HCMC – The HCMC Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs has proposed an aid package worth VND871 billion (US$38.4 million) to support disadvantaged people during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday (Tet).
According to Le Minh Tan, director of the department, this year’s proposed aid package was VND58 billion more than the package last year because the number of poor and near-poor households in the city has increased sharply due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Under the proposal, some 45,000 low-income families (26,300 more from last year) would receive cash and gifts worth a total of VND1.25 million each, while approximately 155,000 people covered by the social security policy, disabled people and people aged over 80 (4,200 more from last year) would receive relief worth VND1.15 million each.
The city will also deliver relief and presents to victims of labor accidents, ethnic minority people, war invalids and children orphaned by Covid. The municipal government expects to complete distributing the aid before January 24, 2022.
In addition, the HCMC Labor Federation will provide free bus, train and flight tickets to some 35,000 disadvantaged workers to help them return to their hometowns during the holiday.
As of November 21, the city has spent over VND12 trillion to support 8.8 million people affected by the Covid pandemic through four rescue packages, according to the HCMC Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs.
In the first two packages, the city provided aid for over 1 million self-employed workers, some 1.28 million poor families and approximately 21,500 vendors at traditional markets forced to close due to the pandemic.
In the third support package alone, the city has given aid worth some VND6.18 trillion to 6.18 million people among over 7.6 million in need, meeting 81.2%.
Among the localities, districts 3, 5, 10 and Phu Nhuan reported a high percentage of support. Meanwhile, only 41.1% and 49.2% of people in need in Binh Chanh and Binh Tan districts, respectively, have received relief.
The municipal government has asked localities to speed up the distribution of relief to disadvantaged people.
