COVID-19 has suspended the production and business of private households and groups owned by women, leaving thousands of women out of work or on reduced pay...
COVID-19 has suspended the production and business of private households and groups owned by women, leaving thousands of women out of work or on reduced pay. They are in need of assistance from the State support policies.
Production and business come to a standstill
Nguyen Thi Ly, Head of a cooking service group in Hoa An Village, Cam Phuoc Dong Commune, Cam Ranh City says the cooking service group was founded in 2015, drawing 20 female members. It has gone through stable development for nearly 5 years, bringing a monthly income of VND3 million/ person.
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However, the group has stopped working for the recent 3 months due to COVID-19 pandemic. The group used to receive around 10 orders for parties a month but since the epidemic, no order has been made. Many women have lost jobs, facing financial difficulties.
Vo Thi Huong, Phuoc Thuan Village, Ninh Dong Commune, Ninh Hoa Town, the owner of a rice cracker plant says her business has come to a standstill, losing 100% of revenues. 15 workers with an average monthly income of VND4.5 million were laid off without pay.
Since the social distancing measures have eased, the plant has partly recovered its production but still not completely. Therefore, tax reduction and assistance from the State are in need to help laborers during the unpaid unemployment period due to the coronavirus.
The start-up with making clay flowers by Pham Thi Thanh Tra has also faced difficulties. Her products are mostly sold to tourists but many amusement sites remain closed. With no product sold in recent months, her business has lost revenue, resulting in her 4 workers out of work and with no income. They have to search for other work.
Out-of-work women need assistance
The standstill of production and business has pushed hundreds of female members and women onto unemployment rolls. They are struggling to find other work to make ends meet.
Dang Thi Kim Hue, a member of a cooking service cooperation group in Cam Phuoc Dong Commune has lost her job since the group stopped operation. In the recent months, she has searched for any work she can get such as peeling off lotus seeds or cashews and collecting mangoes. She hopes to receive support from the State to reduce the financial hardship.
Dang Thi Kim Hoa, Phuoc Hai Ward, Nha Trang City, who is working for the Pham Thi Thanh Tra’s business is also suffering form great hardship. “I’m a single mum. I earn more than VND3 million/ month for my life with 2 children. Losing the work, I feel shocked. I had to get a loan from my relative to buy a bread case and an oven for selling bread to earn a living through the tough time. I am new to the work, so my bread has not sold well. I hope to get assistance from the State to help recover from the coronavirus recession.”
Many workers are hit hard by coronavirus economic shock when laid off without pay or on reduced pay. They are in need of help. Khanh Hoa Women’s Union has directed its levels to conduct a survey and make a list of those in need due to the COVID-19 outbreak to apply for eligibility for bank debt rescheduling, charge-off, loan offer for reproduction, etc, according to Le Thi Mai Lien, Chief of Khanh Hoa People’s Council’s Ethnic Minorities Board, Vice-Chairperson of Khanh Hoa Women’s Union.
Minh Thiet
Translated by N.T
