Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam Social Security (VSS) has paid 371 billion VND (16.29 million USD) worth of unemployment insurance benefits to pandemic-hit labourers nationwide so far, the agency reported.

The amount was paid to 117,000 labourers paying unemployment insurance premiums and over 42,500 others having their premium payment period reserved.

The move is part of efforts to realise the Government's Decision No.116/ND-CP and the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 28/NQ-CP on the implementation of support policies for employees and employers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, using the unemployment insurance fund.

Under the scheme, about 30 trillion VND (1.31 billion USD) from the fund will be used to support labourers who are covered by unemployment insurance as of September 30, 2021, excluding employees in State agencies, socio-political organisations, people’s armed forces and public non-business agencies who are paid by the State budget.  

Meanwhile, so far, the VSS has responded to requests from 728 units in 56 localities nationwide with over 133,000 labourers on the suspension of payment to the retirement and survivor benefit fund with total amount of 912.3 billion VND.

At the same time, the agency has verified a list of 1.8 million labourers subjected to support policies from 53,000 units nationwide. Of the total, nearly 1.37 million labourers have their working contract suspended or are on unpaid leave./.