The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs has suggested that monetary support be given to approximately 27,500 employees of such non-essential businesses as cinemas, restaurants, and bars who have lost their jobs or faced difficulties owing to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic.

Le Minh Tan, director of the municipal labor department, said that the agency wants to expand the list of occupations whose affected employees are eligible for COVID-19 assistance.

The expanded list will include people working in beauty, plastic surgery, physiotherapy, massage, and sauna facilities; entertainment venues, theaters, cinemas, restaurants, wedding centers, discos, bars, karaoke shops, pubs, and beer clubs; tourist sites, sightseeing sites, monuments, museums, and libraries; sports establishments (gyms, fitness centers, billiards clubs, and yoga classes), sports centers, and public training facilities; bus stations and public passenger transport businesses.

A survey has showed that nearly 27,500 people in the city’s 24 districts, of whom 6,700 hail from other provinces, fall into these categories.

The labor department has asked the municipal Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee to spend the city’s COVID-19 prevention and control fund on supporting these individuals.

They are expected to be handed monetary support worth up to VND1 million (US$43) each, Tan said.

According to current regulations, only street vendors, hawkers, scrap collectors, porters, deliverers, lottery sellers, and people who work for household businesses in such fields as dining, accommodation, and tourism are eligible for the COVID-19 financial support.

In order to receive the support, laborers must meet three criteria, Tan stated.

Accordingly, they must have no income or a monthly income of less than VND3 million ($128), be staying legally in Ho Chi Minh City, and work in businesses that were temporarily shuttered in April 2020.

Temporary residents are required to present a temporary residence registration certified by local police.

Vietnam has documented 1,046 coronavirus cases, including 691 local infections, since January 23, when the pandemic first hit the country.

A total of 746 patients have beaten the virus while 35 have died, most having had serious medical problems.

Since the virus re-emerged in Da Nang on July 25, Vietnam has logged 551 local cases, most traced back to the central beach city.

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