Workers receive Tết’s gifts from city authorities. — Photo sggp.org.vn

HCM CITY — HCM City has spent over VNĐ1.1 trillion (US$47.2 million) to support people with disadvantages to enjoy the Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday. 

The municipal Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs has planned several activities, including holding New Year celebrations, upgrading martyr cemeteries and memorials, organizing meetings with veteran revolutionaries and Heroic Vietnamese Mothers, and presenting gifts to revolution contributors, poor households and people entitled to social protection, along with cadres, civil servants, public employees and workers in State sectors.

Authorities of HCMC will present gifts to the People’s Committees of 312 wards, communes, and townships so they can organize Tết activities for local residents.

Nearly VNĐ927 billion will be allocated for those activities, up VNĐ76 billion from the 2022 Tết, said Deputy Director of the department Huỳnh Lê Như Trang.

From January 6, the HCM City’s Federation of Labour will send delegations to pay pre-Tết visits to enterprises and present gifts to disadvantaged workers. New Year celebrations and gatherings of those unable to return to their hometowns for Tết will also be held.

These activities will be carried out at a total cost of about VNĐ140 billion, according to Vice President of the federation Phạm Chí Tâm.

The salary of workers in HCM City averaged over VNĐ11 million per month in 2022.

The average 2023 New Year bonus stood at VNĐ3.14 million, 7.37 per cent lower than in 2022. Meanwhile, Tết bonuses rose 45 per cent to VNĐ12.88 million on average, according to the Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs. — VNS