Nghe An: Remittances sent home decreased by 50 million USD

Rural areas of Son Thanh commune are being renovated. Photo: Xuan Hoang

Son Thanh Commune (Yen Thanh) can be said to be the locality with the largest number of children working abroad in the province today. According to statistics, the entire Son Thanh commune currently has 1,600 people working abroad. However, in 2021, many children of workers abroad have had their income reduced, due toCovid-19 epidemiclengthen.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Sau - Chairman of Son Thanh Commune People's Committee said: In previous years, it was estimated that overseas workers sent home to their relatives about 15 - 17 million USD (equivalent to 400 billion VND) each year. However, in the past 2 years, the impact of the Covid-19 epidemic has caused remittances to decrease significantly. In 2021 alone, it is estimated that the amountremittancessent back just over 10 million USD.

Nghi Van Commune is one of the localities with the largest number of workers working abroad in Nghi Loc district. Mr. Doan Van Dung - Chairman of the Commune People's Committee said: Currently, the whole commune has more than 500 children working in European countries, Japan, Korea... Before the Covid-19 epidemic, each year the children in the commune sent home nearly 200 billion VND (about 9 million USD) in remittances, but in 2021 it is estimated to be about 90 billion VND.

Nghi Van Commune, Nghi Loc District is becoming more and more prosperous, thanks in part to the annual remittances sent home by children of workers abroad. Photo: Xuan Hoang

According to Mr. Phan Minh Khue - Head of the General Statistics OfficeYen Thanh districtsaid: The whole district has about more than 17,000 people working abroad. Every year, overseas workers send back home about 200 million USD. However, the Covid-19 pandemic has had a deep and wide impact on the jobs and income of overseas workers, leading to the amount of remittances being affected. In 2021, the amount of remittances decreased by about 15 million USD compared to the previous year.

According to Mr. Tran Phi Hung - Head of the Department of Employment - Labor Safety (Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs), in 2021, the whole province created jobs for about 42,000 workers, of which 11,382 went abroad.labor exportabroad. However, compared to 2019, the whole province decreased by more than 1,000 people (in 2019 there were 13,662 people), but compared to 2020, this year there was an increase of 664 people (in 2020 there were 10,718 people).

The amount of remittances sent to localities in 2021 is estimated at about 500 million USD, a decrease of about 50 million USD compared to 2020 (equivalent to more than 1,000 billion VND). The reason for the decrease in remittances this year is due to the prolonged Covid-19 pandemic in the world, which has affected the jobs and income of children abroad./.