Smart Alert Covid-19 | Algeria | Additional Measures
Adopted following the meeting of the High Security Council on the Coronavirus, the Executive Decree No. 20- 70 of 24 March 2020 (the “Decree 20-70”) and the Executive Decree No. 20-72 of 28 March 2020 (the “Decree 20-72”) were issued a few days ago in order to introduce additional measures to prevent and combat the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), in addition to the measures defined by a first Executive Decree No. 20- 69 of 21 March 2020 (the “Decree 20-69”).
Decree 20-70 and Decree 70-72 introduce – in particular – four important measures:
1. Extension of the exceptional leave measure
- Decree 20-70 extends to private and public sector personnel the exceptional paid leave of absence of 50% of the staff initially introduced for civil servants by Decree 20- 69.
- The modalities of compensation for possible prejudice caused by preventive measures will be the subject of a specific regulation to be published at a later date.
- This measure should apply for a period of 14 days (renewable) as from 25 March 2020 and should apply in priority to pregnant women, women raising young children and vulnerable employees.
- Exceptional leave raises many questions in practice, in particular whether such leave is compulsory for staff able to telework, whether such exceptional leave can be deducted from paid leave, etc.
2. Confinement in 11 wilayas
- Total confinement in the wilaya of Blida, and partial confinement in the wilaya of Algiers for a renewable period of 10 days as from 25 March 2020. Partial confinement in the wilayas of Batna, Tizi Ouzou, Sétif, Constantine, Médéa, Oran, Boumerdes, El Oued and Tipaza, for a renewable period of 10 days as from 29 March 2020, from 7 p.m. until 7 a.m. the following day.
- Dring the period of confinement, any meeting of more than two people is prohibited.
3. Closure of all retail shops
- Closure of all retail businesses, with the exception of those supplying the population with food, cleaning and hygiene products and pharmaceutical and parapharmaceutical products.
4. Mandatory maintenance of essential activities
Decree 20-70 provides for an obligation to maintain the activity concerning :
- the retail businesses mentioned above;
- private health establishments, including doctors’ offices, analysis laboratories and medical imaging centres;
- activities related to pharmaceutical products and medical devices;
- fuel and energy product distribution establishments;
- activities of a vital nature, including wholesale markets.