The current coronavirus crisis has created unprecedented challenges for those in the construction industry. While many states have exempted construction activities from their shelter-in-place or stay-at-home orders, projects have nonetheless been impacted and cash flow from owners or contractors may slow or halt. As a result, contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers must be vigilant to protect their ability to receive payment on projects where cash flow might become problematic ...
In recent weeks, the corona-related effects on the economy have led to hectic activities by the EU Commission, the federal government, and the German states to make State support services available at short notice and in a manner that is as unbureaucratic as possible. This article provides an overview of the measures taken at federal and state level and their legal framework ...
On Monday, 23 March 2020, the President of South Africa announced a 21-day nationwide lockdown, with effect from midnight on Thursday, 26 March 2020. In brief, all persons in South Africa are prohibited from leaving their homes for the 21-day period, except if specifically exempted to perform an essential service (health care professionals, food distributors etc ...
Is the employer obligated to notify the Principal Inspector of Mines of known cases of Covid-19 in the workforce? In terms of section 11(5B) of the Mine Health and Safety Act, 1996 (the "MHSA"), the employer is required to notify the Principal Inspector of Mines of any occurrence at the mine that results in the illness of any person ...
On Monday, 30 March 2020, the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (“FSCA”) issued a general communication to financial institutions relating to the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on financial institutions and their customers. The circular sets out at a high level the expectations of the FSCA relating to the culture and responsibilities of financial institutions during the crisis. It does not have the force of law ...
On 26 March 2020, the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services issued Directions in terms of Regulation10 of the Regulations under the Disaster Management Act, 2002 (the “Directions”).The Directions will apply during the period of the lockdown, between midnight on Thursday, 26 March 2020 and midnight on Thursday, 16 April 2020 ...
In its recent decision inNational Union of Metal Workers of South Africa v Lufil Packaging (Isithebe) and Others, the Constitutional Court had to decide this question in an appeal brought by the National Union of Metal Workers of South Africa (“NUMSA”) against a decision of the Labour Appeal Court (“LAC”), which held that NUMSA was not entitled to organisational rights within Lufil’s workplace ...
Many banks and other financial services businesses and corporates have started preparing for life after the London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”). We are now less than two years away from the LIBOR and other Interbank Offered Rates (“IBORs”) being discontinued. Global banks are only required to submit LIBOR until the end of 2021. The proposal is to replace LIBOR and other IBORs with (nearly) risk-free rates (“RFR”) in certain major jurisdictions ...
Is the employer obligated to notify the Principal Inspector of Mines of known cases of COVID-19 in the workforce? In terms of section 11(5B) of the Mine Health and Safety Act, 1996 (the "MHSA"), the employer is required to notify the Principal Inspector of Mines of any occurrence at the mine that results in the illness of any person ...
In response to the rapid spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), South Africa entered a lockdown period on 27 March 2020 and subject to any further directions from government, this period is due to last until midnight on 16 April 2020. During the lockdown period, employees performing an essential service are allowed to travel to and from work ...
The Emergency Regulations published under the National Disaster Management Act, 2002 to reduce the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) were understandably, under the circumstances, published in a hurry with a number of scenarios not being thought of and being left to interpretation. One of those is sectional title living ...
The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (“FSCA”) has been proactive in responding to the threats posed to the retirement funds industry by the infectious disease caused by the coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic affecting South Africa. In recent days, the FSCA has made two noteworthy pronouncements for the retirement funds sector in an effort to mitigate potential exposures that the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to have on the retirement funds industry ...
Section 1106 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act or the “CARES Act” provides a framework whereby small businesses can obtain loans from the SBA that may be forgiven to the extent of certain business expenses, including rent. Generally, when a loan is forgiven, the debtor is taxed on the amount forgiven under Internal Revenue Code §108 (subject to statutory exceptions) ...
In the wake of COVID-19, cities, counties and states across the nation are issuing shelter-in-place and stay-at-home orders to curb nonessential movement of residents. States and local authorities are invoking powers to evacuate residents through statutes that have historically been used for natural disaster evacuations. While the ability to order and enforce such evacuations is not in dispute, the orders in this context raise many questions ...
President Trump signed the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (“FFCRA” or “the Act”) into law on March 18. The Act requires employers with fewer than 500 employees to provide their employees with paid sick leave and expanded Family and Medical Leave Act rights, subject to exceptions for certain healthcare providers, emergency responders, and businesses with fewer than 50 employees if compliance would jeopardize the business as a going concern ...
The spread of the highly contagious coronavirus has reach pandemic status. Over 550,000 cases have been confirmed across more than 175 countries, and the United States now has over 86,000 confirmed cases across all 50 states and four territories. In other countries, the threat of coronavirus has already impacted prison operations — lockdowns have been implemented in Italy and thousands of prisoners were released in Iran ...
First and foremost, our collective priority is, and should remain, human health and safety. As local, state, and federal government take action to help limit the spread of COVID-19, we are monitoring the rapid developments of this fast-moving news cycle and COVID-19’s impacts on renewable energy markets. Many open questions remain regarding the impact of COVID-19 in North Carolina – particularly the impact on businesses ...
Covid-19 makes it difficult for shareholders and members to attend annual general meetings in limited liability companies and other legal forms of association. Shareholders might belong to a risk group or having difficulties to travel to the place where the meeting is held. A limited liability company or association may not refrain from holding the annual general meeting or to postpone further than the last permitted date (six months after the end of the financial year) ...
The outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) which has been recently declared as a Pandemic by the World Health Organization, has affected our country and the entire world.In Guatemala, the Government has been taking an active role by implementing progressive measures to prevent the spread of the virus, measures that will have a significant impact on the country's economy ...
The United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced a period for public comment on excluding medical goods from Section 301 China tariffs if they are needed to fight the coronavirus pandemic. The USTR notice was published in the Federal Register on March 25, 2020. The USTR previously granted approximately 200 exclusions from Section 301 tariffs for medical goods because they are needed to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The U.S ...
The CARES Act was signed into law on March 27, 2020 and provides emergency relief for the American economy by imposing certain restrictions on eviction, forbearance for certain loans, and foreclosure relief for owners of single-family and multi-family assets secured by federally-insured mortgages. The following is a summary of the relevant provisions. A ...
With the onset of COVID-19, certain areas of academic and government-fueled research are exploding. However, universities and governments at all levels are also scaling down nonessential research tasks and limiting the enrollment of essential new human subjects or new animal experiments.[1] Similarly, private companies may be suspending or cancelling their research projects in an attempt to conserve financial resources and accommodate researchers working from home ...
