Nghe An actively implements support package for workers who lost their jobs due to Covid-19

Difficulty in appraisal

Currently, Quang Trung ward (Vinh city) has basically completed the second phase of data on supporting freelance workers according to Decision 22/2021/QD-UBND to submit to the city for approval with 69 profiles for job codes of street vendors, porters in markets, bricklayers, restaurant and karaoke service staff...

However, Chairman of the Ward People's Committee Dinh Xuan Truong still said: "It is not simple to evaluate these documents because in the previous round we proposed more than 340 documents but nearly 100 were returned. The reason is that the city asked us to review them again and in fact these documents contained fraud in the proposal submitted by the workers themselves."

The connection between businesses and unions brings a lot of value to workers, especially during the pandemic. Photo: Archive

According to Mr. Truong,freelanceIn the area, those eligible for support must be in the occupational groups approved by the city, but many workers, although working under a contract in stores, still declare themselves as restaurant service staff; or some workers whose main occupation is street vendors still declare themselves. And up to now, Quang Trung ward continues to receive dishonest declarations to enjoy the State's policies, and ward officials have to work very hard to propagate and guide the people.

Not as difficult as Quang Trung ward, but Hong Son ward has the difficulty of having too many files, making the review process very time-consuming.

Mr. Tu Trong Hai - Chairman of Hong Son Ward People's Committee said: "Because we have to review the number of freelance workers in both markets including the wholesale market and Vinh market with a daily volume of 50 - 70 records, it is difficult to assess whether these freelance workers are the right subjects. Not to mention, it is quite tiring to distinguish freelance workers who are street vendors from small traders with business registration records. Up to now, the ward has approved payment for 493 records of freelance workers in the area. Currently, the ward has received 67 records and is conducting the final public review to submit to the city."

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

According to information from the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs of Vinh City, after two rounds, the city has proposed 20,145 freelance workers to receive social security support according to Decision 22/2021/QD-UBND of the Provincial People's Committee, although the city previously estimated that only 14,680 freelance workers would be supported. Explaining this, a representative of the City People's Committee said that the approved number increased significantly because the number of beneficiaries according to all occupational categories specified in Decision 22 greatly exceeded the number surveyed.

For Yen Thanh district, the survey number is very high, up to 3,000 cases, but after carefully reviewing the records, the district only proposed 1,474 cases.

"It's because there are many workers who are over the legal age, not to mention that there are many workers who are construction workers but have not lost their jobs because they can work in other locations so they are not entitled to benefits," said Ms. Phan Thi An - Head of the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs of Yen Thanh district.

Nghe An Provincial Social Insurance has arranged an additional location to receive and support workers in completing procedures to receive benefits. Photo courtesy

For Yen Thanh, the current number of submissions is not necessarily the final number because the communes still receive daily records of freelance workers requesting access to the policy. “Because in the first batch we transferred to the Department, there were only more than 400 cases, but up to this point, the number has increased four times, and according to the survey, there are still many cases completing records to submit to the commune level,” Ms. Phan Thi An added.

The number of beneficiaries may exceed the estimate.

According to the summary report of the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, up to this point, 26,905 applications have been submitted to the Department of Finance with an estimated support amount of more than 38,550,000,000 VND. Up to this point, the Provincial People's Committee has also decided to support 18,503 freelance workers with a support amount of more than 24,746,000,000 VND.

“This is a number that is considered to be implemented as approved, and localities have also tried their best within their available budget up to this point. Because in reality, in many localities, the number submitted for approval this time is larger than the initial estimate," said Ms. Dang Phuong Thuy - Deputy Head of the Department of Employment - Occupational Safety - Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs.

Nghe An union officials were present at Ben Thuy II bridge to support workers returning from the southern provinces. Photo: PV

Even in Dien Chau district, up to this point, the whole district has 3,972 people approved under the social security support package according to Decision 22 of the Provincial People's Committee, but in reality, the initial estimated number is only from 7,000 - 8,000 workers.

“The reason the number is higher than expected is because there are some occupations such as bricklayers, restaurant service workers, etc. Initially, we only collected them locally, but then many workers who also work in this profession but reside elsewhere in the province also submitted applications for support. After reviewing, we found that we met all the requirements, so we submitted them for approval,” said Ms. Nguyen Hong Nhung - Head of the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs.

Ms. Nhung shared that according to a new survey, about 17,000 workers will have the opportunity to access this social security package because in reality, only 7 communes in the area have completed their documents and submitted them to the district.

Regarding the estimated increase in the number of occupations specified in Decision 22, according to the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs specialist, the number of self-employed or working at business households in the fields of: Food and beverage, accommodation, tourism, health care (massage, medical massage, acupuncture), beauty salons for hair cutting, shampooing, and nail salons has increased much more than the initial estimate.

According to Mr. Dinh Xuan Truong - Chairman of Quang Trung Ward People's Committee, this number in the area was initially only a preliminary summary of available addresses, but later in reality, the number of workers working in this service industry was much larger.

The Government issued a Resolution to support employees and employers affected by Covid-19 from the Unemployment Insurance Fund. Photo courtesy

Mr. Tu Trong Hai - Chairman of Hong Son Ward People's Committee also said: "In the two markets in the area, the number of restaurant service establishments or commercial and service establishments is very large. Initially, only a few people were recruited in each establishment, but in reality, one establishment can have many workers."

According to the assessment of the Finance Department specialist of Vinh City People's Committee, the number of workers may still increase in the coming time when the epidemic is still prolonged and the number of locked down areas may increase. Accordingly, the number of facilities and services will also be closed and the subjects who are freelance workers will continue to lose their jobs. "According to the provisions of Decision 22, freelance workers affected by the epidemic from May 1 to December 31, 2021 according to the Government's decisions on epidemic prevention will be supported under the Government's social security package. Accordingly, the number of unemployed people may increase further."

According to the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, according to the initial survey, about 33,000 workers will have access to this policy package. However, with the new review method and creating more flexible conditions for beneficiaries, the number of workers enjoying the policy from now until the end of the year will increase. It is expected that the province will spend up to 70 billion VND to support this group of subjects./.