Supporting freelance workers affected by the Covid-19 epidemic - Part 1: Still slow at the grassroots level

Among the subjects eligible for State support, the group of workers without labor contracts (freelance workers) is a disadvantaged group, vulnerable and strongly affected by the pandemic. However, in reality, the implementation of policies in some localities is still slow, not ensuring timeliness and convenience for subjects to easily access.

Humanitarian policy

Since the beginning of 2021, the Covid-19 epidemic has been complicated in many localities across the country. In particular, the fourth outbreak of the epidemic broke out from the end of April 2021 and is continuing to have complicated developments, greatly affecting all aspects of economic and social life. Workers and employers are struggling and miserable because of the epidemic.

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected people's income and lives. Photo: Document

In Nghe An, in 2021, due to the complicated developments of the epidemic, the Provincial People's Committee had to issue many decisions on social distancing and suspend the operation of many non-essential services in many localities to prevent and control the epidemic. At times, people in many localities across the province were asked not to leave their homes; many businesses had to close, people lost their jobs, affecting their income, and life became even more difficult.

With the motto "No one is left behind", on July 1, 2021, the Government issued Resolution No. 68/NQ-CP on a number of policies to support employees and employers facing difficulties due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 7 days later, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 23/QD-TTg stipulating the implementation of a number of policies to support employees and employers facing difficulties due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This is a humane policy, expected to be a "lifesaver" for employees and employers in the context of income sources and salary funds being greatly affected due to all production, business and economic development activities being stagnant and disrupted.

Construction workers and bricklayers are among the groups supported under Decision 22 of the Provincial People's Committee. Photo: D.T

In order for the policy to soon come into life, meeting the expectations of people and businesses, on July 15, 2021, the Provincial People's Committee issued Plan No. 386implementing Resolution No. 68and Decision No. 23 with the goal of contributing to stabilizing and restoring production and business; ensuring the lives and safety of workers. In particular, on August 9, 2021, the Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 22/QD-UBND on policies to support workers without labor contracts and some other special subjects facing difficulties due to the Covid-19 pandemic. This shows that the provincial leaders are very concerned and sympathetic to the vulnerable group of freelance workers who are vulnerable to the pandemic.

The Provincial People's Committee requests all levels and sectors to: "Ensure timely support, to the right beneficiaries, publicly, transparently, without duplication, without taking advantage of or profiting from policies... creating favorable conditions for beneficiaries to easily access policies". The time from when workers submit their application to the executive committee of the block or hamlet to when they receive support money is no more than 18 days.

In that spirit, after nearly 5 months of implementation, as of November 26, 2021, the Provincial People's Committee has issued support decisions for 72,886 subjects with a budget of more than 106,732 billion VND. Of which, the subject of workers without contracts, special subjects according to Decision No. 22 of the Provincial People's Committee accounts for the most, with 48,784 cases, a budget of more than 73.1 billion VND. Subjects such as: Workers with suspended contracts, unpaid leave; children and people being treated for Covid-19, quarantined and tens of thousands of workers and businesses thanks to support have stabilized their lives, have conditions to restore production and business.

Leaders of Nghe An Provincial Labor Federation presented gifts to support workers in the dormitory area that was locked down due to the Covid-19 epidemic. Photo: DVCC

Slow implementation, low results

It has been more than 2 months since submitting an application to the hamlet chief for support, but Mr. Nguyen Van Cuong (born in 1969), residing in Khoa Da hamlet, Hung Tay commune (Hung Nguyen) has not yet received support. His agricultural land was confiscated, for many years Mr. Cuong has worked as a construction worker, earning an average monthly income of about 5 million VND. During the 4th outbreak, he had to take nearly a month off work, with no income making his family's life extremely difficult.

“When I learned that the State had a policy to support construction workers, I was very happy and applied according to regulations. But until now, no one has called me to receive the support money, and I don’t know if I will receive support or not.”

Mr. Nguyen Van Cuong - Khoa Da hamlet, Hung Tay commune (Hung Nguyen)

Not only Mr. Cuong, in Hung Tay commune, there are thousands of freelance workers affected by the Covid-19 epidemic who have not yet accessed the policy. They feel disappointed, some are upset, because when they are in the most difficult period, when they need support, there is none.

Currently, many freelance workers are expecting to receive support packages from the State. Photo: Mai Hoa

Explaining this issue, Mr. Nguyen Thang Thong - Vice Chairman of Hung Tay Commune People's Committee said: Identifying the subjects who are freelance workers affected by the Covid-19 epidemic is very difficult, because the number of subjects is large. Besides, there has been a situation where the hamlet executive committee, out of respect, has accepted manyapplication for supportnot the right target of the people. Currently, Hung Tay commune is still continuing to review 1,447 freelance workers who have been reviewed at the hamlet level. However, when asked about the process of implementing procedures and documents, the Vice Chairman of Hung Tay commune People's Committee affirmed that there were no problems. However, up to now, in Hung Tay commune, no freelance worker has received support money.

Hung Nguyen District is a border area with Vinh City, where many agricultural lands have been reclaimed to build factories and industrial parks; every day, thousands of workers from communes leave their homes to go to the city to make a living with various jobs. When Vinh City applied Directive 16, then enhanced Directive 16, these people were forced to stay at home, their source of income was cut off. But up to now, Vinh City has "opened up", many people have returned to their daily work but have not received support money according to Decision No. 22/QD-UBND of the province. Explaining the situation of freelance workers in the district not being supported, a representative of the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs of Hung Nguyen District replied: "No commune has submitted documents yet".

Not only Hung Nguyen district, but up to now Cua Lo town has not approved the subjects of freelance workers according to Resolution No. 68 of the Government and Decision No. 22 of the Provincial People's Committee. Besides, there are 6 localities that have not approved support for subjects of workers who have temporarily suspended labor contracts or taken unpaid leave; 12 localities have not approved support for subjects of workers who have stopped working; 6 localities have not approved support for subjects of children and people being treated for Covid-19, medical quarantine; 9 localities have not approved support for subjects of business households.

Restaurants in Cua Hoi Eco-Culinary Area strictly comply with the regulations on temporary closure of business. Photo: Thu Huyen

“The implementation of Resolution No. 68/NQ-CP, Decision No. 23/QD-TTg, Decision No. 22/QD-UBND of the province has received attention, but the progress in some localities is too slow. The policy to support people and workers only stipulates a number of subjects facing many difficulties, and has not covered all affected groups.”

Excerpt from the Report of the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs

Taking Hung Nguyen district as an example, we can see that the principle of ensuring timely support for beneficiaries has not yet been as effective as the Government and the Provincial People's Committee have set out. The responsibility for this situation lies primarily with the local authorities and also with the relevant departments and branches. In early October 2021, the Government issued Resolution 126/NQ-CP to amend and supplement Resolution 68/NQ-CP; the Prime Minister also issued Decision No. 33/2021/QD-TTg to amend and supplement a number of articles of Decision 22/2021/QD-TTg. While the province has not yet issued a Plan to guide the implementation of Resolution 126/NQ-CP and Decision No. 33/2021/QD-TTg, Decision No. 22/QD-UBND of the province will expire on December 30, 2021...

(To be continued)