The Da Nang government has approved the granting of an unexpected support package worth a total of nearly VND100 billion funded by the municipal budget for about 100,000 local residents financially struggling due to COVID-19 from May, 2021 to present.

Under the plans, some basic principles are set out, such as ensuring timely support, to the right people, publicity and transparency, simple and easy criteria and procedures for the potential beneficiaries to access them.

The soon-to-be-launched support package will target specific groups as below.

Those who once made meritorious services to the national revolution and currently suffering from serious illnesses and having physical weakness and others who being granted with monthly social allowances in the community will receive one-time support of VND1 million per person.

Each of the residents living under the city’s poverty thresholds will receive VND500,000 in aid.

Employees working without labour contracts (the so-called self-employed people) in such aspects as education, transportation and tourism being suspended from work due to COVID-19 will get VND1.5 million each worth of support.

In addition, employers who are eligible and fully meet the conditions specified in the Article 9 of Decision No. 23/2021/QD-TTg will be supported to offer training on occupational skills so as to maintain payrolls for their employees with up to VND1.5 million /employee/month during a duration of up to 6 months.

Employees who have had their labor contracts temporarily suspended or taken unpaid leave for less than 30 days will receive an aid of VND 1,855,000 per person and an allowance of VND 3,710,000 per person for more than 30 days.

In particular, employees who are pregnant, taking care of their biological and adopted children under 6 are supported with an aid of VND1 million per child.

As planned, tour guides and arts staff will receive VND 3.71 million per person. Family-run manufacturing and trading establishments with business registration licences and tax obligations which have halted operating for 15 consecutive days or more, from May 1 to December 31, will receive support of VND3 million each.

VND80,000 /person/day will go to children and people being treated for COVID-19. Children who are being treated due to COVID-19 infection or put under quarantine at concentrated facilities are entitled to one-time support of VND1 million each.

The Da Nang People's Committee assigned the municipal Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to coordinate with other relevant local agencies to review the COVID-19 affected subjects so as to release timely support policies for them.

Reporting by THIEN DUYEN – Translating by A.T