The COVID-19 pandemic brings to light penal and fine regulations that have hitherto led a shadowy existence. In particular, quarantine requirements and curfews and the punishability of violations thereof are currently under discussion. Companies and executives must also familiarize themselves with the provisions and official orders to avoid sanctions. Violations of curfews and requirements by authorities as well as quarantine violations are punishable by fines or even imprisonment ...
The Republic of Serbia has officially closed its border crossings for passengers in road, rail, air and water traffic at 8.00 a.m. on 20 March 2020. The passing of humanitarian aid and crossings of national importance that are approved by the competent authority are still allowed. International passenger traffic to and from the Nikola Tesla Airport has been suspended in accordance with the Government of Serbia’s decision on 19 March 2020 from 12.00 p.m. onwards ...
With effect from 14 March 2020, Rwanda’s Ministry of Health and other governmental bodies have issued several measures that will be implemented in order to mitigate the risk of the coronavirus (COVID-19). This was turned into an almost total lockdown with immediate effect by a communiqué issued by the Office of the Prime Minister on 21 March 2020 and which will be in force during a two-week period (with possibility of extension) ...
Given the recent regulations published under the Disaster Management Act, 2002 and the State of Emergency Act, 1997, certain restrictions have been imposed by the South African Government to combat the coronavirus (COVID-19) threat. These restrictions prohibit certain activities and compel limiting factors on certain businesses, such as educational institutions and businesses selling liquor. In addition, there are a number of protocols that have been issued by various agencies ...
With the recent outbreak and spread of COVID-19, businesses may experience several problems, such as absences of employees or disruptions in a supply chain required for their manufacturing or deliveries, which negatively impact their performance under a contract. In this alert we address the question whether negative consequences of COVID 19 could be under Slovak law considered as force majeure events, i.e ...
We realize employers continue to have pressing questions during this growing COVID-19 pandemic. Our COVID-19 Task Force is ready to assist with those questions and will continue providing updates in hopes of answering some of the more pressing questions you are likely to encounter as we move forward in this unprecedented situation ...
On March 16, seven Bay Area counties issued "shelter-in-place" restrictions, which create compliance issues for cannabis operations licensed as dispensaries or as delivery services ...
The ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic is upending regular commercial activity across the United States and around the world, and that disruption is expected to escalate. Among the issues confronting our clients, the effect of public health orders and other measures to address COVID-19 is threatening, impacting, and in some cases, outright prohibiting the performance of material contractual obligations ...
We have been asked whether businesses should cancel or severely limit business meetings and social engagements due to the Coronavirus pandemic crisis. It is admittedly difficult to run a business while essentially sheltering in place until such time, as the country achieves some sort of reliable testing program and medical treatment availability. Our recommendation is to cancel all but the most critical of meetings and gatherings ...
As a growing number of the workforce is being affected by the COVID-19 virus, employers are being asked to respond to benefit-related questions from employees. In the coming days, the Employee Benefits Group at Hanson Bridgett will be providing updated information on possible issues arising in the benefits area through Benefits Alerts and postings on Hanson Bridgett's Online COVID-19 Resource Center ...
As each day that passes while COVID-19 spreads throughout the country, more businesses are closing their doors to protect their employees, customers, vendors, and other people with whom they come into contact. And many of them are wondering whether there is coverage for their business losses during this time. Business interruption or business income coverage is sometimes included in commercial property coverage ...
On March 17, 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom issued an Executive Order suspending some of the notice requirements under the California WARN Act ("Cal-WARN"), the state counterpart to the Federal WARN Act. The order came in response to the sudden onslaught of workplace closings across California due to COVID-19. Under the Cal-WARN, employers with 75 or more employees must give 60-days' written notice to employees and unions before layoffs occur ...
On March 18, 2020, the Senate approved, and President Trump signed H.R. 6201, the "Families First Coronavirus Response Act." The legislation contains a number of provisions related to employees' rights to time off and pay, provides tax credits to employers, and includes expanded health services and unemployment provisions. The provisions related to employees' rights to time off and pay, tax credits, and unemployment are summarized here: Family Medical Leave Act Expansion H.R ...
On March 18, 2020, Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued Executive Order 2020-15 which permits all public bodies in the State of Michigan, with the exception of the State Legislature, to meet during the COVID-19 state of emergency (“COVID-19 Emergency”) by electronic means until April 15, 2020 ...
As the coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic continues, many public companies are examining how best to accommodate their upcoming annual shareholder meetings in light of complying with government orders and recommendations limiting public gatherings and non-essential travel. Accordingly, many corporate executives are now considering moving their annual shareholder meetings to a virtual or “hybrid” format in light of current public health and safety concerns ...
As Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 continues to spread, the general advice from Governments around the world is to avoid any contact with others as much as possible. In this context, we feel that organizations would most benefit from implementing electronic signatures in order to keep their activity going during this unfortunate state of play. Electronic signatures in Romania are mainly governed by the EU Regulation no ...
Brief guide to the law against sexual harassment at workplace, clarifying some misconceptions The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (“POSH”) was enacted in 2013. Seven years since then, fears of misuse are rife. Are the fears legitimate? It is perceived that women are dangerously armed with a one-sided law. Men feel oppressed as there is no specific forum for redressal of their grievances ...
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (“MCA”) has issued an advisory that is applicable to all Indian companies and limited liability partnerships (LLPs) registered with the MCA. As per the said advisory, all companies and LLPs are required to take the following immediate steps in order to aid social distancing for reducing transmission of COVID-19: To follow “Work from Home” as a temporary measure until March 31st 2020 ...
Faced by the spreading SARS-CoV-2 epidemic, the Polish Parliament and President rushed through aSpecial Coronavirus Act. The act is intended to clarify and supplement regulations on prevention of the spread of infectious diseases in Poland. But by giving total primacy to protection of the public interest, the act ignores the issue of the rights and freedoms of persons subjected to various forms of compulsory treatment (hospitalisation, quarantine, and epidemiological supervision) ...
The Ministry of Development has announced that it will develop adraft special law to introduce comprehensive support for entrepreneurs whose activities will be affected by the spread of Covid‑19. At present, the specific form of these regulations is not known, but according to the announcement, the draft is to be submitted to parliament on 25 March and introduced on 1 April ...
Numerous sectors of the economy have been paralysed. The problem is not just closings or restricted access to arange of services, but also absence of staff due to illness, quarantine or childcare. Consequently, businesses cannot operate normally or perform their obligations on time. Alack of supplies by one company often carries over to an inability of its customers to fill their own orders. This bogs down the whole economy ...
