The National Assembly Standing Committee met on Thursday to discuss ways to support companies and people disrupted by the pandemic. VNA/VNS Photo HÀ NỘI – The National Assembly Standing Committee yesterday continued discussions about the best ways to support businesses and people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Minister of Finance Hồ Đức Phớc said many solutions have already been implemented. The total amount of tax and budget revenue that had been extended, exempted and reduced according to the policies issued in 2020, has reached about VNĐ129 trillion (US$5.64 billion). In 2021, the Government submitted to the National Assembly Standing Committee plans to continue the implementation of four solutions for those affected by the pandemic. It includes continuously extending the deadline for paying tax and land rent in 2021; reducing environmental protection tax on jet fuel in 2021; reducing import tax rates for many groups of goods; and decreasing the collection of 30 types of …
Extending lockdown, HCMC adjusts social, business activities
HCM City authorities are planning to grant green cards associated with personal QR Codes in certain districts; amend regulations on goods delivery and receipt; and allow more business fields to operate, commencing from September 16. The press conference HCM City Vice Mayor Le Hoa Binh announced the People’s Committee decidion on measures to prevent and control the Covid-19 pandemic at a press conference on September 15. Green cards HCM City has decided to extend social distancing until September 30 to thoroughly implement all epidemic prevention and control measures. The granting of travel permits to certain people allowed to travel will continue. The travel permits will be granted by the city police and are valid until September 30. The city pledges to provide food and essential goods to people under plans announced weeks before. In areas which have basically controlled the outbreak, including districts 7, Cu Chi and Can Gio; and export processing zones and …
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Living in a pandemic: Boosting consumption or waiting to die?
E-commerce is one of the safe solutions to stimulate consumer demand The government is looking for a path to live with coronavirus after nearly two years of the COVID-19 outbreak worldwide. As the pandemic continues to linger, it is urgent for the government and policy-makers to find a proper solution to restart the economy. The many pilots over the past half year showed that it is essential to allow e-commerce marketplaces and online platforms to serve customer demand during the pandemic. In August, Thu Duc City piloted a programme to support the purchase of essential goods through GrabMart. In just a few hours after the launch, more than 10,000 pre-orders were recorded. It is clear that the e-commerce partnership will help to reduce the burden on local authorities and timely support the needs of the people. According to Ray Liang, chief operating officer of Society Pass (SoPa), the US operator of the Leflair e-commerce platform, shopping through an e-commerce platform will …
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Removing obstacles to offer COVID-19 assistance to freelance workers in Hà Nội
A freelance worker in Bắc Từ Liêm District, Hà Nội receives assistance from the COVID-19 aid packages. Photo: Hanoimoi Nguyễn Hồng Dân, deputy director of Hà Nội’s Department of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs, talks to Lao Động (Labour) newspaper about supporting freelance workers affected by the pandemic. A number of administrative procedures in Hà Nội have been simplified to help freelance workers in the capital city receive COVID-19 assistance. What are the results of this work? As of 4pm September 10, 2021, relevant departments and socio-political organisations, district and town-level authorities have mobilised more than VNĐ1 trillion to implement supportive policies. Among this, the State budget accounted for VNĐ799.5 billion. As much as VNĐ204.8 billion came from social sources. All 30 districts and towns of the city have helped to assist 136,802 freelance workers who do not have labour contracts or have lost their jobs. The total support package …
VGCL proposes to spend 3.9 billion USD to support COVID-19 affected labourers
Hanoi's Youth Union presents gifts for 150 labourers at Vietnam Esoft Company which suffered serious impacts due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - The Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) has proposed spending up to 89 trillion VND (3.91 billion USD) from the unemployment insurance fund to support labourers strongly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Chairman of the VGCL Nguyen Dinh Khang said the confederation would propose the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs consider using the surplus unemployment insurance fund to ease financial difficulties for labourers during the fourth COVID-19 outbreak. Those who have been participating in the unemployment insurance policy for at least six months would be eligible for financial support. Figures from the VGCL showed that more than 1.16 million labourers have benefited from the Government’s support package worth 26 trillion VND (1.13 billion USD) from July 8. Meanwhile, more …
Hanoi is promoting agri-tourism for sustainable tourism development
More and more models of farm tourism have been applied in suburban districts of Hanoi, attracting a large number of tourists in recent years. Hanoi is promoting agricultural tourism or green tourism as it benefits the local communities and the natural environment, according to Dang Huong Giang, Director of the Hanoi Tourism Department. Hanoi pupils take part in group activities in Ban Rom Ecotourism Area in Soc Son District, Hanoi. Photo: Du lich Sinh thai Ban Rom A large potential... Hanoi has a large potential to develop agri-tourism, thanks to its diverse terrains and rich culture and local identities, according to Ta Van Tuong, Deputy Director of Hanoi Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Accordingly, agri-tourism products in Hanoi focus on exploring wet-rice culture and civilization of the Northern Delta, craft villages, local habits, and customs, as well as weekend countryside vacations in the suburbs and surrounding areas. Recently, …
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VNR asks for VND800bn loan to maintain operation
The Vietnam Railway Corporation (VNR) has proposed to borrow VND800bn (USD35m) to maintain operations. VNR struggles amid Covid-19 pandemic VNR said it expected a loss of VND942bn (USD41m) in 2021 and over VND2.2trn after two years of being badly affected by the pandemic. It only has nearly in VND1trn in assets and lacks capital. VNR asked for a VND800bn loan to maintain business and asked the Ministry of Transport and local authorities to create favourable conditions for freight vehicles to go through checkpoints to allow goods to access train stations. In the report, VNR pointed out that they only served 8,640 passengers in August, accounting for 6.5% of the number of passengers last August. It was also harder to find goods for freight trains. Dang Sy Manh, director of VNR said they had to adjust schedules and halt many trains. After Covid-19 broke out in HCM City and several southern provinces, the number of freight trains from Song Than Station to the …
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