In order to help people feel secure in the implementation of the Covid-9 epidemic prevention and control, the Standing provincial Party Committee has directed the Department of Labor, Invalid and Social Affairs to coordinate with districts, towns and cities to quickly deploy supporting packages right in August. On this content, Binh Duong Newspaper reporter had an interview with Mr. Le Minh Quoc Cuong, Director of Department of Labor, Invalid and Social Affairs.
- Sir, by direction of Binh Duong provincial Party Committee, what allowances has Department of Labor, Invalid and Social Affairs paid to working people in the province?
- Over the past 1 month, Department of Labor, Invalid and Social Affairs has coordinated with districts, towns and cities to accelerate the implementation of the supportin package according to Resolution No. 68 of the government and Decision No. 09 of the provincial People's Committee; thereby, prioritizing quick settlement for the group of workers who do not have labor contracts. This group is facing many difficulties due to the severe impact of the Covid-19 epidemic.
Specifically, the total number of supporting documents was 461,806 applications with an amount of VND 348,334 billion. Particularly for the policy of reducing the premium rate of occupational accident and occupational disease and the policy of temporarily suspending contributions to the retirement and survivorship fund, the number of units entitled to the reduction in premium is 14,364 units with 1,012,622 employees for a total amount of VND 405,844 billion.
People affected by Covid-19 epidemic are offered allowances at Dong Hoa ward in Di An city
For employees without labor contracts (self-employed) and some other specific subjects, the number of supported beneficiaries is 89,639 people with the disbursement amount of VND 134,539 billion (only basic mobile lottery ticket sellers have completed the payment). The localities are on to review and speed up the progress of offering allowances to the people.
- According to Resolution No. 68, up to 12 groups are supported. However, there are still some groups of subjects that have been implemented slowly such as policies to support employees who stop working, policies to support employees who suspend labor contracts or take unpaid leave, etc. Any solutions to speed up progress in the near future?
- With this group of workers, the Department has implemented registration documents and procedures to all localities and businesses in the area. When enterprises are affected by the epidemic, they must make dossiers of affected workers and send them to the Division of Labor, Invalid and Social Affairs of districts, towns and cities. However, the localities currently receive very few applications for such registration.
The reason is that the localities in the "red zones" have many resident businesses and a lot of workers located in the blockade and quarantine areas, so it is difficult to register documents. Some localities do not have enough staff to input registration documents every day. Part of the delay in this group is that the supporting registration period lasts until December 31, so many businesses do not urgently register.
To speed up the progress, the Department of Labor, Invalid and Social Affairs has prepared an online registration form to be sent to businesses and localities. This way will be much faster in the future. Besides, the Department is also submitting to the provincial People's Committee a number of other solutions to solve it faster; currently we are waiting for the provincial People's Committee to approve. The main thing is that businesses have to pay attention to and coordinate with the localities so that workers can receive support as quickly as possible.
- Recently, the provincial People's Committee has also provided other support to workers in difficult circumstances such as supporting VND 300,000 a person, VND 500,000 a person living in difficult circumstances. So when will these supporting packages reach the workers in need?
- These supporting packages will be deployed quickly in August, even ending early on August 25. Basically, when deploying supporting groups according to Resolution No. 68, localities have made lists of people staying in rent houses and workers living in difficult circumstances. Therefore, localities can rely on this list to classify objects, thereby, providing quick support in August. Currently, the Department of Labor, Invalid and Social Affairs is coordinating with localities to speed up the review of documents and expenses of money or food for the people.
- It is known that there are still many difficult workers in communes and wards who have not yet received money from the supporting package under Resolution No. 68 of the government, so when will workers receive this money, sir?
- Compared to previous wave of Covid-19 epidemics, the impact of this 4th wave is very large, covering 9 districts, towns and cities. As a result, the number of laborers in difficult circumstances and laborers without contracts increased many times over the initial expected number. Moreover, in some localities affected by the epidemic, many blockade and quarantine areas are in place, so the implementation encounters many difficulties. Therefore, some disadvantaged workers have not been able to access the supporting package.
Currently, the Department has directed the Division of Labor, Invalid and Social Affairs of districts, towns and cities to speed up the preparation and approval of dossiers so that in this August, the money will reach all workers in difficult circumstances.
- Sir, in order to help workers have funds and peace of mind to implement the Covid-19 epidemic prevention and control according to Directive 16 of the Prime Minister, what suggestions does the Department of Labor, Invalid and Social Affairs have for the provincial People's Committee as well as relevant levels and authorities to take better care of workers?
- During this time, the Department is focusing on the above supporting groups to complete the care for the disadvantaged workers in August. After that, depending on the epidemic situation, the Department will have the next suggestions to take care of people in the area.
- Thank you!
Interviewed by Quang Tam - Translated by Vi Bao
