COVID-19 Archives - Page 10 of 14

Prendiamo un Caffé!: Be Paid to Work Remotely in Italy

As we have reported, the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged not only the employment relationship but also how local government may lessen the economic impact of the pandemic. The governments of Barbados, Estonia and Malta, among others, have implemented measures to support the local economy by either allowing individuals to live in the country while they work for foreign employers or incentivizing independent travelers to visit the country. Now, two Italian towns, specifically Santa Fiora in Tuscany and Rieti in Lazio, may be added to the list of countries, regions and cities that are attempting to revitalize the local economy by offering benefits to lure newcomers.

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New Efforts to Manage India’s Second Wave of COVID-19 Infections

As has been well-documented over the past several weeks, India has experienced a significant second wave of COVID-19 infections. In light of the unprecedented surge in COVID-19 cases across the country, at least 11 Indian states and union territories have imposed COVID-19 restrictions. This past weekend, the eastern state of Odisha and the northern industrial state of Haryana became the latest to announce new lockdowns, joining Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra and West Bengal, among others.

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Ontario Provides Employees with Paid Leave Entitlement in COVID-19-Related Circumstances

On April 29, 2021, the Ontario government passed Bill 284, COVID-19 Putting Workers First Act, 2021 (the “Act”), which amended the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (the “ESA”). The Act requires employers to provide employees with up to three days of paid leave if they miss work for COVID-19-related reasons. The paid leave entitlement is retroactive to April 19, 2021 and will end on September 25, 2021, the same day that the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit ends. The Act may be extended beyond that date.

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U.K. Launches Fully Digital Application Process for BN(O) Visas

If you are a British National (Overseas) citizen from Hong Kong, you and your family members can apply for a British National (Overseas) visa, which will entitle you to live, work and study in the U.K. The visa application process launched at the end of January, and the U.K. has since launched a smartphone app that allows you to apply for the visa digitally. We dive into the details of the BN(O) visa and the application process in this alert.

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Navigating the American Rescue Plan’s Employment-Related Provisions

On March 12, 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARP) was signed into law, providing an estimated $1.9 trillion stimulus package to address the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the ARP’s key provisions include a number of employment-related sections that build upon prior legislation to create a scaffold of employer obligations and worker entitlements arising from the pandemic’s impact on the U.S. economy.

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Summary of New California COVID-19 Supplemental Paid Sick Leave – What Employers Need to Know

On March 19, 2021, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill (SB) 95, which extends and expands employer requirements to provide supplemental paid sick leave (SPSL) to employees impacted by COVID-19. SB 95 goes into effect on March 29, 2021, (i.e., 10 days after being signed by Gov. Newsom) and adds sections 248.2 and 248.3 to the California Labor Code.

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