Companies pay salaries on demand to support workers amid Covid

In HCMC, they include South Korean retail chain GS25, education company TWEdu, security firm Global Security BV Services, and food and groceries chain Annam Gourmet.

Employees can request for a payment through a smartphone app.

Hanoi retail chain Lanchi Mart and Binh Duong wood company Truong Thanh Furniture Corp are also doing the same instead of making the traditional monthly payment.

A spokesperson for Truong Thanh Furniture said this helps reduce financial pressure on workers and also encourages them to turn up for work.

Other companies said it helps ease the stress on workers amid the social distancing and other restrictions.

A recent survey by HCMC recruitment company Adecco found that nearly 54 percent of workers felt "more stressed" during the recent outbreak due to concerns like safety from Covid-19, long-term financial viability and job security and career prospects, the survey, which polled 650 people nationwide, said.

Companies are also trying other ways to boost their employees’ sense of security.

HCMC media company Pencil Group has promised to give its employees six kilograms of fresh food produce every week until the end of social distancing.

Another media company, Isobar, has given its employees a 10-kilogram pack of food produce.

Japanese-style restaurant chain Morico has given its employees 100 packs containing rice, noodles, fish, spices, and beverages.

Bliss, an ice-cream producer, has provided its employees Covid stipend and produce.

Baby products chain Con Cung has paid its employees a total of VND1.9 billion ($83,500) ex gratia, while delivery company J&T Express is set to pay VND3 billion.

As of Monday, Vietnam has recorded nearly 344,000 Covid cases in the current outbreak that started on April 27.