Timely payment of support to workers affected by Covid-19 epidemic

Overcoming difficulties to complete progress

Vinh City is the unit with the largest number of beneficiaries, up to nearly 52,000 beneficiaries in all 12 prescribed groups. Although by January 31, 2022, the beneficiary groups had finished submitting their applications, in fact by December 31, 2021, the ward, commune and City Team units had stopped receiving applications and making payments to the beneficiaries.

The Provincial Fatherland Front Committee and Vinh City presented gifts to support people affected by the Covid-19 epidemic to freelance workers at Cua Bac flower garden (Vinh City). Photo: PV

According to Mr. Thai Thanh Ha - Head of the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs of Vinh City, in the process of paying for workers without a contract, there were many questions and recommendations about the supplement or payment progress. However, through meetings with voters of the Provincial, City and Local People's Councils, it was explained that the policy beneficiaries are only taken at a relatively suitable level in all localities according to Decision 22 dated August 9, 2021 of the Provincial People's Committee on Regulations on supporting workers without a labor contract (freelance workers) and some other special subjects facing difficulties due to the pandemic.

It should also be added that the 9 groups of beneficiaries specified in Decision 22 of the province are eligible, but many wards and communes have proposed expanding support for specific groups such as painters, carpenters, and mechanics.

They said that these groups also participated in outdoor labor in groups and lost their jobs during the pandemic; or had to quit their jobs due to the ban on gatherings according to Directives 15 and 16, so it is necessary to calculate to expand, to avoid disadvantages for the people.

However, the relevant agencies only follow the prescribed target groups and cannot expand because the amount of funding is too large and in fact, they have followed the spirit of Resolution 68, supporting those who are really in difficulty during the pandemic.

Freelance workers have received support under Decision 22 of the Provincial People's Committee. Photo courtesy

Up to now, Vinh City has fully paid the subjects that have been reviewed and declared, including: Supporting 11,964 employees working at enterprises with an amount of more than 25.7 billion VND; 7,444 F1, F0 subjects, with an amount of more than 7.5 billion.

Along with that, 30,012 freelance workers were supported with more than 45 billion VND; 2,642 business households with nearly 8 billion VND. According to the report of the City's Finance and Planning Department, the money has now been allocated to the People's Committees of wards and communes and has been paid in full to all subjects.

Freelance workers seek job advice at the province's job fair. Photo: Dinh Tuyen

Similarly, Yen Thanh district has more than 23,000 subjects affected by the Covid-19 epidemic who benefit from the Government's policies under Resolution 68 and Resolution 126. Up to now, all have received support in accordance with regulations.

Mr. Hoang Danh Truyen - Vice Chairman of the District People's Committee said: "Although during the implementation process, we also encountered many difficulties in reviewing and appraising documents, but in general, with impartiality, minimizing administrative procedures and most importantly, handling people's requests and questions in a harmonious manner, we have received high consensus from the people as well as businesses located in the area."

Job consulting and support for freelance workers. Photo courtesy

Up to now, the Provincial People's Committee has completed reviewing and providing funding for 41 support periods according to Resolution 68 and Resolution 126. A total of 304,511 beneficiaries have been approved (of which 259,930 are direct beneficiaries, 44,385 are additional beneficiaries for pregnant women and children, 108 are elderly people and 88 are disabled people) with a total budget of 401,067.321 million VND.

Mr. Tran Phi Hung - Head of the Department of Labor Safety and Employment (Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs) said: "The process of receiving, reviewing and paying documents is carried out quite strictly, however, it is still inevitable that there are recommendations and questions from many localities, units, enterprises and even from district, city and town officials".

Accordingly, the majority of them recommended that it is difficult to access vocational training support lists, loan lists; or that the list of freelance workers still has shortcomings. And at the meetings with voters of National Assembly deputies and People's Council deputies at all levels, the subjects and groups of subjects specified in Resolution 68 and Resolution 126 were clearly explained. It can be seen that although the policy does not cover all components of society, it has approached all groups of subjects that are heavily affected, contributing to clarifying the meaning of "a piece of food when hungry" during the pandemic that the Government wants to convey.

New job creation dynamics

Freelancers looking for work at a job fair. Photo: Dinh Tuyen

Over the past year, implementing Resolution 68 of the Government, the province has supported 6,607 business households with a budget of 19,821 million VND. From this support source, many businesses and individual households have been able to survive the pandemic period.

Visiting the Viet-Nhat Steel and Iron business on Nguyen Sinh Sac Street (Vinh City), the owner of this small company said: "The company has 5 workers with a charter capital of more than 4 billion VND, but during the complicated development of the Covid-19 epidemic, we encountered many difficulties. However, at that time, thanks to the State's support for workers who stopped working in my factory at the rate of 1.5 million VND/person, it also helped reduce some of the salary and bonus costs."

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

In addition, the business owner shared that the company also received support from banks with low interest rates, so it had more investment funds, which was a great source of encouragement during difficult times, helping the company to resume operations with up to 10 seasonal workers and a relatively stable total revenue.

Mr. Tran Phi Hung - Head of the Department of Labor Safety and Employment (Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs) said: “Each person is supported from 1.5 - 3.5 million VND, which is not a small amount of money for workers during the epidemic. Some people even have the opportunity to find new jobs from this support source when they feel that their old job is no longer suitable. Timely settlement of support sources is also a way to recreate new jobs for workers, helping them trust in the treatment regime of the unit and locality, while demonstrating the humane spirit of the Government at a time when the whole population is facing difficulties due to the pandemic”.

According to the representative of the Employment Service Center (Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs), up to now, the whole province has created jobs for more than 43,084 workers; of which, 24,132 positions have been created for unskilled workers.

Mr. Tran Quoc Tuan - Director of the Employment Service Center said: The majority of unskilled workers tend to move to the North in key economic regions (Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Hai Phong... and Nghi Son and Formosa industrial parks...).