives, trade union organization). [March 2020] As per decree (2020/63), certain categories of employees in the private sector who lost their jobs or had a reduction of work time due to COVID-19 can be entitled to government compensation. On April 29, 2020 Decree N° 2020-049/PR/MTRA announced the conditions for granting compensatory allowance for companies. Workers placed in partial activity could receive a compensation of up to 70 per cent of their wages despite the reduction in working hours—30 per cent being paid by the State, and the remaining 40 Wage subsidies per cent by the the employer. The employers will receive money from the government and must pay their employees. The specific allowance due to companies as well as the compensatory allowance allocated to their employees placed in a partial employment position mentioned by the aforementioned decree n ° 2020/63 of March 23, 2020, benefits companies who started their activity and did not file a declaration of suspension of payment before March 1, 2020, were forced to reduce or temporarily suspend their activity due to the pandemic. (back to the top) Dominica Cash-based transfers $8 million approved from the Dominica Social Security to help people who would have lost their jobs (from the Redundancy Fund and the Employment Injury branch of the DSS). Plus, a minimum of $9.5 million from the government for relief payments to those who are financially challenged. This program offered financial assistance in the amount of EC$600.00 and EC$400.00 to individuals with minor dependents under the age of 18 and individuals with no minor dependents under the age of 18 respectively who have either been laid off or whose employment hasbeen terminated as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic or the Emergency Powers (Curfew) Order, Statutory Rules and Order No. 15 of 2020. Financial assistance was paid via the Dominica Social Security (DSS). To be eligible, individuals must have been laid off/terminated between March 1 to August 15, 2020; individuals must have not received other unemployment benefits as a result of his/her termination, evidenced by an employer declaration or cross-checked with the Redundancy Social Fund database at DSS; and total employment income of the individuals must not exceed Cash transfers EC$4,000.00 per month, verified by the last month of income reported in the DSS database, among Assistance (conditional and unconditional) other requirements. This grant program is targeted at self-employed sole trader businesses. This program will offer a financial assistance grant in the amount of EC$600.00 and EC$400.00 respectively for a period of three months to self-employed individuals with minor dependents under the age of 18 and individuals with no minor dependents under the age of 18 respectively, whose businesses have been suspended as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic or the Emergency Powers (Curfew) Order, Statutory Rules and Order No. 15 of 2020. Grants will be paid via the DSS. To be eligible beneficiaries must show: - Evidence of business activity and business must have been operational in Dominica prior to March 1, 2020 - Business must have been closed/operations suspended after March 1, 2020 and must remain closed/suspended in order to receive each month's benefit - Individual's business sales for the last calendar year ending December 31, 2019 did not exceed EC$100,000.00 - Individual is not in receipt of other employment income - Individual has not received cash grants from government for agriculture The Social Cash Transfers Program is one of the programs launched by the government to mitigate the socioeconomic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. It will provide temporary income support to selected vulnerable individuals and families to address their basic needs including food, health, education and other necessities. Groups targeted for potential support through this program are: - Existing beneficiaries of the Public Assistance Program (PAP) - Eligible senior citizens and persons with disabilities who are not registered on the PAP and are not receiving other types of financial support - Eligible fisherfolks and fish vendors and small craft producers and vendors The program is led by the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment, Youth at Risk, Gender Affairs, Seniors Security and Dominicans with Disabilities in partnership with the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) and it is made possible thanks to the generous support of the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and WFP. 3000 people to benefit from COVID-19 Social Cash, 2000 of whom are automatically registered under the Public Assistant Program (PAP) are to benefit from the program. They received two top- ups of EC$ 225 for a period of two months for a total value of $450 EC. Non-PAP beneficiaries received two payments of EC$ 450 each, over the course of two months, for a total value of EC$ 900. Benefits were disbursed based on the payment method selected at the time of registration. Bank payments were done by direct bank transfer, cash and cheques were issued and processed with the support of Village Councils Direct Farm Support Cash Grant - Cash grants (EC$3.5 million total) to approximately 2,500 individual crop farmers to assist with the cost of farm labour and other direct costs. The grant amount is based on the size of the farmer’s holding - small holdings EC$700, medium holdings EC$1,400 and large holdings EC$2,800. Social pensions In-kind transfers Backyard Gardening Seedlings Program – seedlings for a variety of crops distributed to registrants across Dominica to boost food production (corn, beans and sweet potatoes, tomatoes, lettuce, pumpkin, cucumbers, cabbage, sweet peppers, and pumpkin) and to guarantee food security. Food, vouchers, others According to the press, the government spent EC$162,000 to procure seeds and produce seedlings and planting materials for farmers island wide. School feeding Public works The Republic Bank implemented a moratorium on all loans, including mortgages and help loans for up to 6 months. There was debt restructuring and a temporary increase in overdraft and credit Utility waivers cards. Late fees or loan payments were waived at the Republic Bank and there was no penalty on withdrawals of certificates of deposit. Paid sick leave Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions [July 2020] The government announced that applications were open for Work Online Dominica, an online, 12-week long training program open to individuals aged 17-40. The goal of this program was to provide skills training to access online opportunities for incoming generations. [June 2021] The Activation measures training of the first cohort commenced in June 2021. Sixty participants benefited from this program Labor and out of those, fifty were able to secure online jobs. The program was supported by the Dominican Markets government, USAID and IsraAID. Labor market regulations Reduced work time Wage subsidies (back to the top) Dominican Republic Cash-based transfers Government has rolled out a ‘Stay at Home’ program (Quédate en Casa) with different elements, including (i) top-up to safety net of 5,000 pesos (US$92) for two months to 811,000 beneficiary families that have the Solidarity payment card to purchase food and basic necessities; (ii) horizontal expansion at the same amount 5,000 pesos (US$92) to 690,000 nonpoor and vulnerable non- beneficiary families in the SIUBEN social registry. The payments are expected from April 1 to May 30; (iii) a special transfer totaling 7,000 pesos (US129) to over 350,000 households where the Cash transfers household head is vulnerable to COVID19. (conditional and unconditional) The government has launched the freelancer/self-employed work assistance program (Pa ‘Ti) which provides temporarily support of RD $ 5,000 to independent workers, who have not been able to work due to f social distancing measures imposed by the pandemic, with an unconditional cash transfer that allows them to counteract the economic effects of the measures taken to stop the spread of COVID-19 . Total planned beneficiaries is 2.3 million individuals (200,000 actual as of June 2020). The program is extended to the end of December 2020. Social Assistance Social pensions In-kind transfers Expansion of the Comer Es Primero cash transfer program, as follows: vertical expansion of conditional transfers of the CEP - 100% increase in the amount transferred to families. Horizontal expansion - inclusion of 100,000 families in extreme poverty, moderate poverty and vulnerable sectors on the verge of becoming poor due to the shock of COVID 19. This expansion will deliver the same increased benefits that will be delivered to families that already participate in the program. These inclusions are temporary. Horizontal expansion - inclusion of formalized own-account workers Food, vouchers, others who are listed in the Social Security Treasury (TSS) and who are at risk of falling into poverty due to the impact of the shock of the COVID 19. Economic Kitchens (Comedores Económicos) is serving more than 100,000 servings of cooked food every day, through its mobile kitchens across the country. More than 22,000 basic food kits are also being distributed to children 0-5.70. School feeding Through the Stay at Home program students receive food rations each week (it was announced that 1,3M will be delivered), enough for one week of feeding per child. More than 22.000 basic feeding kits are being distributed to children from 0 to 5 years old who received their food in children's centers. The National Institute of Student Welfare (Instituto Nacional de Bienestar Estudiantil) is distributing 1.8 million food kits to parents and tutors of students enrolled in the different modalities of the School Lunch Program (Programa de Almuerzo Escolar), replacing the cooked rations they receive daily. Public works The government decided to forbid the suspension of non-paid electric energy provision and Utility waivers telecommunication services, provided by both public and private firms, during the pandemic, in order to guarantee the provision of those services. Paid sick leave Paid leave for employees who are over 60 years of age and have a special health condition. Health insurance Social Pensions Insurance Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures [March 2020] The government announced that firms whose establishments must be closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic may grant paid vacations to all workers. Labor market regulations [March 2020] The government announced that those firms whose establishments were to remain open during the pandemic should introduce more flexible working hours as well as remote work, Reduced work time wherever possible. However, firms are not allowed to reduce workers' wages. Labor Markets [March 2020] The government is covering up to 8,500 pesos (US $ 157) of the salary of formal employees in economic sectors that have temporarily ceased their operations. For those companies that have not yet suspended operations, the Economic Commission will work directly with them to provide coverage of a percentage of the salary, which can reach up to 8,500 pesos per month, to keep workers on their payroll, thus facilitating job stability and household income. This measure will Wage subsidies be valid for two months. According to the Decree 143-20, this economic support for suspended workers (FASE I) is equivalent to 70% of suspended workers' wages, although this cannot be less than RD$5,000 nor greater than RD$8,5000 and essential workers are not considered as beneficiaries of this program. The program is also targeted at non-suspended employees working in SMEs firms (FASE II), who will receive RD$5,000 per month. According to the IMF, the program's beneficiaries will be 754,000 families of formal workers who were laid off (no information about how many workers receive the benefit). [August 2020] The program was later extended by Decree 358-2020 until the 31st of December 2020. [December 2020] The government announced that FASE I would be extended until April 2021 and FASE II would eventually be replaced by another program. [April 2021] According to the IMF, FASE I expired at the end of April but the government announced a new program targeted at workers in the tourism sector, one of the most adversely impacted sectors, in the form of a targeted FASE program from May until July 2021. [September 2021] Overall, the expenditure of FASE so far has been 50.909 billion pesos. (back to the top) Ecuador Cash-based transfers The Bono de Proteccion Familiar is a transfer of USD 60 to 950,000 poor households and informal sector workers. The first transfer was made in early April and the second transfer was initiated in mid-May. The Decree N° 1026 (2020/04/24) extended this benefit in a second phase which was paid between May and June 2020. In this case, it is a one-off payment of US$120. This extension was aimed to increase the program's coverage, as they now include vulnerable and poor people whose income isless than the poverty line (Canasta Familar Vital) Cash transfers An amount of USD 15 every 2 months is given to all beneficiaries of benefits and pensions of the (conditional and unconditional) cash transfer programs of the Ministry of Economic and Social Inclusion. The Ministry of Economic and Social Inclusion (MIES) reported that more than 7,990 families, users of Child Development Services, will receive the Nutritional Support Bounce (Bono de Apoyo Nutricional). This is a one-time cash compensation of USD 240. The beneficiaries are mostly pregnant women and families with children from 0 to 3 years old. Household beneficiaries of the Social Bono de Protección Familiar are not eligible for this program. Assistance Social pensions In-kind transfers The program "dar una mano sin dar la mano" (Giving a hand) will provide kits. The digital platform allows individuals to choose between kits of 5, 10 and 20 dollars, which will allow donations for people who need it most. Food, vouchers, others The government announced an Emergency Food Plan for 8 million people through the Solidarity Basket Plan (Plan de Emergencia de Alimentación). This consists of in-kind food distributions in public schools and door-to-door delivery. School feeding Public works The Government of Ecuador (GoE) has prohibited the price increase of basic services, including Utility waivers water, electricity, internet, and telecommunications for one year. Paid sick leave The GoE extended health coverage for 60 days for people dismissed from their place of employment or those who received delayed payments due to the pandemic. Health insurance The GoE prohibited insurance companies from terminating health plans that received late payments during the COVID 19 pandemic. Social Pensions Insurance [June 2020] During the months of April, May, June and July 2020, the government of Ecuador Unemployment benefits facilitated the procedure to receive unemployment benefits, allowing formal workers who recently became unemployed to avoid monthly paperwork. The Social Security Institute of Ecuador (Instituto Ecuatoriano de Seguridad Social (IESS)) will Social security contributions postpone contribution payments for April, May and June 2020. Activation measures [June 2020] The Government of Ecuador established a law granting job security to the fixed-term Labor market regulations health workers employed at the healthcare center of the Comprehensive Public Health Network (RIPS). Labor [March 2020] The government implemented a series of guidelines to allow firms to reduce, modify or Markets suspend workdays, without job loss, during the pandemic. The employer must obtain approval from Reduced work time the Regional Director of Labor and Public Services. Employers are allowed to modify the working hours of their employees to protect their economic activity without violating the rules regarding the maximum working hours as stated in the Labor Code. Wage subsidies (back to the top) Egypt Cash-based transfers (April 2020) A one-off monetary compensation of EGP 500 is being offered (for 3 months) to informal workers registered inthe database of Ministry of Labor and Manpower Payment. It will be done through post offices and banks. Registration is still opened and is expected to cover 1.9 million individuals (out of 4.4 million applicants) working in construction, ports, agriculture, fishing, plumbing, electricity, etc. The first payment was processed in April 2020 via Post Offices (4,000 branches) and the Agriculture Bank of Egypt (1,100 branches) as well as 600 schools used as payment site – a total of 5,700 outlets. Beneficiaries receive a free ATM card with their first payment to cash their 2nd and 3rd payment via post offices and/or banks. Accepted beneficiaries are notified via SMS regarding the location and time to visit to collect their first payment and the ATM card, to avoid overcrowding and ensure the safety of beneficiaries (3 billion EGP). (2020) To support the healthcare sector, EGP 5 billion has been allocated, targeted at providing urgent and necessary medical supplies, and disbursing bonuses for medical staff working in Social quarantine hospitals and labs. To support medical professionals, including doctors working in Cash transfers university hospitals, a 75 percent allowance over the wages has been announced. Assistance (conditional and unconditional) (April 2020) In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Social Solidarity has been implementing several COVID-19 response measures, including supporting 9,000 workers in the tourism sector (EGP 500 per month per tour guide). The subsidies are provided by the Emergency Fund at the Ministry of Manpower. (April 2020) Monthly cash assistance for 6 months financed by the House of Zakat for informal workers who did not benefit from the Sisi Grant to Informal Workers. The program was originally for 3 months (April, May and June) and then extended for additional three months (October, November, and December). WFP and the Ministry of Education and Technical Education continued to provide assistance to about 27,000 families with community school children in 5 governorates with cash assistance (USD 11 per child) redeemable at local retail shops. The assistance aims to increase food security of vulnerable families negatively affected by the pandemic. WFP provided food assistance through cash (USD 25 each) to about 100,000 registered refugees from different nationalities to help secure their basic food needs (2020) An unrestricted/unconditional one-off cash transfer by WFP of EGP500 (equivalent to USD31) to 50,000 families with children under three years old, and pregnant women, in 5 governorates to complement the national social safety nets (covering those who were previously rejected from Takaful and other social safety net programs and who are now more vulnerable due to sudden disruption of services and loss of income). (2020) A payment to women community leaders in rural areas ranging from EGP350 to EGP900 per month has been announced. (2020) In support of the Ministry of Manpower, WFP launched its first monthly cash assistance of EGP500, targeting about 52,000 registered casual workers, 40,500 of whom redeemed their assistance. The assistance was launched on 12 April in 9 governorates. To avoid crowding at the Fawry retailer outlets, WFP divided the distribution process over 5 slots that extended between 12- 30 April. WFP’s assistance runs as part of the Ministry of Manpower’s temporary cash assistance to casual labor workers provided via post offices and Agricultural Bank of Egypt branches, benefitting over 2 million people. (April 2020) More than 400K households will also be added to receive a one-time-off cash payment of EGP 450-500 EGP for 3 months in addition to potential in-kind benefits with priority given to elderly, orphans, disabled and female-headed households. The households will be selected from MoSS Social Registry that includes around 30 million registered beneficiaries. Payment will be done via post office for first payment and ATM card will be collected for 2nd and 3rd payments. (March 2020): Since the start of the pandemic, the Ministry of Social Solidarity has been implementing several COVID-19 response measures including expanding the cash transfer program (Takkaful and Karama) coverage to include an additional 411,000 households. Up to July 2021, the project has reached 3.37 million direct project beneficiaries (including 75% women), while 11.85 million direct and indirect beneficiaries benefited from the project. Social pensions In-kind transfers (2020) In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Social Solidarity has been implementing several COVID-19 response measures, including providing meals to approx. 3.8 million Food, vouchers, others households with pregnant women or children under two years of age to improve nutrition levels. (2020) The ministry of social welfare distributed more than 500,000 hygiene and sanitation matrials for needy families School feeding Public works Utility waivers The Doctors Syndicate has agreed with the Insurance and Pensions Authority on the rules for disbursing the work injury pension to female and male doctors affected by COVID-19, according to Paid sick leave the decision issued on May 30, 2020, considering the COVID-19 as an infectious disease that is entitled to a work injury pension after submitting the required documents to the authority. It will reach an amount of 6000 pounds during this year. The head of the Egyptian Tax Authority (ETA) has recently issued a regulation regarding the payment of the health insurance contribution (which is amounting to 0.25% of total annual revenues of the enterprise). As per this regulation the taxpayer can now pay such contribution electronically Health insurance via any of the banks that supports the ETA’s electronic payment system, through the ETA’s web portal. The taxpayer’s tax registration number is required to verify the taxpayer and confirm the settlement. Social Pensions have been increased by 14 percent in the budget of FY 2021. To facilitate payments, Insurance pension payments are scattered over different days (depending on the level of thepayment) and schools are also being used as payment sites. Mobile payments will be piloted in Luxor and Port-Said for the transfer of pensions. Pensions Pensioners will receive five bonuses (variable income) at a total cost of 35 billion EGP this year. The variable wage pension will be re-adjusted by adding 80 percent of the special allowances that are not included in the basic wage of the pensioners who have ended their service between July 2006 and June 2016. Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Activation measures Labor market regulations Labor Reduced work time Markets [March 2020] On March 29, the President's office announced that all medical professionals, including Wage subsidies doctors working in university hospitals, will receive a 75% increase to their medical profession allowance. The total value of the wage subsidy is EGP 2.25 billion (back to the top) El Salvador Cash-based transfers (March 2020): The government of President Nayib Bukele has pledged to give $300 to some 1.5 million households (75 percent) who work in the informal economy such as house cleaners and street vendors who lack a financial safety net. The government targeted households using electricity usage: any household with monthly consumption of 0-250 kilowatts/per hour got the transfers. This Cash transfers criterion spurred some protests from people who demand to be included in the new scheme (conditional and unconditional) (March 2020): The government launched a compensation bonus of USD 150 for essential public employees who work in activities aimed at combating COVID 19, particularly those working at the Ministry of Health. Social pensions In-kind transfers (April 2020): Distribution of 2.7 food baskets to affected families worth US$ 56 each. This program Social Food, vouchers, others was originally launched in April (budget of US$50 M per month) and a second delivery was Assistance implemented in August (with an additional estimated cost of US$190 M). (June 2020): The government delivered 320,000 Family School Meal Packages, primarily targeted to vulnerable families that cannot access food during the COVID 19 pandemic. This program is aimed at those students’ families living in municipalities which fulfilled the following criteria: 1) being considered as severe, high or moderate in the poverty map; 2) being considered as a municipality School feeding with very high, high or moderate chronic malnutrition. The government planned to spend $7.8 M in this program. The package includes food and in-kind items such as milk powder, milk, fortified beverages, vegetable oil, rice, beans, sugar and cereals. It was estimated to be delivered between June and July 2020. Public works (March 2020): The government has granted a waiver for utility bills payments for individuals and legal entities directly affected by COVID-19 for three months. Utilities include electricity, water, telephone, cable, and internet. Also, mortgage payments, personal loans, credit card payments, Utility waivers business loans were frozen for three months for individuals and legal entities directly affected by COVID-19. (March 2020): The government implemented a price control scheme to ensure that there is no increase in the basic food basket and protect people's income. The government has mandated private companies to ensure quarantine of particular worker categories, including those older than 60, pregnant women or those with preexisting conditions. These workers would receive a paid sick leave for 30 days. Also, private companies (except those in Paid sick leave the food, medical and other key sectors) that decide to send all their workers home on paid leave will be eligible for further government support. This initiative also includes leave with disability pay for Social quarantined workers, for the time required by health personnel. Insurance The government decided to keep on offering health insurance coverage during the emergency period Health insurance for those suspended workers or unemployed, even if their employers did not pay their social contributions. Pensions Unemployment benefits Social security contributions Instituto Salvadoreño de Formación Profesional (INSAFORP) offers e-learning courses that respond to the demands of the productive sectors and the population. The online platform serves as an interface for 15 platforms from different providers through which the online training is carried out. Activation measures [October 2020] The government, through the Fondo Solidario para la Salud (Fosalud), trained more than 62 professionals from the Medical Emergency System in order to standardize health workers knowledge and action in cases of patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic. [March 2020] By Decree N° 593, the government established that no worker who is quarantined due to COVID-19, ordered by the competent health authority, or unable to return to the workplace due to migration or health restrictions decreed in the country or abroad can be dismissed, nor be subject to a reduction of their wages. The measure will expire at the time of declaring the State of National Labor Emergency extinct. Markets Labor market regulations [May 2020] On May 5, 2020, the Legislative Assembly approved Decree No. 641, which contains the "Ley de Protección al Empleo Salvadoreño". The purpose of this law is to safeguard the job stability of employees in the Salvadoran private sector, guaranteeing employees a decent income, with