Da Nang’s relevant agencies have exerted every effort to help workers who lost their jobs due to the COVID-19 crisis timely access unemployment benefits and other financial support in line with the Resolution No. 116 issued by Viet Nam’s national government dated September 24, 2021. This has helped unemployment benefit recipients feel happy and grateful as they have received timely financial support from the national government.

Staff at the "One-Stop" shop of the Da Nang Social Insurance Department actively handle application dossiers for COVID-19 unemployment benefits from workers affected by the crisis. Photo: P.C

Unemployment benefit recipients feel happy and grateful

Thousands of workers across Da Nang have till date collected COVID-19 unemployment benefits in order to help them cover their living expenses and overcome difficulties triggered by the pandemic. Workers of the March 29 Textile and Garment Joint Stock Company in Thanh Khe District is among the first to enjoy benefits from COVID-19 support package worth VND 38,000 billion in line with the Resolution 116.

Ms Nguyen Thi My Hanh who is among unemployment benefit recipients said that it is "a great joy" to receive unemployment insurance worth VND 3.3 million after a long period of unemployment. All unemployment benefit recipients, including Hanh, feel more empowered and motivated in their life to go through tough times.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Phuong who is a teacher at a private preschool in Hai Chau District and residing in Ngu Hanh Son District, said that the school has closed since early May due COVID-19, thereby accessing timely and practical financial support from the national government helping the unemployed to stabilize their lives.

Mr. Nguyen Trong Khai, the Director of K&H Technology Transfer Company Limited in Hai Chau District remarked that the outbreak of COVID-19 has brought upon unprecedented challenges and had a significant impact on the company. Therefore, the company was unable to operate, causing many workers to fall into difficult circumstances due to unemployment. Nine workers of workers have enjoyed unemployment benefits.

Simplified and faster process for handling application dossiers for COVID-19 unemployment benefits

Data published by the Da Nang Social Insurance Department, a combined total of 194,688 workers from 9,069 businesses across the city are eligible for COVID-19 unemployment benefits. It is expected that 173,000 employees from more than 8,700 businesses will enjoy benefits totaling VND 122 billion. As of November 4, nearly 180,000 workers affected by COVID-19 in the city had collected unemployment benefits worth more than VND 431 billion.

A leader of the Da Nang Social Insurance Department said that in its efforts to ensure equitable and timely access to unemployment benefits for workers affected by COVID-19 during the crisis, the department has set up its steering committees for unemployment insurance payment at all levels to receive applications from eligible workers on weekdays and throughout weekends, as well as pay the insured benefits directly to the beneficiaries via their ATM cards. In addition, all human resources of the department have been mobilized to handle application dossiers for COVID-19 unemployment benefits from workers affected by the crisis in a bid  provide timely access to benefits for them.

Reporting by PHUONG CHI – Translating by H.L