Pandemic-hit employees and employers can access to the Government’s support package worth 26 trillion VND (1.13 billion USD) from July 8. (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Both employees and employers who are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic can gain access to the Government’s support package worth 26 trillion VND (1.13 billion USD) from July 8.
This information was released at a press conference held by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) on July 7 to announce the Prime Minister’s Decision on the implementing some policies to support pandemic-hit employees and employers.
The decision aims to realise the implementation of measures to support pandemic-hit employees and employers in line with the government’s Resolution No. 68/NQ-CP dated July 1, 2021.
It provides detailed guidance on conditions and procedures for implementing 10 supporting policies introduced in the recently issued Resolution.
The resolution was issued in the context of the fourth outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic on a larger scale, affecting many industries and fields.
According to Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung, the support solutions focus mainly on the group of workers in industrial zones and export processing zones.
In this document, some basic principles are set out, such as ensuring timely support to the right people as well as publicity and transparency, simple and easy criteria and procedures for employees and employers to access, he said.
Some policies can be mentioned such as reducing the contribution to the insurance fund for occupational accidents and diseases, suspend the payment of retirement and survivorship funds, use unemployment insurance funds to support vocational training and job changes; support to employees with their labour contracts temporarily terminated; and additional support and assistance to children.
In addition, the Resolution supports employees who suspended labour contracts or took unpaid leave from May 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021 but were participating in compulsory insurance with the support level of 8-3.7 million VND (78-160 USD) per month depending on their work delay period.
Employees who work under labour contracts but have been suspended from work due to medical quarantine or in lockdown areas, will receive one-time support of 1 million VND (43 USD) per person.
In addition, tour guides who are suspended from work will enjoy one-time support of 3.7 million VND (160 USD).
Pregnant employees are provided an additional 1 million VND (43 USD) per person.
Children who have to be treated for COVID-19 or under medical quarantine will be covered with support of 1 million VND (43 USD) per child.
Meanwhile, companies will get loans to pay for workers during suspended time and for production recovery, while freelancers and a number of other cases will also receive support.
Dung said that Resolution 68 also promulgated policies to support businesses to borrow money for wages and to restore production and business.
Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung (C) at the press conference (Photo: VNA)Statistics showed that nearly 1.2 million people faced unemployment in 2020, up 277,800 as compared to 2019. The average monthly income in 2020 reached 5.5 million VND (239.1 USD), 128,000 VND lower than last year.
The average income of workers in urban areas was 1.5 times higher than that in rural areas (7 million VND and 4.7 million VND, respectively).
Meanwhile, wage rate for men is 1.4 times higher than for female employees (6.4 million VND and 4.5 million VND, respectively).
The COVID-19 epidemic continues to impact countries worldwide and also Vietnam, disrupting the global supply chain and affecting economic development.
Global economic development is forecast to be continuously affected by the pandemic throughout 2021. Many domestic industries and sectors face difficulties, so production and business activities of enterprises are stagnant, especially businesses in the sectors of tourism, aviation and transportation./.
