The meeting was held to work out measures to ensure social security, including specific support packages for both workers and their employers in case the number of workers covered by social insurance of a business is reduced by half or more compared to the month before the announcement of the epidemic.
Representatives from ministries and sectors suggested allowing workers and businesses to postpone the payment of unemployment insurance premiums without having to pay interest for the duration of the delay.
They also asked the Government to allow the provision of funding from the unemployment insurance fund to help businesses restructure, modernize production technology and enhance skills for their workers.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said the Government sympathises with the difficulties faced by organisationsand individuals. He noted that the COVID-19 pandemic is causing heavy impacts on not only business and production activities and the State budget, but also the life of people, especially the poor and workers who lose their jobs.
Therefore, the issue will be put on the table at the Government’s regular March meeting on April 1, with a resolution to be adopted to be the basis for the rapid and effective provision of support to those in need, the PM said, adding that this is the responsibility of the Party and State towards the poor, those in disadvantaged circumstances and the vulnerable groups in the current situation.
Also at the meeting, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said that in the current situation, rice exports should be controlled to ensure food security in line with the Government’s Decree No.107.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, agencies and localities were urged to boost agriculture production, especially rice. Regions with high output could be allowed to export rice.
The leader asked the Minister of Industry and Trade to submit a report on rice export to the PM before April 5, with feedback from ministries concerned, which must ensure that domestic consumption demand will be met in any case, especially amid the adverse weather conditions and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Finance Ministry was assigned to buy 190,000 tonnesof rice, 90,000 tonnes of unhusked rice or more for stockpiling in accordance with the national reserve target in 2020 as approved, thus meeting demand in contingency cases.
