Lê Minh Tấn, director of the HCM City Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs speaks at a meeting on a relief package for the poor on Tuesday. Photo laodong.vn

HCM CITY — As many as 9,000 poor and near-poor households in HCM City that have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic will receive monthly relief payments of VNĐ1 million (US$42) per household for three months, starting in April, according to the municipal Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.

A total of 15,000 families who have made great contributions to the nation will receive monthly cash payments of VNĐ500,000 ($21) per household for three months to overcome difficulties due to the pandemic, said Lê Minh Tấn, director of the department.

A total of 600,000 workers who were laid off or put on leave without pay due to the direct impact of the COVID-19 pandemic will be provided VNĐ1 million a person a month, Tấn said at a meeting on Tuesday.

The city is home to 32,000 poor and near-poor households and 43,000 families who have made great contributions to the nation, he said.

Around 3.2 million workers are employed by 415,000 enterprises in the city.

About 75 per cent of enterprises have cut capacity or suspended production, resulting in 600,000 workers laid off or put on leave without pay.

Nearly 12,000 lottery ticket sellers have been affected as the issuance of lottery tickets was halted for 15 days starting April 1. They will receive financial aid of VNĐ750,000 ($32) a person. — VNS