HCM City to give extra financial aid to pandemic-hit residents

Ho Chi Minh City will give extra financial aid to poor people who are being severely affected by extended social distancing order imposed to stamp out the COVID-19 pandemic, Vo Van Hoan, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, said at a conference on August 5.

The conference was held by the city’s Fatherland Front Committee to discuss the second social security package designated to help local residents hardest hit by the pandemic.

The new package targets poor workers and those who did not benefit from the first package, Hoan said, adding that each person will receive 1.5 million VND (65.26 USD) in cash and the package must be fully delivered to needy people before August 10.

This time, the eligibles will include people with labour contracts suspended because of COVID-19, part-time workers, directors, actors, painters and others working in the entertainment industry, he noted.

The second package is expected to benefit around 250,000 people. The first package, which was worth 426 billion VND and fully disbursed, has provided aid to freelancers, people living in locked down areas, frontline workers and families of COVID-19 patients.

HCM City also plans to establish a centre for receiving donations of necessities to affected people./.