Hanoi (VNA)🧸 - Localities have disbursed more than 11.2 trillion VND (486 million USD) to support over 11 million people and nearly 6,200 business households, mostly jobless, free and vulnerable workers, according to the State Treasury of Vietnam.

About the implementation of the Prime Minister’s Resolution No.42 and Decision No.15 on social welfare package, at a Government meeting with localities, Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung said it basically ensures openness, transparency and targets the right beneficiaries.

Teachers at private schools suggested enjoying benefit

Dung said as of June 30, localities approved a list of 15.8 million people under six categories to benefit from the package at a total worth of 17.5 trillion VND. As of June 30, a total of 1,591 employers were allowed to suspend retirement and death insurance payment for 138,062 workers at a cost of roughly 500 billion VND. More than 6.3 trillion VND were approved to support workers and 250,000 mobile lottery vendors. Minister Dung affirmed that in general, policy beneficiaries have been approved by localities, especially the poor, near-poor, ex-revolutionaries and the unemployed in line with the Resolution No.42 and Decision No.15. In Ho Chi Minh City alone, 153,000 out of 184,000 free workers and 36,000 out of 43,000 workers with expired labour contracts received financial assistance. Regarding inspection and supervision, Dung said apart from Thanh Hoa province that was ordered to suspend support for the poor, three hamlets and villages nationwide were found to commit violations and strictly punished. However, he said due to the easy overlapping of beneficiaries, some localities were too cautious, leading to the slow approval and implementation. In addition, due to financial difficulties, several localities have failed to offer timely support following their approval. As regards the 16 trillion VND package launched by the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies, the minister said difficulties remain due to high criteria. He suggested that the Government should expand the list of beneficiaries, including teachers at private schools, under the 62 trillion VND package, as well as loosen criteria for 16 trillion VND package designed for businesses to pay salary. He called for removing the criterion that enterprises without revenue are eligible for borrowing because when they do not have revenues, they are almost bankrupt or dissolved. He also proposed extending lending time for businesses till December 31 to stimulate production and consumption. Sharing the same view with Minister Dung, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc agreed to adjust criteria for beneficiaries of the 16 trillion VND package.  

Job landscape in third quarter forecast to be brighter

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the labor market was complicated in the second quarter. The number of employed workers decreased to 52.1 million, down 2.2 million year-on-year. The general unemployment rate nationwide in six months was 2.26 percent, compared to 2.51 percent in the second quarter. Meanwhile, that in urban areas was 3.62 percent. So far, labour landscape has seen “bright colours” thanks to effective pandemic control. In June alone, 120,000 workers were employed. In agro-forestry-fisheries sector alone, 1,400 workers returned to work. An estimated 55.4 million workers are expected to be hired in the third quarter, equivalent to the first quarter. The signal is scientifically evidenced. The number of workers who will return to work will reach about 40,000 – 50,000, Dung said. The number of Vietnamese guest workers is predicted to increase in July-August. Several sectors are expected to draw more workers such as e-commerce and electronics assembling with an increase of about 31,000. Some garment firms also hired 3,000 more workers despite market difficulties./.