世界发展银行-Social-Protection-and-Jobs-Responses-to-COVID-19-_-A-Real-Time-Review-of-Country-Measures-_April-17,-2020__114页_1mb

Summary of "Social Protection and Jobs Responses to COVID-19: A Real-Time Review of Country Measures"

Core Content

This document provides a real-time review of social protection and jobs measures implemented or planned by 133 countries as of April 17, 2020, in response to the economic and social impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The measures are categorized into three main types: social assistance, social insurance, and labor market interventions. The report highlights the diversity and scale of these measures, emphasizing the global and regional trends in response to the crisis.

Main Points

1. Overview of Measures

• Total Measures: 564 social protection and jobs measures have been introduced or adapted across 133 countries.
• New Countries: 7 new countries (Barbados, Kuwait, Malawi, Saint Lucia, Sao Tome, Sierra Leone, and Zimbabwe) have joined the list since the last update.
• Growth in Measures: The number of measures increased by 12% compared to the previous week.

2. Types of Interventions

• Social Assistance: The most widely used category, with 352 measures.

  • Cash Transfers: The largest sub-category, with 161 measures in 87 countries. Including other cash-based programs like social pensions, public works, and childcare support, the total number of cash transfer measures reaches 193.
  • In-Kind Support: Includes food/voucher schemes and school feeding, totaling 73 measures.
  • Utility and Financial Obligation Support: 86 measures to waive or postpone payments for essential services and other obligations.

• Social Insurance: Includes 134 measures, with paid sick leave and unemployment benefits being the most common.

  • Paid Sick Leave: 38 measures in 38 countries.
  • Unemployment Benefits: 38 measures in 38 countries.
  • Social Contributions Waivers: 29 measures in 29 countries.
  • Healthcare Insurance Support: 9 measures in 9 countries.

• Labor Market Interventions: Comprise 78 measures, with wage subsidies accounting for 60% of these.

  • Wage Subsidies: 47 measures.
  • Activation Measures: 13 measures, including worker training.
  • Labor Market Regulation: 15 measures.
  • Shorter Work Time Benefits: 3 measures.

3. Beneficiaries and Scale

• Total Beneficiaries: Approximately 622 million people are supported through these measures.
• Cash Transfers as a Share of GDP: Cash transfers represent 22% of monthly GDP per capita, with low-income countries at 36% and upper middle-income countries at 18%.
• Regional Variations:
  • North America and ECA: Highest share of benefits at 27%.
  • LAC and South Asia: Lower shares, at 16% and 18% respectively.

4. Country-Level Actions

• Middle-Income Countries: Are the epicenter of action, accounting for 68% of all measures.
• High-Income Countries: Include Japan with a one-off universal cash transfer, the fourth globally of this type.

5. Key Examples of Measures

• Albania: Doubled cash transfers for existing beneficiaries and introduced new benefits for self-employed families.
• Algeria: Expanded social assistance through cash transfers, in-kind food distribution, and administrative adaptations for pension delivery.
• Argentina: Implemented a comprehensive emergency package including cash transfers for families, in-kind support, and wage subsidies for employers.
• Armenia: Provided emergency cash payments, utility bill reimbursements, and support for workers in affected sectors.
• Australia: Introduced two major economic support packages, including one-time cash payments and a coronavirus supplement for jobseekers.

Key Information

• The "living paper" format allows for continuous updates and verification, with a new version released weekly.
• The data sources include official government information, news outlets, and expert input.
• The report is preliminary and should be interpreted with caution due to varying levels of reporting completeness.
• The focus is on supply-side labor market interventions, such as wage subsidies and activation programs, rather than demand-side measures like capital injections.
• Administrative adaptations are also part of the measures, such as easier access to benefits and alternative delivery methods to reduce exposure risks.

Conclusion

The global response to the pandemic through social protection and jobs measures has been extensive and varied. Cash transfers dominate the social assistance category, while paid sick leave and unemployment benefits are the most common in social insurance. Wage subsidies are a key part of labor market interventions, especially in middle-income countries. The report underscores the importance of real-time monitoring and the need for continued tracking of the implementation and impact of these measures.