Vietnam: Government launched USD1.14bn support package to help workers

• The Government has just issued Resolution No 68 on a number of policies to support employees and employers facing difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic, worth a total of VND26tn (USD1.13bn).
• Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Đào Ngọc Dung has discussed the details of the support package during the regular Government press meeting on 1 Jul 21.
• Minister Dung emphasised that the support solutions this time focus mainly on the group of workers in industrial zones and export processing zones.
• “In Resolution 68, some basic principles are set out, such as ensuring timely support, to the right people, publicity and transparency, simple and easy criteria and procedures for employees and employers to access,” he said.
• There are 12 supporting policies introduced in the recently issued Resolution. 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.
• The Resolution also supports employees who suspended labour contracts or took unpaid leave from 1 May 21 to 31 Dec 21 but were participating in compulsory insurance with the support level of VND1.8-3.7mn (USD78-160) per month depending on their work delay period.
• 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.

External Link : https://vietnamnews.vn/society/984911/government-launched-114b-support-package-to-help-covid-19-hit-workers.html