Hanoi (VNA) - Prime Minister NguyenXuan Phuc has approved a bailout package worth 62 trillion VND (2.66billion USD) to support people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic nationwide.

The social security package is part ofa resolution signed by the PM to help people affected during thepandemic.

Under the resolution, employees who takeunpaid leave and those who have their labour contracts suspended forat least one month will receive 1.8 million VND (77 USD) each month.

The duration of support will depend on howlong they are out of work starting from April 1, and will not run beyondthree months.

Employers in financial troubles who havecontinued to pay staff at least 50 percent of the salaries will be allowedto borrow money from the Vietnam Bank for Social Policy with zero interestfor three months to pay the outstanding money to their staff.

Individual business households with taxablerevenue of less than 100 million VND (4,288 USD) per year that haveclosed since April 1 will receive 1 million VND (43 USD) per monthfor a maximum of three months.

Employees who have their labour contractsterminated and are ineligible to unemployment allowances; and employees whohave no labour contracts and lose jobs will receive 1 million VND per month.

The duration of support will depend on thedevelopments of the pandemic but will not run beyond three months. The durationis applied from April to June, 2020.

People who contributed to the nationalrevolutionary cause and social policy beneficiaries will receive anallowance of 500,000 VND (22 USD) each month from April to June, inaddition to their monthly allowances. Poor and near-poor households willreceive 250,000 VND (11 USD) per month from April to June. All of thepayments will be made in a lump sum.

The resolution also said that employersaffected by the pandemic that had been forced to lay off more than 50 percent of staff would be allowed to suspend payments to the retirementand death fund for 12 months./.