Society

While social housing supply has fallen short of requirements, Ho Chi Minh City is to build 300,000 apartments for workers in the near future. There were 248 social housing projects implemented in the entire country in 2015-2020 period, with about 100,000 units, or just 41.4 per cent of the plan.

Covid-19 resulted in employment numbers falling sharply, with growth in both unemployment and underemployment at unprecedented levels in the third quarter of 2021. Only in agricultural has the workforce increased.

Under a decision from the Ministry of Transport piloting interprovincial passenger transport in the “new normal” and with safe adaptation, flexibility, and effective control of Covid-19 in mind, from October 13 to 20 each interprovincial transport company is allowed to conduct a minimum of 5 per cent and a maximum of 30 per cent of journey quotas assigned by local departments of transport. Passengers are to ensure they follow pandemic prevention measures.

As people in localities that have ended social distancing are keen to return to their hometowns, the Prime Minister (PM) has requested that these localities try to persuade them to remain in place. If they still wish to return to their hometown, there must be a list and a safe pick-up and drop-off system.

Molnupiravir medicines provided by the DB Investment and Development Company - a founding shareholder of the Ecopark Group - have been handed over to 12 cities and provinces since October 7 to help them pilot the controlled treatment of F0 cases at home under a program from the Ministry of Health.

An unprecedented wave of labor migration has taken place in Ho Chi Minh City and many southern localities as workers return to their hometowns. To resolve the labor shortage following the pandemic, businesses must immediately launch a completely new strategy to attract workers, with policies on livelihoods, healthcare, and attractive benefits.