From late March to end April 2020, WIEGO tracked how governments were addressing the urgent needs of informal workers during this health and economic crisis.
The World Bank identified 133 countries that, by mid-April, had created or expanded social protection or jobs measures to help address the economic emergency.
Through our analysis, we learned that even where governments designed packages with informal workers in mind, the promised aid could be inadequate, or problems with identifying and registering informal workers could impede distribution.
Some government measures were developed in response to advocacy and demands from informal workers' organizations and their allies. See Informal Worker Demands.
MAY 26, 2020 PODCAST - Lessons from government responses to protect informal workers with Valentina Barca
Specific Government Responses
The table below details the most relevant government emergency relief measures we identified (details as reported). The information was updated on April 29, 2020.
National governments
| Central Asia | ||
| Kazakhstan | Measure | The President of Kazakhstan has issued a decree that includes 3 million self-employed and informally employed persons. They will receive 42,500 tange (US$ 100) a month for the duration of the pandemic. If these workers have credits, they will be deferred. |
| Target | 3 million self-employed and informal workers | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | - | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | Yes | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | https://www.zakon.kz/5014498-pryamaya-translyatsiya-zayavleniya.html | |
| Last update | April 6th 2020 | |
| East Asia | ||
| China | Measure | The central government policy directive, issued in the beginning of March, instructed local governments to increase the coverage and benefits of Dibao (China’s cash transfer programme), in particular, extending social assistance programs to cover families affected by the COVID-19 and falling into poverty. Examples are available at local level (information collected by WBG): In the Hubei province, RMB 500 for urban Dibao recipients and RMB 300 for rural Dibao recipients were transferred as temporary living allowance subsidies. In Chongqing, a transfer of twice the monthly Dibao amount was introduced to some recipients if they were infected as temporary assistance. 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. In Guangxi, the benefit level of Dibao recipients was increased from RMB 210 to 230 monthly in rural areas, and RMB 370 to 390/month in urban settings. In Wuhan, temporary assistance was also provided to the quarantined migrant population with difficulties for an amount of RMB 3000. |
| Target | ||
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | - | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | www.ugogentilini.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/global-review-of-social-protection-responses-to-COVID-19-2.pdf | |
| Last update | April 6th 2020 | |
| Europe | ||
| Albania | Measure | Government will pay the equivalent of a monthly minimum wage grant (US$ 220), for three months, to employees of small businesses, including freelancers and self-employed people. Government has also determined a rent freeze for people and business affected by the lockdown. |
| Target | Workers, including self-employed and freelance | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | - | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | Yes | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | https://exit.al/en/2020/04/03/government-economic-relief-measures-leave-out-tourism-industry/ | |
| Last update | April 6th 2020 | |
| Bulgaria | Measure | Along with the measures concerning registered workers, measures were specifically adopted for people without income, without employment contracts. Informal workers can take interest-free loans up to BGN 1,500 (US$ 830) for self-employed persons with a five-year grace period and a 10-year repayment period. The Ministry of Labour 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. This assistance will be means tested as the monthly income per family member should not be higher than the minimum wage BGN 610. Other conditions: parents should not have any other income from rents, services or additional contracts, should not receive other assistance under the Social Assistance Act, should not to be included in the scheme for wage subsidies to employers 60/40 and should have exhausted their paid leave Children should have attended kindergarten or school before 13 March 2020, and the parents should have been insured in the last six months. ***UPDATE FROM HomeNet Eastern Europe and Central Asia***: Other interest-free line of credits for family and self-employed persons up to BGN 50,000 with a repayment period of up to 10 years are going to be available from the Development Bank. Discussions are being undertaken to allow rent deferral or discount. Food vouchers will be given for those with income under the national poverty line (BGN 366, or US$ 200) during the period of emergency. The application must be personal to the Social Assistance Agency and the admission should be based on a declaration of absence of employment income, property income and income from compensation for the relevant period.***UPDATE FROM UNITY***. Other measures from the government include: Food vouchers up to 60% of the minimum wage; The purchase of agricultural produce by the government and the distribution of food banks, social homes and the weak; Obligation by law on large food chains to provide more than 50% for Bulgarian small producers at a distance of 100 km. |
| Target | - | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | - | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | Yes | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | Yes | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | http://www.ugogentilini.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Country-social-protection-COVID-responses_April3-1.pdf | |
| Last update | April 28th 2020 | |
| North Macedonia | Measure | Unemployed and informal sector workers will receive an average of 7,000 denars (US$124) per household, for two months (April and May). The estimated coverage is about 20,000 new households from the informal economy and 30,000 existing beneficiaries. |
| Target | Unemployed and informal sector workers | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | - | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | https://translate.google.com/translate?sl=auto&tl=en&u=https%3A%2F%2Fvlada.mk%2Fnode%2F20813 | |
| Last update | April 13th 2020 | |
| Spain | Measure | Following the pressure from the workers’ movement association Sedoac, domestic workers should benefit from an income security policy that would ensure the payment of 70% of their wage, which would mean access to a benefit equivalent to unemployment insurance. |
| Target | Domestic workers | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | ||
| Emergency cash grant | No | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | Yes | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | https://cincodias.elpais.com/cincodias/2020/03/25/fortunas/1585095124_405119.html | |
| Last update | April 6th 2020 | |
| Latin America & Caribbean | ||
| Argentina | Measure | Argentina will pay a lump sum benefit of AR$ 10,000 (US$ 160) to workers from 18 to 65 years-old that will not have any source of income because of the quarantine, nor receive any sort of state subsidy. This payment will inaugurate the “Family Emergency Income” programme, after the government announced a shutdown period. This grant, explicitly aimed at informal workers and self-employed workers who earn less than AR$ 26,000 (US$ 400), should be paid in April and should benefit 3.6 million families. Initially, domestic workers were not included, but after strong pressure, the government backed down and included them on the emergency programme. The government also imposed a rent and mortgage freeze, and suspended evictions for 180 days. A week before, the government had announced it will disburse a special lump sum benefit of up to AR$ 3,000 ($47) for beneficiaries of social programmes and retirees that receive the minimum benefit. This first announcement was part of an official package that also included a budgetary effort for community kitchens and the installation of food service. According to the government, these measures should benefit 9 million people and will have a fiscal cost of around $40 billion. The cash grant programme is showing problems and, although it was announced early, on March 23rd, the last payments of the first installments are planned to be concluded only on July 1st. *** UPDATE FROM MBOs***: Many UTEP members are still working as they have been classified as essential workers and can benefit from the extraordinary grant. There are specific conditions to gain clearance for this grant. Needed to collect the names of the different UTEP members, ID cards, and finding out about banking details.Ingreso Familiar Extraordinario (IFE) – available to people with lowest income levels – so available to domestic workers, unemployed – reaching 4 million people. It slightly less than a minimum wage. Will be granted by the 10th April. Will see then if informal workers are able to access this. UTEP is having bilateral conversations with the government to ensure the list is as comprehensive as possible. The social salary (half of the minimum wage) was an initiative led by UTEP in 2016 covering 40,000 people. IFE is not compatible with those receiving a social salary. UTEP has called for a doubling of the social salary to a full a minimum wage. UTEP was initially calling for all the popular economy to be granted the social salary, but this is not being granted by the government. To qualify for the social salary you need to be recognized as a popular economy worker. Instead the government is proposing the IFE scheme because it is an emergency grant, rather than an established grant like the social salary. UTEP will be calling for IFE to be extended to some workers. |
| Target | - | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | - | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | Yes | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | Yes | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | https://www.clarin.com/politica/coronavirus-argentina-gobierno-anuncia-medidas-pymes-monotributistas-trabajadores-informales_0_dpIkoiBC-.html?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1585049294 | |
| Last update | April 29th 2020 | |
| Belize | Measure | A new Unemployment Relief Program to provide temporary benefits to the unemployed and persons who directly lost theirs as a result of the crisis. Employed and self-employed who lost their jobs directly as a result of the COVID19 crisis will receive BZ$150 (US$ 75) every 2 weeks for 12 weeks (in total US$ 450, for the 3 months). Persons who were unemployed prior to the crisis will receive BZ$100 (US$ 50) every 2 weeks for 12 weeks (US$ 300, in total). Applications are processed online. |
| Target | - | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | Application online | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | https://www.ugogentilini.net/?p=849 | |
| Last update | April 28th 2020 | |
| Bolivia | Measure | A Family Grant (Bono Família) of 500 bolívanos (US$ 72) will be paid for poor families that have children at school age, as a food security measure, since these children used to had breakfast at school. Moreover, the government has prohibited cutting of basic services (water, gas, electricity) in case people fail to pay. Although these measures are not targeting informal workers, they potentially benefit them. ***UPDATE*** Bolivia has also announced a supplementary grant (Bono Universal) to people over 18 and younger than 65 of BS 500, who are not covered through the Administrados de Fondos de Pensiones (AFP), and are in possession of a Bolivian ID. The money will be delivered through the Banco Union and 51 other private banks on days which people are authorized to go out. |
| Target | - | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | The delivery will be done through the Unión bank (federal) and other 51 private banks | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | Yes | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | https://www.noticiasfides.com/nacional/politica/gobierno-crea-el-bono-familia-flexibiliza-pago-de-adeudos-y-prohibe-corte-de-servicios-basicos-403922 | |
| Last update | April 21th 2020 | |
| Brazil | Measure | The Congress of Brazilian Congress has approved the concession of R$ 600 (US$ 120) to each informal worker and R$ 1.200 (US$ 240) to single parent household led by women, for a period of 3 months. This means that each household run by two adults will have an income slightly over the national minimum wage (R$ 1.045 or US$ 210). In order to be eligible, the worker household gross income must be lower than three times the minimum wage, and cannot be beneficiary of any other social assistance programme, apart from Bolsa Família (in which case, the worker must choose). The bill will be voted by the Senate now.The original plan of the Executive branch was the concession of monthly “vouchers” of R$ 200 (US$ 40), for a period of three months, explicitly targeting informal workers who are not beneficiaries of any social assistance programme, so that they could have income to stay at home. The amount is the equivalent of a Bolsa Família monthly installment. The government would use the CadÚnico, the social protection beneficiary database registry, which includes 29 million people, out of which 13 million are beneficiaries of Bolsa Família. Analysis: The announcement has not provided the detail about how this payment would be made, and how the targeted population would be identified, since millions of informal workers are not at the CadÚnico database. The other issue here is that the amount paid is largely insufficient for informal workers (especially in urban centres) to make ends meet so they could stay at home or even cope with the drastic fall of demand. The minimum wage (US$ 200) is a better reference, as the Bolsa Família, albeit crucial, is often an income complementation for poor people that already work. The first ones to get the benefit will be the Bolsa Família beneficiaries. Delivery will be done using the Social Assistance database (CadÚnico), Bolsa Família card, for those who are beneficiaries. The systems uses public bank ATMs (Banco do Brasil and Caixa), post-office and federal lottery agents. Informal workers who are not beneficiaries will have to register either by phone, by the internet or using a mobile phone app (the hotline, website and mobile app are not operational yet). ***UPDATE***: The Brazilian Chamber of Deputies (lower House) has approved the extension of the grant. The first bill generically mentioned “informal worker”, but now the second bill explicitly mentioned certain informal workers categories. In the list, among others, there are fishermen, farmers, taxi drivers, app drivers (Uber, Lyft etc) and street vendors. |
| Target | Government expects to reach 20 million informal workers, but 60 million people are eligible, a government research institute estimates | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | Using the Social Assistance database (CadÚnico), Bolsa Família card, for those who are beneficiaries; informal workers who are not beneficiaries will have to register either by phone, by the internet or using a mobile phone app. | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | https://economia.uol.com.br/noticias/redacao/2020/03/26/camara-aprova-vale-de-r-600-a-trabalhadores-durante-crise-do-coronavirus.htm | |
| Last update | April 20th 2020 | |
| Colombia | Measure | National government has announced that water reconnection service would be done free for vulnerable families, so that they do not lack service in the midst of the emergency; in addition to this, there will be a freeze on the aqueduct tariff until April. The government confirmed that the process of VAT refunding will be carried out for the most vulnerable, a benefit to which they will have access from April. Government has also announced an emergency cash grant of COL 160,000 (US$ 40), targeted at 3 million poor families from informal workers. The delivery will be done either through bank transfers, for those who have accounts, or by electronic transfers, by mobile phone. *** UPDATE FROM MBOs*** Elderly who receive pensions are able to receive it in their homes. Colombia has a system of identifying people in poverty – SISPEN –, and the country's social assistance is organized around this system. Waste pickers tend to be identified as people in poverty conditions. So the government has made an income supplement – about US$150/month for a family. But this doesn’t include all informal workers – there are a lot of informal workers who do not fall into this regime. Water and gas payments have been waived, and deferment of payments, access to soft loans. Amongst the waste pickers, quite a few have access to these, but about 60% of waste pickers in the country are not organized. Thanks to SISPEN, everything will be targeted to sectors. |
| Target | 3 million families from informal workers, registered at the Sisbén (social assistance database) | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | Bank transfer or mobile phone electronic transfers | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | Yes | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | https://www.colombia.com/actualidad/nacionales/ivan-duque-anuncia-medidas-economicas-a-causa-del-covid-19-264409 | |
| Last update | April 6th 2020 | |
| Costa Rica | Measure | The government has launched an emergency cash-grant programme for workers who lost their income - completely or partially - because of the lockdown following the Covid-19 pandemic. Workers who completely lost their income will receive a grant of ¢125.000 (US$ 220), while those who were partially affected and kept at least 50% of their wages will receive ¢62.500. The eligible workers must have had a gross income of less than ¢750.000 (US$ 1,315) before the outbreak of the new coronavirus. To apply for the bond, affected persons must enter the programme website and fill out a form for each worker. Moreover, applicants must have an identity card (in the case of foreigners in regular migration status) and an IBAN bank account. Applicants without a bank account to receive the grant must apply, within the same Proteger site, for an account in their name at the Banco Nacional or Banco Popular. Critics say that the amount of the bond is not enough to cover not even half of the expenses of poor households. |
| Target | Workers with less than ¢750.000 (US$ 1,315) before the outbreak of the new coronavirus, who lost their income (totally or partially) | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | Bank transfers (applicants without an account can apply for one uppon registration in the programme) | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | https://semanariouniversidad.com/pais/costarricenses-y-residentes-con-ingresos-afectados-por-covid-19-recibiran-bonos-de-%c2%a2125-000-y-%c2%a262-500/ | |
| Last update | April 20th 2020 | |
| Dominican Republic | Measure | Government will increase its current cash grant programme to include other 600,000 families, bringing the total number beneficiaires to around 1.5 million families. They will receive a monthly cash transfer of RD$ 5,000 (US$ 90), and households with elderly people will receive an extra RD$ 2,000 (US$ 37). The new beneficiaries were included using the registered information from social assistance datebate (Sistema de Único de Beneficiados, Siuben), with workers who earn less than RD$ 14,000 (US$ 260) a month. |
| Target | 611,00 new families currently not covered (total: 1.5 million) | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | The new beneficiaries were included using the registered information from social assistance datebate (Sistema de Único de Beneficiados, Siuben). | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | https://listindiario.com/economia/2020/04/02/611515/cerca-de-1-5-millones-de-familias-dominicanas-tendran-acceso-al-programa-estatal-quedate-en-casa | |
| Last update | April 6th 2020 | |
| El Salvador | Measure | The government has announced two main measures: the first one, was the suspension of utility bills (water, electricity and internet) payment for the period of three months, using its recently established database for the delivery. The second one, is the concession of a grant of US$ 300 for 1.5 million families that will not have a source of income for this period of lockdown, in particular informal workers. The government will use electricity consumption as a parameter to infer the targeted population (those who have an electricity consumption of less than 250 kWh would be eligible). Although the measure was praised to be bold for such a small country, there are questions regarding the feasibility, as the cost of these measures would represent, alone, the second largest budget of the government, after Education. |
| Target | ||
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | - | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | Yes | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-america-latina-52013943 | |
| Last update | April 6th 2020 | |
| Ecuador | Measure | In April and May, 400,000 people will receive an emergency grant of US$ 60. The beneficiaries are rural workers, informal workers (street vendors, food, bakers, seamstresses, hairdressers, plumbers and other self-employed workers. Beneficiaries are registered on the Unidad de Registro Social (URS), and they receive an SMS message informing the closest payment site to their homes (there will be 7,000 payment sites). |
| Target | - | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | Beneficiaries are registered on the Unidad de Registro Social (URS), and they receive an SMS message informing the closest payment site to their homes (there will be 7,000 payment sites) | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | https://www.eluniverso.com/noticias/2020/03/26/nota/7795362/gobierno-empieza-notificar-pago-60 | |
| Last update | April 6th 2020 | |
| Guatemala | Measure | The government of Guatemala has approved an emergency cash-grant of GTQ 1,000 (US$ 130) to informal workers and self-employed workers. The plan is to benefit 10,000 people, using electricity consumption as the main eligibility criteria. After doing the registration and having their information verified, the payment will be done electronically, through smartphones, and withdrawn from ATMs. It is not clear how the verification will be done on the registration. |
| Target | 10,000 informal workers and self-employed workers, using electricity consumption as the main eligibility criteria | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | Electronic transfers, through smarphones | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | https://www.prensa-latina.cu/index.php?o=rn&id=356944&SEO=gobierno-de-guatemala-entrega-bono-familia-a-sector-informal | |
| Last update | April 20th 2020 | |
| Peru | Measure | The government has approved an urgent decree that provides a grant of PEN 380 (US$ 110) to vulnerable families for 15 days, so that they could comply with the state of emergency and could cope with the quarantine period, so they can stay at home. Analysis: The problem is that the families considered “vulnerable” are the ones below the poverty line, and are already registered on government welfare programmes. This could potentially exclude informal workers, although some waste-pickers might be included on this emergency programme. |
| Target | Vulnerable families (below poverty line), 2,7 million families or 13 million people | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | Registered in goverment welfare programmes | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | https://canaln.pe/actualidad/coronavirus-gobierno-dispone-bono-s-380-que-familias-permanezcan-sus-casas-n408451 | |
| Last update | April 6th 2020 | |
| Trinidad and Tobago | Measure | A Salary Relief Grant will be provided to citizens who have lost income as a result of the impact of COVID-19. They will have access to TDD 1,500 (US$ 220) per month over a three-month period from the National Insurance Board. Food Card support of $510 (US$ 75) per month for three months for households where a family member was retrenched, terminated or income reduced during this period. The Government will pay all persons who are owed income tax refunds of $20,000 or less next week. VAT refunds to be paid to people owned up to $250,000 in March. Payment of VAT Bonds will begin next month. Furthermore, the government has announced a Rental Assistance for up to TTD 2,500 (US$ 370) per month for an initial period of three months for persons who have been retrenched, terminated or if the household income was reduced as a result of the impact of COVID-19. |
| Target | - | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | - | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | Yes | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | Yes | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | https://www.opm.gov.tt/media-conference-on-covid-19-monday-23rd-march-2020/ | |
| Last update | April 10th 2020 | |
| Venezuela | Measure | The government will pay wages from both public and private sector for a period of 6 months. Utility bills were suspended for undetermined time. Moreover, 7 million poor families will receive a food basket every 15 days. Analysis: the main question is whether the government will have the capacity to honour this large cash transfer, as the economy is in recession and hyperinflation. |
| Target | - | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | - | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | Yes | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | Yes | |
| Job security | Yes | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | https://revistaforum.com.br/coronavirus/venezuela-pagara-salarios-de-trabalhadores-publicos-e-privados-por-6-meses-para-que-fiquem-em-casa/ | |
| Last update | April 6th 2020 | |
| Middle-East and North Africa | ||
| Algeria | Measure | Government has announced they will provide a grant of DZD 10,000 (US$ 78) to cover Ramadhan expenses for the poor families impacted by the crisis. This benefit will add to the current DZD 6,000 (US$ 47) Ramadhan grant. Another decree expanded coverage of social security to deliveries in private maternal health facilities permanently. |
| Target | - | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | - | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | http://www.aps.dz/societe/104006-une-allocation-de-10-000-da-pour-les-familles-necessiteuses-et-celles-affectees-par-le-coronavirus | |
| Last update | April 23th 2020 | |
| Egypt | Measure | The Ministry of Manpower announced that workers in the informal sector will be eligible to receive a one-time payment of LE500 (US$ 32), to make up for some income lost as a result of the economic slowdown caused by the coronavirus. The delivery will be done from post office branches. Initially, the government planned to target 400,000 informal workers who are registered at the ministry will receive the one-time disbursement, however, 1,2 million applied for the grant in less than a week after the government announced the call. |
| Target | 400,000 informal workers | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | Through post-office | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | https://madamasr.com/en/2020/03/19/feature/politics/egypt-authorities-take-additional-measures-to-stimulate-economy-and-curb-coronavirus-spread/ | |
| Last update | April 6th 2020 | |
| Iran | Measure | About 3 million lower-income families with no permanent jobs will receive cash handouts up to six million rials (around $400), delivered in four stages. |
| Target | 3 million poor families with no permanet jobs | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | - | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-iran-economy-analy/iran-has-limited-scope-for-coronavirus-economic-stimulus-idUSKBN21C2L7 | |
| Last update | April 10th 2020 | |
| Morocco | Measure | The Economic Watch Committee (Comité de veille économique, CVE) members decided to activate a mobile payment device to transfer cash to workers operating in the informal sector affected by COVID-19 (only for those who have been directly affected by the GoM compulsory confinement policy). The electronic cash transfer program will reach half of the informal sector workers, i.e., it is estimated 3 million workers to receive payment. Registration has started on March 30, 2020 and the first payments are due to start of Monday April 6th. The speed and scale is facilitated by the use of a health insurance fee waiver registry in the first phase and a simple payment mechanism. Program benefits are structured as follows: a) 800 dirhams(US$ 78) per month for households of two people or less; b) 1,000 dirhams (US$ 98) per month for households of three to four people; c) 1,200 dirhams (US$ 117) per month for households of more than four people. |
| Target | Informal workers directly affected by the lockdown; uses health insurance fee waiver registry in the first phase and a simple payment mechanism | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | Electronic transfers, through smarphones | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | http://www.ugogentilini.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Country-social-protection-COVID-responses_April3-1.pdf | |
| Last update | April 13th 2020 | |
| Tunisia | Measure | Government will provide a one-off cash transfer of TND200 (US$ 68) to 623,000 households working in the informal sector, who are not covered by any social assistance program and who are vulnerable to shocks (households registered in the social security system with low-cost healthcare card). Also, the government will provide a one-off cash transfer of TND50 (US$ 17) to 260,000 households working in the informal sector (a top-up of the already received transfer of TND180 in March, i.e., households registered in the social security system with a free healthcare card). |
| Target | - | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | - | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | http://www.ugogentilini.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Country-social-protection-COVID-responses_April3-1.pdf | |
| Last update | April 10th 2020 | |
| North America | ||
| Canada | Measure | The parliament has passed the introduction of the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), to ensure income support to workers who must stay home and do not have access to paid sick leave. Under the legislation, workers would have access to as much as $2,000 a month for four months, which will cost CAD 52 billion (US$ 37 billion). Canadian workers over the age of 15 who have earned more than $5,000 in the last 12 months but are now earning no income because of the COVID-19 pandemic would qualify. Workers, including freelancers and self-employed workers, will have access to the CERB even if they do not have access to the current employment insurance program. |
| Target | Canadian workers over the age of 15 who have earned more than $5,000 in the last 12 months but are now earning no income | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | - | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | Yes | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/economic-aid-package-coronavirus-1.5501037 | |
| Last update | April 6th 2020 | |
| South Asia | ||
| India | Measure | The government will expand some of its cash-grant programmes: Rs1,000 (US$ 13) will be given to all beneficiaries under the National Social Assistance Program (NSAP) for elderly, widows and disabled receiving social pensions (35M beneficiaries); Rs500 (US$ 6.5) per month to all female Jan Dhan Accounts for 3 months; Topping up PM-KSN by Rs2000 for 87M farmers for 3 months; Cash transfers of Rs 500 for 3 months from April to June to 200M women with a Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY, financial inclusion) account. |
| Target | Poor women, elderly | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | ||
| Delivery | ||
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | http://www.ugogentilini.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Country-SP-COVID-responses_April17-1.pdf | |
| Last update | April 13th 2020 | |
| Nepal | Measure | Measures in Nepal that affect informal workers are related to food security and fees/tax relief. More directly targeting informal workers, food assistance package will be distributed these workers and those in need of assistance through ward committees at local level. To be funded by local and provincial level governments with top-ups from federal as required. Households will get discount/subsidy on electricity consumption (25% for below 150 units, internet and data packages (25%), and waiver of late fees for one month on all public utility fees (water, telephone, electricity etc.). |
| Target | ||
| Finance (where does it come from) | ||
| Delivery | ||
| Emergency cash grant | No | |
| Food Security | Yes | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | Yes | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | http://www.ugogentilini.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Country-SP-COVID-responses_April17-1.pdf | |
| Last update | April 13th 2020 | |
| Pakistan | Measure | Launch of “Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme” providing Rs12,000/family (US$ 75) and benefit 67 million individuals (10 million families). There are three categories of beneficiaries: 4.5 million existing “Ehsaas Kafaalat” beneficiaries (all women) already getting Rs.2000 will (U$$ 12) get extra Rs.1000 emergency relief (total=Rs.3000) for the next 4 months; 3M affected households will be identified through the national socioeconomic database (eligibility threshold will be relaxed upwards); and those with income below Rs20,000. An SMS campaign will be launched to inform about the program. (WB April 10) "The mobilisation of an expanded direct cash transfer scheme using existing BISP enrolment, National Socioeconomic Register (NSER) and Nadra data has been the most appropriate response for a large segment of the vulnerable population. Expanding beyond the original 4.5 million to an additional 4M through NSER by relaxing the poverty score threshold seems relatively straightforward. The real feat is getting to an additional 3.5M vulnerable citizens across the country through a combination of SMS-based self-enrolment, Nadra data and district-based verification...In terms of outreach, according to government data, as of April 3, nearly 12M SMS entries were deemed eligible for district-based verification, which is an impressively high number. The next challenge for the government is to expand the scale of assistance being provided beyond Rs12,000 over the next four months, by urgently redirecting fiscal resources from other allocations. If this is carried out successfully, this would be a real feat of drawing on existing other-use resources (citizenship records, security surveillance data and local administration) for welfare purposes." (Javed) |
| Target | Poor people including informal workers; expansion of an additional 4 million workers to the existing cash-transfer programme. Uses existing BISP enrolment, National Socioeconomic Register (NSER) and Nadra, in combination with SMS-based self-enrolment | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | ||
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | https://www.dawn.com/news/1546837/welfare-considerations | |
| Last update | April 21th 2020 | |
| Sri Lanka | Measure | The government has decided to convert the LKR 5,000 (US$ 26) loan given to Samurdhi beneficiaries to a grant. Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi stated that the government has decided to grant a loan of Rs. 10,000 to Samurdhi recipients (1.8 million people). |
| Target | Poor families, beneficiaries of the Samurdhi programme | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | Through existing programme (Samurdhi) | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | http://www.hirunews.lk/238294/samurdhi-allowance-converted-to-a-grant-eu-gives-4620-million | |
| Last update | April 10th 2020 | |
| Southeast Asia and Oceania | ||
| Cambodia | Measure | The government plans to establish a 50% discount for poor families on their electricity bills. |
| Target | - | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | - | |
| Emergency cash grant | No | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | Yes | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | https://homenetsea.org/south-east-asia-news/ | |
| Last update | April 6th 2020 | |
| Indonesia | Measure | Government has announced an increase of Rp 50,000 (US$4) to the national cash-transfer programme, bringing the total amount to Rp 200,000 (US$ 14). Moreover, the government prepared funding totaling 4.6 trillion rupiah (US$ 324 million) for the Affordable Food Program (Sembako Murah), to enable 15 million low-income households to purchase staple food products at discounted prices. ***UPDATE FROM HOMENET SOUTHEAST ASIA*** The Indonesian government has other policies: 1) Relaxing the terms for loans. Informal workers such as taxi drivers, micro-entrepreneurs, self-employed, fisherfolk who have loans, do not have to pay for one year. 2) Relaxing tax for all workers. The workers with monthly income under Rp.16 million (US$ 1,035) will be free from tax. 3) Increasing the cash transfer for the poor (who have PKH Card) by Rp 200.000 (US$ 13) per month, for six months. But, street vendors, waste pickers, homeworkers in putting out systems and construction workers do not benefit from policies addressing their particular situation. |
| Target | - | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | - | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | Yes | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | https://jakartaglobe.id/news/social-affairs-ministry-increases-aid-for-poor-families-during-covid19-pandemic | |
| Last update | April 6th 2020 | |
| Laos | Measure | The government plans to establish a 50% discount for poor families on their electricity bills. |
| Target | - | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | - | |
| Emergency cash grant | No | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | Yes | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | https://homenetsea.org/south-east-asia-news/ | |
| Last update | April 6th 2020 | |
| Thailand | Measure | The government launched a 117 billion baht (US$ 3,5 billion) stimulus, and some of the measures provided in the package are focused on informal workers. The main programme is the payment of a 5,000 baht (US$ 152) for three months, starting in April. Workers must be Thai nationals and register with either The Government Savings Bank of Bangkok, The Bank of Agriculture, Krungthai Bank or online on a dedicated website. The government also launched two subsidized lines of credit, for emergency loans of 10,000 baht (US$ 305) per person with low interest rates if they need more money, which can be taken for up to 2 years with no guarantees, and another line of credit for those who have collateral, for loans up to 50,000 baht, for up to three years. ***UPDATES FROM MBOs*** 22 million have registered for the informal worker benefit - the government have now said that they will include any informal worker who needs it, rather than capping it at 3 million. They are now trying to work out how to ensure that the benefit is going to the right people. So they have instituted a coding system: green, gray and red. Green applications are approved automatically, gray applicants are asked for further information (a picture of their workplace, and officials may be sent to interview neighbours to verify information), red applicants (clearly not fitting the criteria for support). HomeNet Thailand reports that all of its 7000 members have joined up - about 50 percent had to ask for help from family members or the organization to sign up on the website, but they all managed to do it. |
| Target | 3 million informal workers originally - dramatically expanded when more than 22 million registered | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | Those eligible to receive the money are advised to register with the Government Savings Bangkok, the Bank for Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives and Krungthai Bank or online via a website that reads raomaithingkun.com | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | https://thethaiger.com/coronavirus/5000-baht-per-month-for-informal-thai-workers | |
| Last update | April 6th 2020 | |
| Philippines | Measure | Legislators are currently debating a project to grant P5,000 to P8,000 (US$ 100 to US$ 160) as financial assistance, for two months, to benefit 18 million families. The bill in debate, called “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act”, targets explicitly informal workers. In another measure for informal workers, the government wants micro and small businesses to be also given access to cash-transfer funds normally disbursed to poor households, to help them deal with the impact of COVID-19. The government will also implement a cash-for-work programme: workers will be compensated for 10 days of working on disinfection/sanitation of their houses/dwellings and the immediate vicinity of their houses. The amount of the compensation will be the prevailing highest minimum wage in the region. The government plans to benefit 16,000 workers with the programme. ***UPDATES*** Only 6,3 million people have already received the first installment of the cash grant promised, or just over one third of the 18 million eligible families targeted for the initiative, according to the government weekly reports. |
| Target | For the cash-for-work, 16,000 informal workers and vulnerable people | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | - | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | Yes | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1247244/poor-families-to-get-up-to-p8000-cash-subsidy-from-covid-19-bill | |
| Last update | April 29th 2020 | |
| Singapore | Measure | There are three initiatives that are targeted at self-employed workers. The first one is the Self-Employed Person Income Relief Scheme (SIRS). Eligible self-employed persons will receive SGD 1,000 (US$ 700) cash every month for 9 months. The second policy is a Self-Employed Persons Training Support scheme, that will provide sustained support for them to make use of this period to train and upskill. Up to 90% of course fees will be subsidised, and from 1 May 2020, the training allowance will be $10 per hour. In addition, there will be an automatic deferment of income tax payment for 3 months. |
| Target | Self-employed | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | - | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | Yes | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | https://www.gov.sg/article/5-ways-the-resilience-budget-will-help-singapores-workers | |
| Last update | April 6th 2020 | |
| Vietnam | Measure | Government has announced an income support package of VND 30,000 billion (US$ 1.2 billion). The proposal will provide support to the poor, near-poor households, social assistant beneficiaries, merit people. The package will also support employees who are not qualified for unemployment insurance benefit, including those from informal sector such as small and household businesses, part-time workers and those on unpaid leave or have reduced income as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic’s impacts on the country. Each poor household will get a monthly allowance of VND 1 million (US$ 43) and near-poor household get VND 500,000 (US$ 21), while social protection beneficiaries and those with meritorious services would receive VND 500,000 per month. Employees, small/household businesses that have had to suspend operation and suffer difficulties due to Covid-19 would also be supported with VND 1 million per month. The allowances would be provided over at least three months (until June), and would be taken from the central government and local administrations' budgets, with the total estimated at VND 28 to 30 trillion (US$ 1.2 to US$ 1.3 billion). |
| Target | Poor, near-poor households, social assistant beneficiaries, merit people; unemployment insurance benefit, including those from informal sector such as small and household businesses, part-time workers and those on unpaid leave or have reduced income as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic’s impacts on the country. | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | Central government and local administrations' budgets | |
| Delivery | - | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | Yes | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | http://www.ugogentilini.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Country-social-protection-COVID-responses_April3-1.pdf | |
| Last update | April 13th 2020 | |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | ||
| Burkina Faso | Measure | Cash transfers to informal sector workers (fruits and vegetable sellers), in particular women. The public statement informed the budget allocated, CFA 5 billion (US$ 8,3 million), but no further details were provided about how much the grant would be, nor how many workers it was planned to benefit - and how long the programme would last. In the occasion of the public statement, the president announced 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. Moreover, he established 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. Finally, the president has announced an in-kind transfer programme to market vendors, aimed at the most vulnerable people of the markets that have been closed due to the outbreak. |
| Target | Informal sector workers, in particular women | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | - | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | Yes | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | Yes | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | https://lefaso.net/spip.php?article95931 | |
| Last update | April 13th 2020 | |
| Cape Verde | Measure | Informal workers who have a monthly income of less than CVE 20,000 (US$ 196) will be granted an emergency income of CVE 10,000 (US$ 98). The goal is to reach 30,000 informal workers, registered at the database (Cadastro Nacional Único) of the National Social Security Institute. The government is also undertaking food security measures, to distribute staple food baskets to 22,500 poor families. |
| Target | 30,000 informal workers | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | Using the register from the Social Security database | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | Yes | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | https://expressodasilhas.cv/politica/2020/04/02/governo-cria-linha-verde-da-proteccao-social/68754 | |
| Last update | April 6th 2020 | |
| Ghana | Measure | The Ministry of Local Government has begun a nationwide disinfecting exercise in various markets across the country by providing free sanitary equipment to help in the compliance of President Akufo-Addo’s directives on enhanced personal hygiene. |
| Target | - | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | - | |
| Emergency cash grant | No | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | Yes | |
| Source | https://www.modernghana.com/news/991006/accra-markets-closed-for-coronavirus-spraying-exer.html | |
| Last update | April 6th 2020 | |
| Malawi | Measure | Malawi launched an emergency cash transfer programme targeting about 1 million people and small businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic. According to the president announcement, eligible households will receive a 35,000 Malawi kwacha (US$ 40) monthly payment, matching the country’s minimum wage, through mobile cash transfer starting in May. No specification on who long it would last. |
| Target | 1 million people and small businesses | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | At least in part a World Bank loan of $37 million | |
| Delivery | Through mobile cash transfer starting in May | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2020-04-29-malawi-launches-40-monthly-cash-transfers-to-combat-coronavirus-impact/ | |
| Last update | April 29th 2020 | |
| Mauritius | Measure | The Self-Employment Assistance scheme is granting the equivalent of half of the minimum wage (Rs 5,100) to cover the period from the 16 March - 15 April 2020. As of 6 April, the MRA has received over 80,000 applications. |
| Target | The grant is only applicable to self-employed informal workers including bricklayers, plumber, hairdresser etc. Fishermen are excluded as they are registered under a separate fund. Domestic workers are also excluded because they are in either part-time or full-time employment. | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | Administered by the Mauritian Revenue Authority | |
| Delivery | Online registration form with possibility of calling in to Mauritian Revenue to register. Delivery will be through bank accounts only. The universal social pension is now delivered at home by the postal service for those who do not have bank accounts. | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | https://www.mra.mu/index.php/media1/self-employed-assistance-scheme | |
| Last update | April 6th 2020 | |
| Namibia | Measure | Government has announced a series of measures to face the crisis, some of the measures will benefit informal workers. The first measure that will benefit informal workers is the Emergency Income Grant, to support those employees who have lost their jobs, either in the informal or formal sector, due to the pandemic and its fallout. This is a once-off payment of N$750 (US$ 41) to people who have lost their jobs, essentially to stave off the vulnerabilities which arise. Applications may be made by Namibians citizens between 18 and 60 years of age who have lost their jobs and not receiving any other social grants. Payment will be made by Government in collaboration with the Social Security Commission and other financial sector and information communication technology partners within 7 days, utilising the banking sector’s ATM infrastructure and potentially e-wallets. Delivery: identity document is the most important one to have. Mobile Telecommunications Limited will submit the information collected to MobiPay who will validate all the information and then forward it to Delloitte Namibia, which will audit the information for final checks and send it to the banks, which will distribute the money within two to three days. The second measure that can potentially benefit informal workers is a tax-backs loan scheme for tax registered and tax paying (PAYE) employees and self-employed individual persons who have lost income or part thereof or experiencing difficulties due to COVID-19 outbreak. To provide breathing room for cashflow-constrained individuals who are taxpayers, they can borrow an amount equal to 1/12th of their tax payment in the previous tax year, to be repaid after one year. The interest rate will be concessional, below prime, on the back of a Government guarantee. The total guarantee is capped at the maximum of N$1.1 billion, based on the PAYE tax register and the potential loan size. The Government, in collaboration with the banking institutions may institute statutory and administrative measures to enhance compliance with loan conditions. Finally, the government determined a water subsidy during lockdowns. Government will ensure that water points are kept open without a need for water cards during lockdowns, through NamWater and Local Authorities that will subsidize this critical service. |
| Target | Informal and formal workers who lost their incomes | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | Utilising the banking sector’s ATM infrastructure. Identity document is the most important one to have. Mobile Telecommunications Limited will submit the information collected to MobiPay who will validate all the information and then forward it to Delloitte Namibia, which will audit the information for final checks and send it to the banks, which will distribute the money within two to three days. | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | Yes | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | https://tinyurl.com/namibiavscovid19 | |
| Last update | April 13th 2020 | |
| Rwanda | Measure | Rwanda, which has confirmed its first case of coronavirus, has stepped up its preparation efforts by flooding its capital with portable sinks for hand-washing. They can be found at bus stops, restaurants, banks and shops across the capital, Kigali. Government is also implementing an in-kind distribution of food and other essential items to 20,000 families. |
| Target | - | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | - | |
| Emergency cash grant | No | |
| Food Security | Yes | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | Yes | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | https://www.dw.com/en/rwanda-readies-for-coronavirus-with-public-sinks/av-52771314 | |
| Last update | April 6th 2020 | |
| Senegal | Measure | The government has announced that the government will take charge of the electricity bill for poor families for the period of two months, which should affect almost 1 million households. Government will also take charge of water utility bills for some 600,000 households. |
| Target | Poor families | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | - | |
| Emergency cash grant | No | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | Yes | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | http://aps.sn/actualites/economie/energie/article/ | |
| Last update | April 20th 2020 | |
| South Africa | Measure | President Cyrial Ramaphosa announces a 6-month supplement of R500 (US$ 27) to be added onto the Child Support Grant, and supplements of R250 (US$ 13) to be added to the social pension and disability grants for the same period. In addition, a special COVID grant has been announced which will pay out R350 (US$ 19) per month for six months to individuals who fall outside of the provisions of the Unemployment Insurance Fund and the various social assistance programmes. This will benefit the unemployed and informal workers. |
| Target | Poor people registered on the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare database | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | ||
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | Yes | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | ||
| Last update | April 13th 2020 | |
| Zimbabwe | Measure | Government has approved a paltry $200 (US$ 0,50) once-off cushioning allowance, per person, for needy people on the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare database to cover their needs during the 21-day national lockdown period. The government has partnered with OneMoney, a mobile money transfer platform operated by a mobile network operator, NetOne to disburse the money to the beneficiaries. Negotiations between the government and Telecash and EcoCash, mobile money platforms owned by Telecel Zimbabwe and EcocCash Zimbabwe respectively, to rope them into the exercise are ongoing. |
| Target | Poor people registered on the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare database | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | The government has partnered with OneMoney, a mobile money transfer platform operated by a mobile network operator, NetOne to disburse the money to the beneficiaries. Negotiations between the government and Telecash and EcoCash, mobile money platforms owned by Telecel Zimbabwe and EcoCash Zimbabwe respectively, to rope them into the exercise are ongoing. | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | Yes | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | https://www.newsday.co.zw/2020/04/needy-people-to-get-200-lockdown-cushion/ | |
| Last update | April 13th 2020 | |
(updated April 30, 2020)
Subnational and local governments
| Latin America & Caribbean | ||
| Bolivia | City/State | Sucre |
| Level | Local | |
| Measure | The local authority has deployed an operation of “permanent cleaning”, enforcing the use of masks and hand sanitizers for street vendors selling food at a busy commercial avenue in Sucre. These inspections are done in two shifts, morning and afternoon/evening, across some twenty food stands. | |
| Target | - | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | - | |
| Emergency cash grant | No | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | Yes | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | Yes | |
| Link | https://sucre.bo/salubridad-y-control-municipal-en-puestos-de-venta-de-alimentos/ | |
| Last update | April 6th 2020 | |
| Brazil | City/State | Campo Grande |
| Level | Local | |
| Measure | The city hall will deliver food baskets to 20,000 children from the municipal public schools from poor families that benefit from Bolsa Família. Schools are often where many poor children have their best (or even only) meal of the day in Brazil. | |
| Target | ||
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | - | |
| Emergency cash grant | No | |
| Food Security | Yes | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Link | https://correiodoestado.com.br/cidades/sem-aula-alunos-beneficiarios-do-bolsa-familia-vao-receber-kit-merenda-da-prefeitura/369225 | |
| Last update | April 6th 2020 | |
| Brazil | City/State | Maricá |
| Level | Local | |
| Measure | The town is spending R$ 80 million (US$ 16 million), in a combination of six measures, including grants in the form of a “social currency” (R$ 21 million, or US$ 4 million), and a minimum wage (US$ 200) to 6 thousands of the so-called “individual microentrepreneurs”, which is a category that comprises several informal workers. The municipality will also wave fees from commerce and the municipality will distribute basic grocery items basket to public school students (in Brazil, for many students, the meal provided at school is the only meal poor children have the whole day. | |
| Target | - | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | - | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | Yes | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Link | https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/poder/2020/03/avaliacao-de-bolsonaro-na-gestao-da-crise-e-muito-pior-que-a-de-governadores-e-ministerio-diz-datafolha.shtml?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=twfolha&origin=uol | |
| Last update | April 6th 2020 | |
| Brazil | City/State | Niterói |
| Level | Local | |
| Measure | The city of Niteroi, in the Greater Rio de Janeiro area, is undertaking a series of measures, and it is being regarded as one of the best local responses in Brazil. As far as informal workers are concerned, the city will deliver for three months a R$ 500 (US$ 100) grant voucher, in form of a debit card, for food, groceries, pharmacy expenses, petrol stations and culture. The programme, called “Active Search” is an extension of another emergency programme launched three weeks earlier, that would benefit low-income self-employed workers. In this extension, other work categories were included: waste-pickers, solidarity economy traders, artisans and street vendors. The emergency assistance will be made available to these specific categories as long as the worker has legal permit and has been registered in the municipality until March 31, 2020. On the coming days, fishermen and news agents will be included on the voucher programme. Also, the city started delivering 1 million masks for its dwellers (or two masks per person). Also, it distributed hygiene material (soap, hand sanitizers etc) and staple food for families with children enrolled in public schools. | |
| Target | Voucher: informal workers - waste-pickers, artisans, solidarity economy workers and street vendors | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | By debit card; beneficiaries must have been registered on the municipality | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | Yes | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | Yes | |
| OHS | No | |
| Link | https://extra.globo.com/noticias/economia/prefeitura-de-niteroi-comeca-pagar-nesta-quinta-feira-auxilio-de-500-do-programa-busca-ativa-24373647.html | |
| Last update | April 20th 2020 | |
| Brazil | City/State | Rio de Janeiro City |
| Level | Local | |
| Measure | The city council has approved an emergency cash grant programme, to complement the federal grant. The measure builds from an existing programme, Renda Básica Carioca, which offers a complementation to the national flagship cash-transfer programme Bolsa Família. With the measure, the legislators plan to increase the number of beneficiaries to include informal workers and self-employed (registered or not).The base amount of the grant is R$ 445 (US$ 85), which is added on top of the federal emergency grant of R$ 600 (R$ 115), to ensure each person gets at least one minimum wage (R$1.045 or US$ 200) per month, until the state of emergency still in place in the city. Details about the delivery and application of new beneficiaries are to be determined by the mayor, who is yet to sanction the bill. | |
| Target | - | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | - | |
| Emergency cash grant | No | |
| Food Security | Yes | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Link | https://odia.ig.com.br/rio-de-janeiro/2020/04/5899857-vereadores-aprovam-renda-basica-minima-para-informais--autonomos-e-microempreendedores-individuais.html | |
| Last update | April 20th 2020 | |
| Brazil | City/State | Salvador |
| Level | Local | |
| Measure | The city hall will distribute “basic staple baskets” for students of public schools from Salvador for as long as the classes are suspended. Schools are often where many poor children have their best (or even only) meal of the day in Brazil. | |
| Target | ||
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | - | |
| Emergency cash grant | No | |
| Food Security | Yes | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Link | https://g1.globo.com/ba/bahia/noticia/2020/03/22/distribuicao-de-cestas-basicas-para-alunos-da-rede-municipal-de-salvador-comeca-segunda-feira-veja-cronograma.ghtml | |
| Last update | April 6th 2020 | |
| Brazil | City/State | São Paulo City |
| Level | Local | |
| Measure | São Paulo City mayor has announced that waste-pickers, both independent and those who work in organized cooperatives will have access to a R$ 600 (US$ 120) grant, for a period of three months. The measure is targeted at 900 waste-pickers from cooperatives and 1.400 independent waste-pickers, and should cost R$ 5,7 million (US$ 1,1 million), and this expense will come from the city budget. It is not yet clear how the delivery is going to take place, in particular to the independent waste-pickers. | |
| Target | 900 waste-pickers from cooperatives and 1.400 independent waste-pickers | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | City budget | |
| Delivery | - | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Link | https://g1.globo.com/sp/sao-paulo/noticia/2020/03/31/covas-anuncia-auxilio-de-r-600-a-catadores-de-reciclaveis-durante-pandemia-de-coronavirus.ghtml | |
| Last update | April 6th 2020 | |
| Brazil | City/State | São Paulo state |
| Level | Subnational | |
| Measure | The state government of São Paulo has suspended for the period of three months, from April until June, the payment of water bills from poor families that currently pay a subsidized “social fee”. The government has also extended their community kitchen programme working hours, in order to avoid concentration of people. The programme serves breakfast and lunch for US$ 0,20 a meal. | |
| Target | ||
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | - | |
| Emergency cash grant | No | |
| Food Security | Yes | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | Yes | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Link | https://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/geral/noticia/2020-03/governo-de-sao-paulo-suspende-conta-de-agua-para-baixa-renda | |
| Last update | April 6th 2020 | |
| Colombia | City/State | Bogota |
| Level | Local | |
| Measure | Bogotá Solidária en Casa is the system that will deliver a Guaranteed Minimum Income to the poorest and most vulnerable families in Bogotá for the duration of their isolation. The Mayor's Office of Bogota aims to benefit, on a first stage, 350,000 poor families in the city with this transfer (US$100). On a second phase, hand in hand with the measures announced by the national government and the private donation scheme, the goal is to extend this temporary aid to another 150,000 vulnerable families to reach a total of 500,000 poor and vulnerable families who need a basic livelihood to pass the quarantine at home. The monetary and in-kind support will be received by 350,000 households in monetary poverty, with informal or inactive jobs. The Mayor's Office has decided to benefit 100% of this population. It will also benefit 150,000 vulnerable households (US$ 45) in Bogotá (which are not poor but are very vulnerable to falling into poverty in any emergency).Conditions to receive the aid are 3: 1) Household has to be classified as poor or vulnerable according to official census data and other registry systems and the Multipurpose Poverty Survey. 2) Respect isolation measures and remain at home; 3) Domestic violence offenders will not receive aid. The Mayor's office will expel offenders from home and maintain the aid only to the family. Beneficiaries will be contacted directly by the City Hall by telephone or SMS. The BogotáSolidariaEnCasa system will have three channels to deliver the benefits: monetary transfers, exchangeable bonds or subsidies in kind. The money transfer channel will be supported by bank operators and operators with mechanisms to disperse payments through cell phones (simple, arrows, and also smart phones). Low-cost accounts, electronic purses or money orders will be used to deliver resources to the population, who will be able to withdraw these resources and use them for the purchases that their households require. In the redeemable bond channel, cards will be distributed to the population with which they will be able to make withdrawals or make the purchases that the household needs. In the channel of subsidies in kind, aid will be delivered directly to the home of each household, with emphasis on those households that, because of their living conditions or geographical location, cannot access the two previous channels. | |
| Target | ||
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | - | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Link | http://www.sdp.gov.co/noticias/bogota-solidaria-casa-0 | |
| Last update | April 10th 2020 | |
| Ecuador | City/State | Quito |
| Level | Local | |
| Measure | Some 90,000 food kits will be delivered in Quito to self-employed traders who live from day to day, but because of the health emergency and the state of emergency due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, they have not been able to go out to work. In the capital, there would be 22,000 self-employed vendors, according to the city hall, who hopes to reach 200,000 kits to be distributed. | |
| Target | ||
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | - | |
| Emergency cash grant | No | |
| Food Security | Yes | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Link | https://www.eluniverso.com/noticias/2020/03/24/nota/7793424/quito-se-entregaran-90000-kits-alimentos | |
| Last update | April 6th 2020 | |
| Mexico | City/State | Mexico City |
| Level | Local | |
| Measure | Mexico City city hall will give vouchers of up to MXN 350(US$ 14) in three installments, every 15 days, to 458,000 vulnerable people who have been affected by the health emergency of the coronavirus. The vouchers will be distributed in each district - and it will be valid inside each region only, for local commerce (local grocery shops, bakeries). However, the policy is restricted to Mexico City dwellers - informal workers from other surrounding towns who work in Mexico City are not eligible. | |
| Target | Poor families | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | Through the district halls | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Link | https://www.eluniversal.com.mx/metropoli/cdmx/cdmx-lanza-mercomuna-para-apoyar-familias-vulnerables-por-coronavirus | |
| Last update | April 23th 2020 | |
| Uruguay | City/State | Montevideo |
| Level | Local | |
| Measure | The first measure is to suspend the collection of home taxes for the two-month period from March to April. Specifically, collection will be suspended in the month of April, deferring payment in two installments that will be billed along with the bimonthly payments due in June and August. One specific measure is targeted at street vendors, with regard to fees for commercial and service activities in public space. The collection will be suspended for the months of April and May, deferring payment to the months of June and July, which will be billed together with these. This measure covers markets stands, kiosks (news agents) and food stands. | |
| Target | ||
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | - | |
| Emergency cash grant | No | |
| Food Security | No | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | Yes | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Link | https://www.montevideo.com.uy/Noticias/La-Intendencia-disminuyo-la-presion-fiscal-en-el-marco-de-la-emergencia-por-coronavirus-uc747664 | |
| Last update | April 6th 2020 | |
| South Asia | ||
| India | City/State | Andhra Pradesh |
| Level | Subnational | |
| Measure | State government will deliver free food rations on March 29 in view of the nationwide lockdown to check the spread of coronavirus. April's quota of rice as well as 1 kg of thoor dal should be distributed to ration card holders through village volunteers. A monetary assistance of Rs 1,000 (US$ 13) per family also would be handed out. | |
| Target | ||
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | - | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | Yes | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Link | https://www.deccanherald.com/national/south/andhra-pradesh-govt-to-distribute-ration-cash-relief-at-doorsteps-817603.html | |
| Last update | April 6th 2020 | |
| India | City/State | Delhi |
| Level | Subnational | |
| Measure | In a food security action, the Delhi state government has increased by 50% the amount of food entitlements for 720,000 beneficiaries. It also doubled the pension for widows, differently-abled and the elderly for this month for 850,000 beneficiaries. | |
| Target | ||
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | - | |
| Emergency cash grant | No | |
| Food Security | Yes | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Link | https://www.firstpost.com/india/coronavirus-outbreak-delhi-govt-to-give-extra-ration-to-72-lakh-people-double-pension-for-8-5-lakh-beneficiaries-8175151.html | |
| Last update | April 6th 2020 | |
| India | City/State | Kerala |
| Level | Subnational | |
| Measure | The state government has launched a Rs 20,000 crone (US$ 2.6 billion) emergency package to cover health packages, loan assistance, welfare pensions, MGNREGS, free food grains, subsidized meals, tax relief and arrear clearance. Also, in another major announcement, Pinarayi Vijayan announced that free rice will be given to everyone, regardless of their economic status, for one month. | |
| Target | ||
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | - | |
| Emergency cash grant | No | |
| Food Security | Yes | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | Yes | |
| OHS | No | |
| Link | https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/covid-19-kerala-announces-rs-20000-cr-revival-package-free-rice-all-month-120658 | |
| Last update | April 6th 2020 | |
| India | City/State | Odisha |
| Level | Subnational | |
| Measure | The Odisha government decided expand their Food Security programme to include other 500,000 beneficiaries, taking the scheme to reach 2,5 million people who would have access to 5 kg of rice at Rs 1 (US$ 0,01) a kilo. The government would spend Rs 960,000,000 (US$ 12,7 million) for the inclusion of the 500,000 new beneficiaries. | |
| Target | ||
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | - | |
| Emergency cash grant | No | |
| Food Security | Yes | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Link | https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/odisha-to-give-rice-to-5-lakh-poor-as-coronavirus-scare-hits-economy/story-4jVZkFvuOi4ooz4YTIDPrL.html | |
| Last update | April 6th 2020 | |
| India | City/State | Rajasthan |
| Level | Subnational | |
| Measure | State government will provide relief to the 7.8 million people, who get social security benefits, will get a pension for two months in advance. Apart from this, 3.65 million Below Poverty Line (BPL) families, state BPL and Antodaya beneficiaries and 2.5 million construction workers and registered street vendors, who are not covered under the pension scheme, will get Rs 1000 as one-time relief.Gehlot said these measures will provide relief to at least 14.1 million families in Rajasthan. The state government had earlier announced free ration for two months for families covered under the National Food Security Act (NFSA), who get wheat for Re 1 and Rs 2 a kilo. | |
| Target | ||
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | - | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | Yes | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Link | https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/coronavirus-update-rajasthan-bans-private-vehicles-to-give-pension-food-to-poor/story-McqrXsvPuqHPEA7wTe6qDI.html | |
| Last update | April 6th 2020 | |
| India | City/State | Uttar Pradesh |
| Level | Subnational | |
| Measure | The Uttar Pradesh government has announced a financial support of ₹ 1,000 (US$ 13) to 2 million daily wage earners hit by job losses due to the spread of COVID-19 and 1,5 million street vendors of the state, through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) programme. | |
| Target | 2 million daily workers and 1,5 million street vendors | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | - | |
| Emergency cash grant | No | |
| Food Security | Yes | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Link | https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/odisha-to-give-rice-to-5-lakh-poor-as-coronavirus-scare-hits-economy/story-4jVZkFvuOi4ooz4YTIDPrL.html | |
| Last update | April 8th 2020 | |
| Southeast Asia and Oceania | ||
| Australia | City/State | Tasmania |
| Level | Subnational | |
| Measure | The State Government of Tasmania will provide a one-off emergency relief payment of AUD 250 (US$ 158) for individuals and up to $1,000 (US$ 632) for families who are required to self-quarantine. This will be available to informal casual workers and those on low incomes. | |
| Target | Informal workers in self-quarantine | |
| Finance (where does it come from) | - | |
| Delivery | - | |
| Emergency cash grant | Yes | |
| Food Security | Yes | |
| Tax/fee/rent relief | No | |
| Job security | No | |
| Healthcare | No | |
| OHS | No | |
| Source | http://www.premier.tas.gov.au/releases/ministerial_statement_covid-19_response_measures | |
| Last update | April 13th 2020 | |
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Christy Adeola Braham, Federico Parra