The Vietnamese government is ramping up efforts to help the formerly incarcerated on their path back to productive lives by lending loans to them.

People after their prison release are eligible for a loan of a maximum of VND100 million (US$4,200) for production and business purposes, according to a recent decision signed by the prime minister.

Other ex-prisoners who intend to improve their job skills are permitted to borrow a maximum of VND4 million ($168) per month.

To get a loan, former inmates must follow all Vietnamese laws and must not be involved in social evils after their release from state custody.

They are allowed to access a loan within five years after the release.

Production facilities, including small- and medium-sized enterprises, cooperatives and business households, which employ former inmates, are also eligible for these loans.

These businesses must operate legally, while at least 10 percent of their total laborers are former inmates.

They are entitled to a loan of up to VND2 billion ($84,000) for each project, but it is not higher than VND100 million ($4,200) per ex-prisoner.

The previously incarcerated and these companies cannot get a loan if they are incurring debts at the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies for the same purposes of career training, business and production activities, and job creation.

As per the decision, the lending rate is equal to that of loans offered to poor households, reported the Vietnam News Agency.

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