Millions losing jobs to COVID-19: fresh opportunities created to reallocate workforce

Workforce demand in Vietnam is growing as businesses gradually resume operations. But it is not an opportunity for everyone, as each employee must strive to adapt to new changes.
Millions losing jobs to COVID-19: fresh opportunities created to reallocate workforce ảnh 1A worker files for unemployment insurance premium after losing job due to COVID-19 

Hanoi (VNA) – Workforce demand in Vietnam is growing as businesses gradually resume operations. But it is not an opportunity for everyone, as each employee must strive to adapt to new changes.

When the economy returns to normal, one of the Government’s top priorities will be to create jobs for the unemployed and ensuring supply for the labour market. To do this, both the Government and enterprises must offer training to workers.

This announcement came during a teleconference on international experience in job creation and sustainable business in the ‘new normal’ condition, co-organised by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) and the Manpower Group Vietnam on June 3.

Three scenarios for Q3 labour market

COVID-19 has posed unprecedented challenges to the labour market. In just the first five months of 2020, over 430,000 people applied for unemployment benefits, up 28 percent annually. In May, nearly 160,000 applied for unemployment insurance premiums, up 55 percent month-on-month and 45 percent year-on-year.

However, job suspension is decreasing as many firms begin hiring workers again. Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Le Van Thanh said since May, on average 70,000 – 80,000 workers across the country have returned to work each month. Though unemployment rates have fallen, workers and enterprises still meet difficulties due to the stagnation in export markets and the changing habits of consumers.

Deputy head of the MoLISA’s Department of Employment Nguyen Thi Quyen said the department devised three scenarios for the labour market in the third quarter. If the world’s epidemiological situation improves, about 70-75 percent of businesses will be affected, about 70,000 – 80,000 lose jobs and 3-3.5 million others have to stop working.

If the situation goes flat, 80,000 – 90,000 people will lose their jobs, nearly 80 percent of firms be hit and 5-5.6 million suspend working.

If it the situation worsens, Vietnam will be seriously hit. Around 90,000 – 100,000 will lose their jobs each month, 90 percent be impacted and 6-7.2 million have their jobs suspended.

Commenting on the labour market during this period, General Director of Manpower Group for Thailand, Vietnam and the Middle East Simon Matthews said according to statistics from job transaction floors, sectors such as electricity, electronics, food and beverages, transportation, e-commerce, logistics, fast consumer goods and supply chains are thriving in the second quarter.

Retraining workers for new markets

Sharing experience in coping with COVID-19 impact in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, General Director of Manpower Group Malaysia and Director of Temporary Workforce Supply Services for Asia-Pacific Sam Haggag said a series of industries like aviation, ground and ride-hailing services made great efforts to reallocate workforce. In a new condition, return to the jobs market is a disciplined way to restore the economy.

Millions losing jobs to COVID-19: fresh opportunities created to reallocate workforce ảnh 2Experts talk at a teleconference on international experience in job creation and sustainable business in new normal conditions 

In sectors like ride-hailing services, logistics and fast-moving consumer goods in Malaysia, workers are regularly rotated to different units in a company. The reallocation of workforce and retraining help firms save recruitment costs, said Haggag.

Regarding changes to the labour market, Matthews said nearly half of the positions in the manufacturing sector must be changed in the next 3-5 years due to impact of digital transformation. The digitalisation of manufacturing requires better skills. In particular, positions requiring skills such as automation, tool manufacturing and robotics will increase in the next three years due to technological impact.

He added that 84 percent of entities are expected to improve workers’ skills this year. Therefore, they need to take new approaches to training to harness their competitiveness. Recruiters need to outline recruitment strategies and take a more creative approach to workers.

Deputy Minister Thanh said workforce demand is likely to rise but it is not an opportunity for all if each worker fails to reach his full potential. They must meet new requirements.

He added that the Vietnamese Government plans to allocate 3-5 trillion VND (130 – 217 million USD) from the unemployment insurance fund to support firms in workforce training. It is one of the measures to help workers adapt to new changes to the labour market due to impact of the pandemic./.

VNA

See more

At the meeting (Photo: VNA)

Binh Duong leads nation in online public services

Binh Duong is also developing a coordination framework between the provincial Public Administration Service Centre and such centres at the commune level to streamline administrative services.

Mineral resource discovery activities in the northwest region. (Photo: vietnamplus.vn)

40 gold mines discovered in northwest region

There are 40 gold mines with a total identified resource of 29.8 tonnes, and five copper mines with a total identified resource of over 13,000 tonnes in the northwest region.

Three staff members of the Department of Dyke Management and Disaster Prevention set off to join rescue efforts in Myanmar. (Photo: tienphong.vn)

Vietnam sends more personnel to rescue operations in Myanmar

This marks the first time that the staff members from the department have participated in the ASEAN-ERAT, demonstrating the spirit of “One ASEAN, One Response: ASEAN responding to disasters as one in the region” as affirmed in the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration.

Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Van Phuc at the working session with representatives from 21 US higher education institutions in Hanoi on March 31. (Photo: Ministry of Education and Training)

Vietnam, US strengthen higher education cooperation

Deputy Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Van Phuc highlighted the growing educational partnership between the two nations, with 30,000 out of 200,000 Vietnamese citizens studying abroad being in the US. In the 2022-2023 academic year, Vietnamese students ranked fifth globally in terms of numbers of international students in the US, rising by 5.7%.

The Vietnamese rescue forces have worked tirelessly to locate survivors. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam delivers 3 tonnes of aid supplies to Myanmar earthquake victims

The aid package includes antibiotics, digestive medications, cold and flu remedies, and basic healthcare equipment like blood pressure monitors, blood glucose metres, bandages, and disinfectants. The supplies also feature mosquito spray pumps and insecticides to prevent disease outbreaks in affected areas.

Tran Phu Loc Thanh, Director of the municipal Department of Agriculture and Environment speaks at the event. (Photo: VNA)

Can Tho plans to eliminate run-down houses before reunification anniversary

According to Tran Phu Loc Thanh, Director of the municipal Department of Agriculture and Environment, work has started on all 531 houses designated for renovation or reconstruction, benefiting poor households, near-poor families, and people with meritorious service to the nation, with 141 homes already completed and handed over to beneficiaries.

The day for honouring the Vietnamese language in overseas Vietnamese communities is launched on March 29. (Photo: VNA)

Preserving Vietnamese language: Inspiring future generations worldwide

Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang, who is Chairwoman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, highlighted that with over 6 million Vietnamese people living across 130 countries and territories, the Vietnamese language remains a vital bridge connecting them to the homeland and cultural heritage.

Vu Manh Hung, Chairman of Hung Nhon Group, speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony on March 29. (Photo: VNA)

Tay Ninh accelerates efforts to eliminate substandard houses for border communities

As part of this programme, a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of 22 new homes for impoverished families in Tay Ninh’s border region took place on March 29. It is spearheaded by the Fund for the Poor of Tan Chau district, in collaboration with Hung Nhon Group, De Heus Group of Netherlands, and Tay Ninh’s National Assembly delegation.

A gathering of the Vietnamese community in the Republic of Korea. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese Association in RoK urged to strengthen unity

Vietnamese Ambassador to the RoK Vu Ho suggested the General Association of Vietnamese People enhance cooperation with organisations and businesses, promote dissemination of the Vietnam Village project in the RoK, and continue hosting annual Vietnamese language classes for children from multicultural families.

The Zalo page of the Ministry of Public Security (Photo: screenshot)

Ministry of Public Security launches Zalo page

Together with the ministry’s website and its Facebook page, the Zalo page is an official information channel of the public security force on the cyber environment, with the function of informing and popularising the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's policies and laws, and the MPS's regulations on ensuring security, order, and building the people's public security force.