HCMC labor department seeks another $405 mln for pandemic relief

Proposing the additional allocation of funds, the municipal Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs argued that the pandemic was still raging in HCMC and with a stringent lockdown in place, the people were in trouble and needed support.

Specifically, the department proposed that over 1.1 million informal workers in the city receive VND1.5 million each, totaling around VND1.66 trillion.

Around 1.6 million families of workers in circumstances (around 4.5 million people) and 300,000 freelancers should also receive VND1.5 million each, amounting to over VND7.21 trillion.

Around 54,000 poor families would also receive VND1.5 million each, or around VND81 billion.

The department also proposed that 39,000 people who have contributed to wartime efforts and over 157,000 people under social welfare beneficiaries and certain other categories are also given VND1.5 million each for a total of VND294 billion.

The proposal says that the support should be provided until the end of this year.

HCMC, epicenter of Vietnam's fourth novel coronavirus wave, has been among the most impacted localities. The economic powerhouse has imposed a series of social distancing orders, including an ongoing lockdown starting August 23 that bans people from going out entirely.

The southern city has already deployed several financial support packages worth around VND4.3 trillion for vulnerable communities during the fourth coronavirus wave in addition to the nationwide VND26 trillion support package instituted by the central government. So far, only VND1.84 trillion of the money has been disbursed.

The city also proposed to the central government recently that a provision of VND28 trillion and 142,200 tons of rice be made to support over 4.7 million city residents in difficult circumstances.