Minister Dao Ngoc Dung: ‘Support poor people in April’

The Government has just issued a resolution on measures to support people facing difficulties due to  Covid-19.

– When will people receive support money, sir?

– This policy will be implemented in April, especially the one-time and comprehensive support package.

Cases with labor relations will receive support through the enterprise system and confirmation from local authorities.

There is an old saying that `a bite when hungry is equal to a packet when full`, so we clearly understand the need to quickly implement policies to support the poor, vulnerable, and workers who have lost their jobs at this time.

To date, 153,000 people have applied for unemployment benefits.

The Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs surveyed and found that if the Covid-19 epidemic continues for a long time like this, the rate of unemployment, underemployment, and job loss in April and May 2020 will be about 2.

Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung.

– It is expected that about 20 million people will benefit from the social security support package, which groups are included?

– We have preliminarily calculated the data of affected groups as a basis for determining the source of support funding.

In addition, it is expected that 3 million paid workers will stop working, in which businesses with financial difficulties will be able to borrow from the Bank for Social Policies up to 50% of the regional minimum wage at 0% interest;

The number of individual business households with tax declaration revenue of less than 100 million VND per year temporarily suspending business is 760,000;

– What is the basis for determining and counting freelance workers, sir?

– Recently, I received hundreds of phone calls and text messages asking about determining the group of freelance workers who will receive support from the social security package.

In the draft decision to be submitted to the Prime Minister tomorrow, April 15, we expect seven groups of freelance workers, including: Street and snack vendors;

– What solutions does the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs offer so that the support money goes to the right beneficiaries and does not let the policy be exploited?

– The most important solution is to publicize, check, and monitor right from the stage of reviewing, making a list, approving, and paying.

During the implementation process, authorities will inspect and monitor each level, and violators must be handled strictly at the highest level.

Businesses that receive preferential loans to pay workers’ salaries also have certain constraints to avoid profiteering, such as only being able to borrow when they have paid 50% of the workers’ salary.

If we follow these steps correctly and completely, we will definitely minimize profiteering and violations in policy implementation.

On April 9, the Prime Minister signed a resolution on measures and support packages for people facing difficulties affected by Covid-19.

The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs has coordinated with relevant ministries and branches to submit to the Prime Minister a decision on processes, standards, conditions, order and procedures for implementation with each beneficiary group.

People are supported for a maximum of 3 months with different levels, from 250,000 VND to 1.8 million VND per month.

Hoang Thuy