Despite a decrease in foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into Vietnam in recent months due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economists assessed Vietnam remains attractive to foreign investors and needs to take advantage of FDI attraction opportunities to boost economic growth.

VOV.VN - Many businesses in Ho Chi Minh City, the epicenter of the country’s latest coronavirus outbreak, have faced a serious shortage of workers possessing a COVID-19 ‘green card’ as they struggle to resume production, according to industry insiders.

Many foreign-invested enterprises tend to bring their own workers to Vietnam for work, particularly for management positions, due to the high requirements for qualifications, expertise and skills, especially differences in language and culture.

Many firms are worried about labour shortages after resuming operations after the social distancing period.

The Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) has proposed spending up to VND89 trillion (US$3.91 billion) from the unemployment insurance fund to support labourers strongly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

VOV.VN - A group of experts of the Hanoi-based National Economics University have put forward several immediate solutions to remove bottlenecks and connect disrupted supply chains that have impacted localities hit by COVID-19.

The Ministry of Transport (MoT) has asked provincial and municipal authorities to ease the travel of labourers at seaports so as to avoid the disruption of production and supply chains amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Trade union organisations under the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) have so far spent more than VND1.22 trillion (US$53.38 million) from the VGCL's budget and raised donations to help over 1 million members, particularly workers, to overcome COVID-19-related difficulties.

VOV.VN - The ongoing wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the supply chain of local export industries, including garments and textiles, and footwear, if no solution is found soon to help businesses overcome their difficulties, many face the risk of orders being halted or cancelled.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had great impact on the labour market, with an increase in the unemployment rate, according to the Department of Employment of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA). ​