A screenshot of the launching ceremony held virtually on Friday. Photo courtesy of the Canadian embassy in Việt Nam

HÀ NỘI — The Government of Canada is providing CAD$50,000 (US$40,350) to support female migrant workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in Bình Dương Province. 

“My thoughts go out to those workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in Bình Dương Province, one of the hardest hit provinces in Việt Nam. Canada stands in solidarity with Việt Nam and is pleased to provide assistance to those in need,” said Ambassador of Canada to Việt Nam, Deborah Paul.

Through the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), Canada is providing financial support to 1,125 vulnerable female migrant workers including pregnant women and those with small children affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in the province.

Canada’s support will help provide relief packages including food and other essential necessities as well as social and psychological support, for COVID-19 affected female migrant workers.

This year, under CFLI, the embassy of Canada in Việt Nam has provided financial support to local partners to implement projects aimed at empowering women to overcome and to adapt in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The projects included Thái Nguyên University of Information and Communication Technology's “Applying digital technologies to increase the efficiency of online business for women with disabilities in the Red River Delta region of Việt Nam”; the Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation's “Empowering women and girls to prevent human trafficking in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic through access to education, careers and life skills”; the Institute for the Development and Community Health - Light's “Ethnic Minority Women - Champions of Changes -Social and economic empowerment for ethnic minority women in Việt Nam”; among others.

In 2021-2022, CFLI is funding the project “Promoting gender-equality and safe migration for Vietnamese undocumented women migrant workers through inclusive governance and women capacity building” implemented by the Institute for Social Development Studies (ISDS). VNS