Nghe An: Difficulties and limitations in implementing social security support packages

In order to implement the above support policies, the People's Committee of Nghe An province issued Plan No. 386/KH-UBND, dated July 15, 2021 and Decision No. 22/2021/QD-UBND dated August 9, 2021, along with decisions on measures and processes to shorten administrative procedures, strengthen implementation through online public services, post offices... The Provincial People's Committee and the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs have also issued a number of official dispatches to urge and guide localities to implement.

Many businesses in the province are suspending operations to fight the epidemic. Illustration photo: Mai Hoa

However, the implementation of policies to support organizations and individuals, especially business households and freelance workers, is still slow, causing public concern and skepticism. In addition, some opinions say that the current progress of policy implementation does not ensure the urgent spirit of "a piece of food when hungry is worth a package when full", because among the subjects eligible for support, most are workers and freelance workers with quite difficult lives, who are the most vulnerable.

The case of Nguyen Van Binh's family in Hamlet 22, Nghi Phu Commune, Vinh City is an example. Binh and his wife work as painters, sometimes with work, sometimes without, and his wife's health has been poor for a long time, so he is the only one working to support three mouths. When Vinh City applied Directive 16, then the enhanced Directive 16, he stayed at home completely. With no savings and no fields or gardens, he really hopes to receive the support package soon to have more resources to survive this difficult period.

Also working as a freelancer, Mr. Nguyen Van Quang, in Quang Trung block, Vinh Tan ward, Vinh city) works as a cyclo driver delivering goods in Vinh market area and his wife sells vegetables on a pushcart, with a rather difficult income, plus poor health and regular medication. When the block and ward conduct a review and statistics to implement a support package for freelance workers affected by the Covid-19 epidemic, he also hopes to receive support soon. Mr. Quang believes that receiving support at this time is not only valuable in terms of material value but also of spiritual value for those in difficulty. The Party and State are always truly concerned with the spirit of "leaving no one behind".

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

According to Ms. Tran Thi Cam Tu - Vice Chairman of Vinh City People's Committee, despite the high requirements of the epidemic prevention, the city has proactively directed, guided, received, examined, and proposed to the province to support those affected by the Covid1-19 epidemic according to Resolution 68/NQ-CP and Decision No. 23/2021/QD-TTg. As a result, the city has guided more than 100 enterprises, of which 75 enterprises have received documents with 872 eligible employees whose contracts have been suspended or stopped working. Based on the reception, the city has appraised, approved, and submitted to the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs a list of 199 employees whose labor contracts have been suspended at 35 enterprises.

The city has also directed wards and communes to distribute registration forms to business households, F0, F1 subjects and freelance workers. As of August 25, wards and communes have received applications from 258 business households; 120 people are F0, F1 subjects; and 2,232 freelance workers.

Ms. Tran Thi Cam Tu - Vice Chairman of Vinh City People's Committee

In Quy Hop district, according to Mr. Nguyen Trung Kien - Head of the district's Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, on the basis of decisions and plans of the Provincial People's Committee and directions and instructions of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs on implementationsupport for affected subjectsDue to the Covid-19 epidemic, the District People's Committee has also issued 1 plan, 2 instructions and 1 dispatch urging communes and towns to implement; focusing on propaganda, dissemination and guidance for organizations and individuals in enjoying the State's policies. Up to this point, all units and enterprises in the district have had their contributions to the Labor Accident and Occupational Disease Insurance Fund reduced.

Quy Hop Town. Photo: Nguyen Book

Quy Hop district has also received applications from 4 enterprises with employees who have temporarily suspended their contracts and stopped working, of which 59 qualified people from 3 enterprises have been assessed and submitted to the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs. Regarding policies to support business households; support employees and employers to temporarily stop paying into the pension and death fund; support employers to train, foster, and improve qualifications and vocational skills to maintain employment for employees; support for children and people being treated for Covid-19, and quarantined, up to now, no organizations or individuals have submitted applications. Regarding support for freelance workers, currently, 21 communes and towns are actively propagating, reviewing, making lists and assessing applications before submitting them to the District People's Committee according to the prescribed process.

According to a report from the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of Nghe An, as of August 27, 2021, the province has implemented 10/12 policies (except for the policy to support workers without labor contracts - freelance workers and support employers in training, fostering, and improving vocational skills to maintain employment for workers). Specifically, the Department has appraised and submitted to the Provincial People's Committee with a total of 1,951 eligible beneficiaries and a total proposed support budget of nearly 3.7 billion VND. Of which, the Provincial People's Committee has issued decisions to support the first, second, and third phases for 202 people, with an approved budget of more than 420 million VND.

Nghe An is implementing support policies for those affected by the Covid-19 epidemic. Photo: Mai Hoa

Acknowledge the implementationsupport policy packageFor the subjects, especially business households and freelance workers, the provision of support has not been timely and has not satisfied the needs and desires of the people, Ms. Ho Thi Chau Loan - Deputy Director of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of Nghe An shared: The biggest difficulty is that the Covid-19 epidemic is very complicated throughout the province with 14 districts, cities and towns applying Directive 16, including some localities such as Vinh city applying the enhanced Directive 16 and 7 districts and towns applying Directive 15 of the Government. Therefore, the work of preventing and fighting the Covid-19 epidemic, protecting the health and lives of the people is the task that localities are focusing their efforts on to implement first and foremost. Therefore, we hope that the people will share with the government about the above-mentioned lack of timeliness.

Ms. Ho Thi Chau Loan also affirmed that the policy is available and the time for implementing the policy is not limited, so all eligible beneficiaries will be supported if they meet the conditions. And to ensure timely support for those directly affected by the epidemic, localities need to enhance their responsibility and resolutely carry out the "dual" task, both fighting the epidemic and focusing on reviewing, appraising, and submitting to the province for implementation with the view of providing maximum and timely support for eligible beneficiaries.

Due to the urgent and timely nature of the policy, the implementation process is arising some shortcomings in some affected subjects that have not been "swept" completely. The Department will synthesize proposals from localities to recommend to competent authorities to continue making adjustments.

Ms. Ho Thi Chau Loan - Deputy Director of Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs

Chairman of the Provincial Labor Federation Kha Van Tam presents gifts to support workers affected by the Covid-19 epidemic. Photo: PV

It can be said that the timely implementation of support policies for those affected by the Covid-19 epidemic, especially freelance workers and business households at this time, is an extremely important task, both to solve urgent problems regarding people's lives and social security; and at the same time, to create consensus among people in implementing measures to prevent and control the Covid-19 epidemic from all levels. Therefore, all levels, sectors and localities need to have more active solutions. Along with urgently implementing the support package, all levels, sectors and localities also need to continue to mobilize all social resources, promote the spirit of "mutual love and affection" to support people in difficulty due to the Covid-19 epidemic and the subjects themselves also need to be proactive, creative, self-reliant and self-reliant to limit the negative impacts of the epidemic.