Society

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.

Covid-19 has had a significant impact on employees in Vietnam’s private sector, such as reduced employment, reduced income, and poorer mental and physical health, according to Ms. Kelly Wyett, Senior Economist at Abt Associates, Australia. Service industry employees have suffered the most.

Vietnam Social Security will reduce the contributions to unemployment insurance funds by 381,925 businesses, with a total amount of over VND7.6 trillion ($334.1 million). More than 7,400 employees have received support payments from the Fund, totaling over VND20 billion ($879,350).

As of October 1, Vietnam had provided VND15.3 trillion ($674.83 million) in support to 18.32 million people affected by Covid-19 and more than 156,300 tons of rice to 2.4 million households in 30 cities and provinces.

Ho Chi Minh City is expected to need 43,600-56,800 new employees in the fourth quarter of 2021, when many businesses start to reopen. Demand is concentrated in four key industries and nine major services.

Vietnam’s investment in waste management infrastructure has not kept pace with waste discharge. Nearly 70 per cent of the material value of plastic is not re-used, equal to $2.2-$2.9 billion each year.