Labor federation to pay furloughed workers stipend as export slump takes toll

The confederation said Monday tens of thousands of workers have been laid off or furloughed across Vietnam’s manufacturing hubs due to a shortage of export orders.

Those having their working hours reduced or furloughed for 14 days or more will get VND1 million.

People whose contracts are suspended or have to go on unpaid leave for 30 days or more will get VND2 million.

Those who lose their jobs but are not eligible for unemployment benefits will receive VND3 million.

But people who quit on their own volition or are dismissed for disciplinary reasons, probationers who are not hired due to lack of competence and pensioners are not eligible to get the money.

The confederation will accept applications from now until March 31 and the payments will be made no later than May 30.

It said as of December 7 more than 42,000 workers had lost their jobs, and 500,000 were underemployed, more than 70% at foreign-owned enterprises, mainly in the textile and garment, footwear and wood processing industries.

They include thousands of women workers aged 35 and above, who are pregnant or have children aged under a year.

The confederation expects nearly 272,000 people to have their working hours reduced during Tet and 15,800 to lose their jobs altogether.