With global unemployment, disruption of supply chains and economic slowdown due to the continuous spread of COVID-19, job retention schemes such as wage subsidy aims to cushion enterprises and workers against immediate losses. Using relevant literatures and country practices, enriched with insights from various groups, this exploratory study aims to contribute inputs and options to policymakers for a wage subsidy program and draws lessons for its implementation and opportunities for future institutionalization. Many countries have implemented temporary wage subsidies in this time of pandemic. Many governments, mostly from advanced countries have modified existing wage subsidy programs or introduced new schemes. Like any program, it involves decisions with respect to a number of policy parameters. Ultimately, the design depends on the regulations and institutional capacities of governments and its ability to implement in the shortest possible time, to complement with other interventions.
