Due to the impact of Covid-19 outbreak, 322 enterprises out of 180,000 in 30 from 63 provinces/cities have temporarily suspended operation as of February 12, and other 553 have scaled back their operations, local media reported.

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Out of 5,000 cooperatives, 25 have suspended operation and five trimmed down activities, according to a report by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) on impacts of the Covid-19 epidemic on the labor sector.

With regard to the labor market, the report said that in 22 provinces/cities, nearly 9,000 workers have been hurt by the outbreak, including 3,200 working in the field of agro-forestry-fishery; 2,200 in water supply and waste treatment; and 1,100 in logistics and storage, among others.

The report added over 1,000 workers from 22 provinces/cities in the fields of catering services and accommodation have lost their jobs due to the Covid-19.

In a visit to a number of foreign-invested enterprises Thai Nguyen province on February 13, Labor Minister Dao Ngoc Dung said the rate of workers returning to works after the Lunar New Year Holiday reached over 97% nationwide, and 100% in major corporations.

As the Covid-19 epidemic is having a negative impact on the Vietnamese economy, Dung expects strong measures against the deadly virus would prevent infections at industrial parks.