Although non-tariff and technical trade barriers aim to protect health, the environment and consumers, if they lack transparency or are not consistent, they can become invisible barriers that increase costs, prolong customs clearance times and create risks for businesses.
Oxfam in Vietnam, a non-governmental organisation, together with the Embassies of New Zealand and Switzerland in Vietnam, on October 5 announced a humanitarian aid of nearly 1.3 billion VND (57,000 USD) to help migrant workers in Ho Chi Minh City surmount difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The New Zealand Embassy in Hanoi is working with the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) to provide immediate financial support for 420 female workers from factories in Bac Giang and Bac Ninh which have been economically affected by the recent COVID-19 outbreak.