Many employers have been considering workforce changes to address the economic downturn and cash flow issues caused by COVID-19. Yesterday's announcement by the Federal Government about wage subsidies (known as 'JobKeeper Payments') has been welcomed by employers and unions, and should be closely considered by employers before implementing any changes. It has been reported that 8,000 businesses lodged an application for the subsidy in the 50 minutes that followed the announcement ...
The COVID-19 pandemic is indisputably the most serious public health emergency of our times, and at the same time, a shock to the global economy. Being a field of law largely influenced by economics, it would seem inevitable that the application of competition law would not be affected by the current economic realities brought about by the coronavirus pandemic ...
On referral from Justice Alito to the full court, the Supreme Court of the United States on Wednesday denied an application to halt the enforcement of Pennsylvania Governor Wolf’s shutdown order ...
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) is delaying data collection for their annual EEO-1 Report filing. The EEO-1 Employer Information Report, is a survey that is required annually for larger employers and government contractors. The survey collects employment data organized by race, ethnicity, gender, and job category ...
To contain the spread of COVID-19, the Office of the Prime Minister of The Bahamas (“the Competent Authority”) has extended the state of public emergency to the 31st May, 2020. New regulations have been introduced to minimize spread of the virus while allowing for a phased re-opening of the economy. This update summarizes those measures to date ...
The Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on April 28, 2020 signed a Notice of Extended Waiver for certain deadlines associated with patent-related filings, if the missed deadline resulted from situations relating to COVID-19. Due dates between March 27 and May 31, 2020 are extended until June 1, 2020 ...
On May 5, 2020, the Small Business Administration extended the time in which certain borrowers of Paycheck Protection Program loans may take advantage of the certification safe harbor SBA announced on April 24, 2020. The SBA also issued guidance on applying the affiliation rules to businesses with U.S. and foreign affiliates ...
On April 21, 2020, the IRS released a much-awaited package of guidance in the cross-border tax space that provides relief to those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The guidance relates to (1) day-counting for both tax residency purposes and certain treaty positions, (2) the ability of taxpayers to claim the foreign-earned income exclusion, and (3) carrying on a U.S. trade or business ...
In light of the restrictions on gatherings imposed in many states due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the IRS has issued Revenue Procedure 2020-21, which will temporarily allow public hearings to be held by teleconference. For the purposes of IRS rules, teleconference hearings will be permitted in all jurisdictions, regardless of any state or local orders or guidance on public gatherings ...
As some businesses are reopening while COVID-19 plateaus, many employees are splitting time between working from home and working in the office. Those same employees are often using their own devices (phones, tablets, laptops etc.) in both places. The use of personal devices in a work setting can increase risk of a data breach ...
Key Points: Bay Area counties issued new Shelter Orders on April 29, 2020 allowing all construction to resume. The new Shelter Orders include detailed Construction Safety Protocols that construction jobsites must comply with. There is one Construction Safety Protocol for “small” construction projects, and a more rigorous Construction Safety Protocol for “large” construction projects ...
In the midst of a global pandemic, much attention and praise are rightfully being showered on healthcare and pharmaceutical providers. While the world watches with awe at the sacrifices that pharmaceutical and healthcare providers are making during this difficult time, government prosecutors too are watching—albeit for a different reason ...
Our COVID-19 Task Force stands ready to assist with developing your customized "playbook" for helping your business return to the new normal. Below are a few recent articles Spilman has published, along with a link to a recent webinar ...
Governor Wolf has selected 24 counties for movement from the red phase to the yellow phase of the reopening plan. Once a business is permitted to open in-person operations, they must comply with certain requirements that are set forth in a guidance document available here. The Guidance references certain orders and documents issued by the PA Department of Health, PA Department of State and Governor's Office ...
Fiscal Support Schemes Full suspension of operations Companies the operations of which were mandatorily suspended, pursuant to the pertinent Decisions of the Council of Ministers and decrees of the Minister of Health, includinginter aliashopping centres, department stores, cafes, coffeehouses, bars and all catering businesses (excluding delivery services), entertainment venues, cinemas, theatres, performance venues, libraries, museums, archaeological and historical sites, bookies, cas
The Commission has for some time now been focusing on acquisitions of EU companies active in critical industries, especially those that are State-owned, by non-EU companies. In order to control them, it has adopted a foreign direct investment (“FDI”) screening coordination mechanism by virtue of Regulation (EU) 2019/452 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 March 2019 (“FDI Screening Regulation”) ...
The Ministry of Health and Social Protection was given the authority to determine and issue biosecurity protocols to mitigate, control, prevent the spread and properly manage the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic. It is necessary to emphasize that all companies that reactivate their work must establish timely channels of communication between the employer and the worker to notify suspicious cases ...
The National Immigration Authority and the Ministry of Labor extend the measures taken as a result of the State of Emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Residence permits are extended up to May 15th. This extension is in force since March 13th. Reference is made to all permits and tourist stays that expire within the aforementioned period and will not give rise to fines due to expiration ...
The amendments to the Revised Rules on Evidence (Administrative Matter No. 19-08-15-SC) and Rules of Civil Procedure (Administrative Matter No. 19-10-20-SC) (collectively, the “Amended Rules”) will take effect on May 1, 2020. The Philippine Supreme Court approved these amendments to help minimize delays in court litigation and to expedite the resolution of cases. The full copies of the Amended Rules are available on the Philippine Supreme Court’s website at http://sc ...
This is a briefing on the following issuances as of May 4, 2020 in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic:A. Courts in Areas under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) to Reopen on May 4, 2020B. Reduced Bail and Release on Recognizance for Indigent DetaineesC. Bayanihan Act IRRs and Other IssuancesA. Courts in Areas under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) to Reopen on May 4, 2020Supreme CourtAdministrative Circular No ...
A DMCC licensed company holding a valid service license (with one or more of the Eligible Service Activities (identified below)) can apply to the DMCC for a no objection certificate (NOC) to operate/conduct business onshore (i.e. in mainland Dubai outside of the boundaries of the DMCC free zone). The NOC, in itself, is not sufficient to operate onshore. The applicant company will also be required to obtain a permit from the local licensing authority (i.e ...
We analyze Royal Decree-Law 16/2020, of April 28, 2020, published in the April 29 edition of the Official State Gazette (BOE), adopting procedural and organizational measures to confront COVID-19 (RDL 16/2020). And entering into force on April 30, 2020 (the day after its publication in the Official State Gazette) ...
The Ministry of Health and Social Protection issued Resolution 682 adopting the biosecurity protocol for the control and management of COVID-19 in the building construction sector. This protocol is complementary to the general biosecurity protocol adopted through Resolution 666 of 2020 and to other measures implemented by each company. This biosecurity protocol includes the following measures: 1. General biosecurity measures 2. Additional measures 2.1 ...
On April 30, 2020, the CLPTO announced the temporary application of new measures issued in relation to deadlines, procedures and legal requirements in administrative and contentious processes, with the aim of facilitating the compliance of legal obligations by applicants and users. Previously, the CLPTO had granted ex officio, through the Exempt Resolution No ...
