As of May 20, 385,516 out of 385,683 aid beneficiaries, or 99.97% of the total, have received financial payment from the local authorities with a total amount of VND474.2 billion (US$20.32 million), according to Vice Director of the municipal Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Hong Dan.

Hanoi aims to complete financial aid payment for people affected by Covid-19.

The payment is in line with the government’s guidelines in supporting people affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Vice Chairman of Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Doan Toan said the local people appreciated the city’s efforts to provide timely payment.

Toan said public servants considered the task their main responsibility to help those in hardship overcome difficulties caused by the pandemic.

So far, there has not been any complaint regarding the payment process, Toan stressed at a meeting with Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung on June 5.

According to the local authorities, aid beneficiaries entitled to financial support from all 30 districts in Hanoi have all received payment.

Minister Dung commended Hanoi’s efforts in implementing efficiently the government’s supporting programs, adding this helped ensure social security during a difficult period.

On April 24, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc signed a decision to roll out a relief package worth VND62 trillion (US$2.7 billion) to support vulnerable people directly affected by Covid-19.

The package covers six beneficiary groups who would receive financial support in cash during three months starting April.

There are three groups of employees entitled to benefit from the US$2.7 billion package, including employees whose labor contracts were suspended, those taking leave without payment; laid-off employees not eligible for unemployment benefits; and workers who have no labor contracts and have lost jobs.