HCM City completes disbursement of first support package for COVID-19-hit people
Ho Chi Minh City's Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs on August 6 announced that the city has basically completed the disbursement of the first support package for COVID-19-hit people, with over 611 billion VND (26.56 million USD) given to more than 391,020 local residents.
Over 611 billion VND (26.56 million USD) has been given to more than 391,020 local residents in HCM City (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City's Department of Labour,Invalids and Social Affairs on August 6 announced that the city has basically completedthe disbursement of the first support package for COVID-19-hit people, with over 611 billionVND (26.56 million USD) given to more than 391,020 local residents.
Of the total, nearly 500 billion VND was used to assist311,619 workers without labour contracts (freelancers) who lost their jobs,reaching 100 percent, while over 11.2 billion VND was offered to 5,603 businesshouseholds whose operations have been suspended (100 percent), and over 17.1billion VND was provided to more than 11,400 traders in traditional markets(more than 88.6 percent).
Localities across the city has supported 44,244 labourershaving their contracts temporary suspended or on unpaid leave with nearly 84billion VND, while giving nearly 400 million VND to labourers with terminatedcontracts but are not eligible for unemployment benefits, reaching 15.7 percent.
Explaining the low rate of support disbursement to somegroups, a representative from the department said that many people areundertaking quarantine or left the city, making it impossible to deliver theaid to them.
According to Vice Chairman of them municipal People’s Committee DuongAng Duc, the city has approved a second support package worth more than 900 billion VND,with each freelancer and poor household receiving 1.5 million VND in cash.
The second package targets 604,500 people in three groups,with 501 billion VND expected to be provided for freelancers losing jobs.
Duc added that in reality, the number of poor and near-poor households living inthe city may be higher than statistics, but all these families willreceive support./.
Together with launching its second support package of nearly 900 billion VND (29.3 million USD) for pandemic-hit residents, Ho Chi Minh City is also carrying out a “social welfare pack” programme providing essential items to the needy during social distancing.
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