Xe ôm (motorbike taxi) drivers receive gifts from trade unions in HCM City during Tết 2020. — Photo sggp.org.vn

HCM CITY — HCM City plans to spend VNĐ813 billion (US$35 million) in cash and gifts for more than 500,000 needy people during Tết (Lunar New Year) 2021, which falls on February 12.

Lê Minh Tấn, director of the city Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, said the funding is from the city’s budget and mobilising from other sources.

Local authorities, associations and civil social organisations are making efforts to mobilise more resources to better care for those in difficult circumstances during the Tết holiday.

Trần Văn Tuấn, deputy chairman of the Việt Nam Red Cross Society - HCM City chapter, said its officials, members and volunteers will present 50,000 gifts worth VNĐ500,000 to VNĐ1 million ($21-43) each to people in need, especially those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters.

The money comes from many sources, mainly businesses and individuals.

The Việt Nam Red Cross Society - HCM City chapter will help rebuild and repair houses, provide medical consulting and equipment, and organise fairs and donate production tools and equipment for the poor.

Dương Ngọc Tuấn, director of the Youth Social Work Centre under the city's Hồ Chí Minh Communist Youth Union, said the centre will hand out 20,000 Tết gifts worth VNĐ700,000 ($30) each to disadvantaged people.

About 30,000 disadvantaged students and 20,000 workers will receive free bus tickets to return home for the Tết holiday.

The centre will also introduce 8,000 part-time jobs for students during Tết.

It will also organise at least 25 art performances and entertainment programmes for children and young people, meetings for students who are not returning home for Tết, and the market stabilisation programme for Tết.

The Xuân yêu thương - Tết nghĩa tình (Spring of love – Tết with love) programme held by the city Women's Union will spend VNĐ920 million ($39,700) to offer 870 Tết gifts worth VNĐ700,000 ($30) each for needy people.

The city's Việt Nam Fatherland Front Committee plans to spend VNĐ44.3 billion ($1.9 million) to care for citizens and people in other provinces who need care during the holiday.

Of the amount, nearly 27,200 gifts worth VNĐ26.6 billion ($1.15 million) will be given to citizens in need.

Labour and trade unions at all levels are working to support people in difficult circumstances, and workers who have lost their jobs, or are owed salaries.

Through an annual charity programme Tấm vé nghĩa tình (Tickets with love), about 35,000 free air, train and bus tickets will be given to didadvantaged workers returning home for Tết.

In recognition of their outstanding achievements in labour and contributions to the community, workers will receive free Tết air and train tickets.

The Labour Confederation of Gò Vấp District has mobilised VNĐ200 million ($8,600) to support disadvantaged people during Tết. It plans to co-operate with local youth unions and women unions to organise fairs offering 20-50 per cent discount to serve workers.

The Bình Thạnh District’s People’s Committee plans to spend VNĐ10.5 billion ($453,000) from its budget and VNĐ2 billion ($86,300) mobilised from other sources to offer more than 8,000 Tết gifts to local residents.

The Phú Nhuận District’s People’s Committee will spend funds from its budget and raise funds to care for 264 near-poor households and disabled children. — VNS