HCM City authorities speak at a programme called “Dân hỏi – Thành phố trả lời” (People ask – Authorities reply) last Sunday. Photo HCM City Media Centre

HCM CITY — HCM City will set aside VNĐ900 billion (US$39.54 million) to help beneficiaries of welfare policies, poor people and those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic celebrate Tết (the Lunar New Year).

Despite the city economy underperforming due to the outbreak, authorities have earmarked the large sum to provide financial relief and gifts and finance other activities to help people have a joyous and warm Tết, Dương Anh Đức, deputy chairman of the city People’s Committee, said.

He called on businesses and other organisations to pay Tết bonuses early to help their employees prepare for the festival.

He instructed related departments to closely supervise the financial relief packages meant for businesses and workers affected by the pandemic.

Huỳnh Thanh Khiết, deputy director of the Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, said the Tết gifts to be given to beneficiaries of welfare policies and poor and near-poor households would be comparable to last year.

Families of workers who died on the frontlines of the COVID fight would receive VNĐ2-3 million ($88-132), he said.

Tết gifts would also be given to 310 health stations, 391 mobile health stations, field hospitals, other health facilities, religious establishments, and businesses who contributed to the city’s pandemic response.

Payments to affected people from the three relief packages would be completed by mid-January, he promised.

Phạm Minh Tuấn, deputy chairman of the city Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, said more than 200,000 gifts worth more than VNĐ200 billion ($8.8 million) were expected to be delivered before Tết.

Free bus tickets would be handed out to workers and students for them to return to their hometowns to celebrate the festival.

More than 2,100 orphans and 380 elderly persons would also receive gits under the Tết celebration programme. —VNS