The Vietnamese Government is implementing a financial support package worth US$2.6 billion to help people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the timely policy is considered a lifebuoy for the most vulnerable people like non-contract workers and low-income earners.

Representatives of the Vietnam Fatherland Front present gifts to those affected by
the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo: Nguyen Hoa/hanoimoi.com.vn)

The Government relief package is expected to benefit 20 million people including freelancers.

Nam Dinh native Nguyen Thi Hoan who works in Hanoi as a free labourer said the money will partly help those like her deal with impending difficulties.

“Each month we spend more than US$64 in renting a room. I earn about US$5 or more a day by collecting scraps but now have to stay at home due to the pandemic and have no money for daily spending,” Hoan told VOV.

“With the Government support, we can buy rice for a couple of months,” she added.

Do Thi Mui, a resident in Hanoi, said she feels more secure knowing she will receive the state support during the pandemic.

“Nobody hires me to work at the moment. My husband is disabled and we are classified as a poor household. It’s great to receive government support,” she said.

According to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, revolutionary contributors, social beneficiaries, and poverty-stricken people will be financed for three months and receive the money in April or May.

Labor agencies will be in charge of allocating the money for revolutionary contributors and social beneficiaries while poor people will receive financial aid from grass-root level administrations.

Those who have work contracts will receive financial support for a maximum of three months.

Employers can borrow from the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies with zero interest to pay their employees’ salaries for April, May, and June. But they can get the preferential loans only if they have paid half of their workers’ wages. The bank will pay the remaining wages directly to the employees.

Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung said the biggest challenge is to identifythe eligible beneficiares.

“The aid package should go to the right recipients and be delivered transparently and in the shortest time as directed by National Assembly and Government leaders. We must avoid losses or misuse of the money,” said Mr. Dung.

Bui Sy Loi, Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly Committee for Social Affairs, said that the bailout aims to ensure the fundamental needs of the most vulnerable people are met.

“We have detailed criteria for grassroots level administrations to ensure the package will go to the right people. The Fatherland Front and its branches are in charge of oversight, checking, and inspection,” Mr. Loi said.