At the Government meeting (Photo: VNA

At a recent meeting on COVID-19 response, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said that the epidemic is hurting the economy, business, production, and budget revenues, and devastating the lives of people who are poor, unemployed, or have no savings. The Prime Minister said the aid package is vital to these people.

Temporary aid

Some 20 million people, including the poor, the unemployed, social beneficiaries, and household businesses who have had to suspend their business, will benefit from the package.

Prime Minister Phuc said: “We have to ensure that aid is given to people who have lost their income due to the epidemic and who can no longer maintain even minimal living expenses. State and local budgets will be mobilized, and local administrations and state agencies will make sure the aid is delivered to the right individuals in a transparent manner.”

Minister of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung said the Ministry will supervise and direct localities in delivering the aid and resolve any problems that arise to protect the interests of the beneficiaries.

“We have instructed agencies to implement the unemployment insurance policy. We have worked with the Ministries of Finance and Planning and Investment and Banks to devise support policies for employees," said Minister Dung.

Public response

The aid package has been widely praised by threatened workers. Deputy Chairman of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor Ngo Duy Hieu said: “We’re very happy the Government has created an aid package for workers who have lost their jobs because of the epidemic. The Party, Government, and Prime Minister have done a lot to cope with the epidemic. This package shows that the Government is working to support Vietnamese people and enterprises.”

Nguyen Thi Hợi, a worker from Nam Dinh province, said: “Workers live on limited salaries, and now we can’t work and have no money. We have had to drastically reduce our spending. We hope to live a little better with this government support.”

Despite a decrease in budget revenues this year due to the epidemic, the government is taking seriously its responsibility to the people. This aid package is strengthening people’s faith in the government and their determination to support the government’s efforts to contain the epidemic.