April 2020

World Bank to allocate 150 mln USD to Ukraine for social protection

The World Bank will provide Ukraine with an additional 150 million U.S. dollars for social protection needs during the COVID-19 epidemic, the press service of the Ukrainian Ministry of Social Policy said on its website Friday. Read also Africa’s demographic transition The statement said 50 million dollars will be used to support vulnerable groups during the outbreak and 100 million dollars are earmarked for improving social protection in general. Read also India: Pension schemes draw more members Ukraine joined the World...

US Corporate Pensions See Shocking $93 Billion Funding Gain in March

Defying forecasts of another grim month due to global market volatility, the funded status of the 100 largest US corporate pension funds surprisingly increased $93 billion in March despite deteriorating economic conditions amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Just a month after hitting its lowest level in more than three years the Milliman 100 Pension Funding Index (PFI), which tracks the funded ratio for the 100 largest corporate pension plans in the US, rose to 85.6% from 82.1% at the end...

How Coronavirus Pandemic Is Affecting Fintech Companies

As the world evolves and becomes a lot more advanced, financial technology (fintech) companies have a bigger chance to solidify their positions. While the use of technology is not new, fintech companies exploit technology a lot better, putting them way above traditional financial institutions. With the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, there is a lot of uncertainty about life and business after the pandemic. As biting as it has been, we look at the effects of the coronavirus situation on fintech...

Greece. Nightmare scenarios for pension system

Social security experts and the government are having to consider nightmare scenarios with unemployment above 20 percent and a recession of close to 12 percent once the coronavirus pandemic has subsided. The fiscal turbulence is also expected to affect forecasts for the social security system, as the revenues of the main pension fund (e-EFKA) are expected to plummet, which means that the state will have to step in and help out. Read also Public pension funds shouldn’t wait for...

Egypt. COVID-19 crisis likely to propel social protection reforms: Mashaat

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis is likely to accelerate the structural reforms as regards the social protection and the irregular workers alongside activating the financial inclusion as per the policies of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE), said International Cooperation Minister Rania el Mashaat on Monday. The minister was addressing a video conference session about the short and long-term repercussions of the coronavirus pandemic organized by the Middle East Institute (MEI), a leading non-profit think tank and cultural center...

Jamaica. COVID-19 is opportunity in disguise – disaster risk expert

Dr Dennis Edwards, who was part of a panel organised by the Caribbean Sociological Association (CASA) to examine the social fallouts occasioned by the pandemic last week, said COVID-19 should be taken “as a sort of opportunity in disguise”. “I am of the view that we here in the Caribbean – this being maybe the third most multi-hazard region in the world – should be taking this time to simulate, model, drill, not only for a single disaster such...

Covid-19: Restrictions, Economic Losses And Incentives. European And Global Overview

By Virginia CÂMPEANU The viral epidemic COVID-19 started in December 2019 in a large city of China, Wuhan with a population of about 20 million, similar to that of Romania. The huge speed of virus spread inside China, then outside the borders has determined the World Health Organization (WHO) to declare on January 30, 2020, "Global emergency for public health" (pandemic). In mid-March, the epicentre of the epidemic moved from Asia to Europe, where the number of cases continues...

COVID 19: Emerging Investment Risks for Pension Schemes

Daily policy initiatives by governments across the world who are desperate to avoid the worst ravages of an economic recession are fuelling a lot of the volatility in public markets with which investors are now sadly familiar. However, many pension funds have significant private market exposures through alternative investments. Those holdings are not immune to government intervention and pension funds should note the sometimes unexpected effect of policy changes. The Pensions Regulator’s COVID 19 guidance on 27 March advised...

Social protection responses to the COVID-19 lockdown in South Africa

Poor and vulnerable South Africans, including domestic, farm, service sector, and self-employed workers as well as children from poor families, face a double shock. COVID-19 is a major health risk that has already claimed tens of thousands of lives worldwide and is starting to claim lives in South Africa. Social distancing and self-isolation are necessary to slow the spread of the virus, and the 21-day lockdown is designed to “flatten the curve”. But the lockdown itself has consequences that...

Irish Demand for Social Benefits Soars as Coronavirus Bites

The number of people in Ireland dependent on social welfare income support amidst the coronavirus outbreak has soared to more than 700,000 based on numbers released on Monday by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. On April 3, 507,000 people were paid the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Support payment, which is a weekly stipend of 350 euros ($377.93) for those who have lost jobs or had hours cut due to coronavirus disruption. That was in addition to 207,000...