Various policies issued by the Government, ministries, sectors and localities last week with an aim to supporting businesses and labourers affected by COVID-19.

The Association of Francophone Universities (AUF) on September 27 opened two employment support centres in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, with the aim of connecting students with job opportunities, increase their integration into the labour market and encourage their start-up spirit.

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.