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This is the March 2 announcement by the Ministry Health Welfare and Labour.

This a translation of the full announcement.

New Non Work Allowance subsidy for Companies who allow the parents or guardians of elementary school age children who need to take leave as school is cancelled.

This is the essence of the announcement:

In order to prevent the further spreading of the COVID-19 infection, schools have been closed and those parents or guardians of children who are at elementary school may suffer a loss of income due to needing to take leave in order to care for the said children. Hence for all workers, whether permanent or non-permanent employees, in addition to the annual paid leave that is prescribed in the Labour Standards Act, a subsidy will be provided to Companies who allow for workers to take special paid leave.

The following is a PMP translation of the announcement:

●Company (definition)
Companies are those who provide paid (at full salary, the same as when annual leave is taken) leave, that is separate to the annual paid leave as prescribed in the Labor Standards Act, for workers to take care of children as per ① or ② below
① A child whose elementary (※) school has been cancelled to prevent the further spreading of COVID-19
※ Elementary School is defined as: Elementary School, Schools providing compulsory education (elementary only), Special Schools (through to the end of High School), after school care, kindergarten, nursery school and other registered children’s care.
② A child still in elementary (※)school who has cold like symptoms who might be infected with COVID-19.

●Amount: The daily amount paid to the worker during the leave x 100%
However, the daily amount will be capped at JPY8,330, with large and small and medium sized organizations receiving the same amount.

●Period: February 27, 2020 – March 31, 2020.

At present the procedures for how to apply for this subsidy have not been provided. PMP checked with the relevant authorities directly this morning (March 3) and they are yet to receive their instructions from the Ministry.

However, for all HR professionals, please take note of the above information, and make sure your management are aware of this when considering the continued operations of their business and assist them in all areas of Risk Management.

If you have any questions please let PMP know. Essentially all PMP Consultants are working from home and through the utilization of our technology it is business as usual.