THE fourth wave of Covid-19 in Vietnam has resulted in more than 1.3 million workers either losing their jobs, had their contracts suspended or stopped working for other reasons.
Almost 30,000 workers have also been infected with Covid-19 in 50 cities and provinces.
The Vietnam General Confederation of Labour said 390,000 workers are living in lockdown areas and more than 1,000 companies are having workers stay on at the workplace to continue operations.
According to a Vn Express report, the confederation vice chairman Ngo Duy Hieu said the troubling figures will increase if the pandemic situation continues to remain at its current state.
“The life of workers will become extremely difficult, even to maintain a family life and take care of children. The situation needs cooperation and support from society as a whole,” he said.
Hieu said although the government had rolled out relief packages and each locality also had its own policies to help workers, but “whether the support meets the needs and reaches workers or not depends on the implementation and the procedures in each locality.”
He said unions have also called on landlords to reduce the rent for workers, but not all agreed to do so.
Vietnam had come out with its second Covid-19 relief package of VND26 trillion (US$1.13 billion) in July.
The first package of VND62 trillion (US$2.6 billion) came in April last year.
However, the Express said many workers, especially factory employees, have complained that the need to prove that one has been truly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic have prevented them from getting the benefits.
The Vietnam Social Security agency said that more than one million workers have drawn VND17.9 trillion in unemployment benefits last year, an almost 50 per cent rise compared to 2019 figures.
Currently, those who have social insurance contributions can apply for unemployment benefits, three months after losing their jobs.
Meanwhile, the Health Ministry said there were 9,595 new local Covid-19 cases in 40 cities and provinces on Tuesday.
Ho Chi Minh City had the most cases with 3,559, followed by its neighbouring provinces of Binh Duong (3,332) and Long An (581), and Mekong Delta’s province of Tien Giang (411).
There were 331 Covid-19 fatalities in 12 localities, including 285 in Ho Chi Minh City.
Since late April, Vietnam has reported 289,276 community infections and 6,437 deaths in 62 of its 63 cities and provinces.
HCMC is the epicenter of the fourth wave with 156,386 cases, followed by Binh Duong with 49,833.
Source: New Straits Times
