The whole country is focusing on taking care of Tet celebrations for those entitled to social welfare benefits.

At this time, many localities in the South have planned and implemented Tet (Lunar New Year) support programs for eligible individuals in their areas. Some localities have also promptly delivered Tet gifts to policy beneficiaries and military units.

Giving gifts to poor households in the Mekong Delta. (Photo: KV)

Accordingly, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province recently organized a gift-giving ceremony for the Lunar New Year 2014 (Year of the Horse) for officers and soldiers of the DK1 platform, Naval Region 2, consisting of 17 gift packages, each worth 11 million VND, sent to officers and soldiers serving on the DK1 platform, who are participating in firmly protecting the sacred sovereignty of the southern sea, islands, and continental shelf of the Fatherland.

Ba Ria - Vung Tau Water Supply Joint Stock Company (BWACO) also visited and presented Tet gifts to 120 members of the Association of People with Disabilities in Vung Tau City, marking the beginning of the "BWACO - Tet for the Poor 2014" program. The "BWACO - Tet for the Poor 2014" program runs from January 5th to January 17th. The program will distribute 870 gift packages worth a total of 385 million VND to poor people in communes such as: Tan Hung, Ba Ria City; Phuoc Tan, Xuyen Moc District; Song Xoai, Chau Pha, Tan Thanh District; Long Hai town, Long Dien District; Bau Chinh commune, Chau Duc District; the charity kitchen at Ba Ria Hospital; Bong Lai Monastery, Tu An Pagoda, Tan Thanh District; the Association of People with Disabilities, the Association of the Blind, Mai Anh Charity Class, Vung Tau City; An Ngai Center for the Care of the Elderly, Long Hai Center for the Rehabilitation of War Invalids. Long Hai Children's Protection Center, Long Dien District, etc.

According to the People's Committee of Binh Duong province, the local Tet (Lunar New Year) support scheme for 2014 was approved early for the following groups: officials, civil servants, and public employees in the administrative and public service sector (with contracts of 6 months or more); officials and civil servants of centrally-managed agencies located in the province; armed forces under provincial management; and commune, ward, and town officials, with a support level of 1 million VND per person. For self-financing public service units, the funding for Tet support for officials and employees will be ensured within the allocated budget for 2014 and the unit's own financial resources.

Village and neighborhood officials, permanent militia, self-defense militia, neighborhood security guards, education and health sector officials working far from home (unable to return home for Tet); disabled children, children with serious illnesses, victims of Agent Orange/dioxin, and HIV/AIDS patients will receive support of 500,000 VND per person. Poor inpatients receiving treatment at public hospitals and social welfare recipients will receive support of 320,000 VND per person (80,000 VND per person per day).

For beneficiaries of social policies, the expenditure increased by 20% compared to 2013. Specifically, the amount for Heroic Vietnamese Mothers increased from 2.5 million VND to 3 million VND per person; war invalids 1/4 and 2/4, families of heroic martyrs, families with two or more martyrs, and families of martyrs who have lost their caregivers increased from 1.5 million VND to 1.8 million VND per person; families with one martyr, war invalids 3/4 and 4/4, and primary relatives of martyrs' families (underage or past working age) increased from 1.2 million VND to 1.5 million VND per person; and individuals holding certificates, worshipping martyrs, and worshipping Heroic Vietnamese Mothers increased from 1 million VND to 1.2 million VND per person. Meanwhile, the amount for sanitation workers and garbage collectors during the Tet holiday increased from 3 million VND to 3.6 million VND per person.

In addition, Binh Duong province also allocated 3,500 support packages for workers and laborers in difficult circumstances who could not afford to return home for Tet, at a rate of 500,000 VND per person; provided an additional 1 million VND to 163 people affected by Agent Orange/dioxin from disadvantaged families; and provided support of 300,000 VND per person to the Secretary of the Youth Union branch, the Head of the Youth Association, the Chairman of the Youth Workers' Club in the dormitory, the Chairman of the Women's Club in the dormitory, and officials working on youth solidarity and mobilization at the commune level...

According to the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of Dong Nai province, as of now, approximately 700 businesses operating in the province have reported their Lunar New Year bonuses for the Year of the Horse.

Accordingly, the highest bonus for an individual in foreign-invested enterprises is 195 million VND. State-owned enterprises award the highest bonus of 160 million VND. Enterprises with 100% state capital award the highest bonus of 49 million VND, and non-state-owned enterprises award 70 million VND.

Dong Tien Garment Joint Stock Company announced that for the upcoming Lunar New Year (Year of the Horse), the company will allocate over 26 billion VND to reward 2,500 employees, averaging 8 million VND per worker. In addition, the company has arranged transportation to take workers from other provinces back home for the Tet holiday.

Meanwhile, at Taekwang Vina Company in Bien Hoa II Industrial Park, the company's trade union proactively negotiated and proposed to the Board of Directors to organize many year-end welfare programs for more than 24,000 workers.

Accordingly, all employees will have eight days off, with additional time off arranged for those working far away. Notably, the Tet bonus for employees will be based on the new minimum wage. In addition, the company's labor union has allocated approximately 15 billion VND to give gifts to all workers.

The Dong Nai Provincial Labor Union plans to donate 400 bus tickets to workers from the northern and central provinces, and more than 4,000 gifts to poor workers, contributing to helping everyone have a warmer and happier Tet holiday with their families.

According to the Communist Party of Vietnam