Need support for workers who are not eligible for unemployment insurance

Mr. Phan Van Anh - Vice President of Vietnam General Confederation of Labor discussed the situation of taking care of workers' lives at the end of the year at enterprises.

PV: Can you tell us about the labor and employment situation at enterprises in the last months of 2022?

Mr. Phan Van Anh: From September until now, besides businesses continuing to produce, do business well, expand production, and recruit more workers, there has been a situation where hundreds of thousands of workers have had their working hours reduced, lost their jobs due to businesses facing difficulties, shortages, or cuts in orders...

The above situation seriously affects the jobs, income and lives of many workers and their families.

Statistics show that currently, there are 1,242 enterprises facing difficulties, having to reduce orders, reduce working hours, and terminate labor contracts with 482,120 people. Of these, the majority are workers whose working hours are reduced, accounting for 91.36%, and the number of workers whose labor contracts are terminated accounts for 8.64%.

Mr. Phan Van Anh. (Photo: LD)

PV: Given the above reality, what solutions has the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor had to support union members and workers facing difficulties due to job cuts and job losses at enterprises?

Mr. Phan Van Anh: We have worked with trade unions at all levels to grasp the situation and proactively use union financial resources to care for and support workers. At the same time, we have mobilized employers to minimize the termination of labor contracts, try to support and compensate for the sacrifices of workers, and accompany businesses throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

The grassroots trade union proactively dialogues and negotiates with employers on labor use plans, arranges working hours, and enhances training and retraining to continue employing workers.

At the same time, develop a plan for Tet holidays, salary payments, bonuses and other benefits for employees during the 2023 Lunar New Year to minimize conflicts in labor relations.

We will recommend and propose to the Government timely support policies and fundamental, long-term changes in policies to reduce immediate and future difficulties for workers.

PV: Can you forecast the labor and employment situation in the coming time and solutions to stabilize jobs and stabilize workers' lives?

Mr. Phan Van Anh: In the coming time, the production and business situation of enterprises will still face difficulties, orders will continue to be cut, possibly until the end of the first quarter, or even the second quarter of 2023, leading to many workers being short of jobs, losing their jobs, seriously affecting their income and life.

Workers are in dire need of timely and adequate support policies. In particular, there should be a separate support package for workers who have quit their jobs but are not eligible for unemployment insurance, and those whose labor contracts have been suspended.

Need for policies to support disadvantaged workers who are not eligible for unemployment insurance. Photo: LD.

In addition, there should also be policies to support businesses such as supporting loan interest rates for businesses lacking orders so that they can maintain and restructure production, thereby creating conditions for sustainable employment for workers.

In addition, the Government continues to strengthen price control, not allowing inflation to increase; at the same time, organize price stabilization points of sale for workers; check the law compliance of enterprises to ensure the rights of workers; continue to have policies on training and retraining for workers.

In particular, it is necessary to formalize temporary policies and have solutions so that workers can accumulate enough savings during their work so that when they encounter difficulties, they still have the ability to maintain their lives.