Pandemic closures push 42,500 HCMC residents out of work

By Huu Cong June 11, 2021 | 01:00 am PT

Workers of Taiwanese shoemaker Pouyuen Vietnam Co. Ltd. in HCMC return home after completing a shift, June 4, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Huu Khoa.

Over 42,500 workers in HCMC have lost their jobs in the first five months of 2021 as businesses closed down because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Of the 9,308 businesses that stopped operating during this period, 2,274 companies were dissolved, according to the municipal Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs.

The department has proposed that the city’s People’s Committee spends VND1.07 trillion ($46.6 million) to support workers and enterprises affected by the pandemic.

The city has implemented social distancing since May 31. HCMC is the locality with the third highest number of Covid-19 cases, recording 590 patients as of Friday noon since the start of the fourth Covid-19 wave on April 27.

Nguyen Dang Hien, Vice Chairman of Food and Foodstuff Association of HCMC said enterprises need help in facing many challenges. One of the biggest challenges is transportation of goods to other provinces.

"Driver’s health declaration form and certificate saying they have tested negative for the coronavirus are required upon traveling to the Mekong Delta provinces. However, these documents are only valid for 72 hours in Bac Lieu Province, and a day in An Giang Province," he said.