On 25 and 26 January 2022, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Mission in Viet Nam, in partnership with Viet Nam Red Cross Society in Ha Tinh province, delivered multi-purpose cash assistance to 432 internal migrant worker returnees in Thach Ha district and Ky Anh district. Each individual received VND 1 million (approx. USD 44.18) to buy essential items.

The COVID-19 pandemic and socio-economic downturn that followed have continued exacerbating vulnerabilities of migrant workers. In Viet Nam, the fourth COVID-19 wave in late April 2021 caused thousands of internal migrant workers leaving big cities due to strict lockdowns and business shutdowns. Among other provinces, Ha Tinh welcomed a large number of internal migrant worker returnees who were independent contractors, workers at factories or informal workers. They have experienced lack of access to health care, loss or decrease of income and were not able to afford accommodation and basic necessities. 

The cash distribution initiative targets internal migrant worker returnees in need of urgent support to recover from COVID-19 and is based on a screening process conducted by the local authorities, Viet Nam Red Cross Society and monitored by IOM Viet Nam.

“Migrant workers, particularly those in the informal sector, have been hit the hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said IOM Viet Nam Chief of Mission Park Mi Hyung. “The latest outbreak in Viet Nam has forced many internal migrant workers to return to their hometowns often with limited or no financial safety net to rely on. Upon return, they continued facing limited or no employment opportunities. Measures must be taken to mitigate negative impacts of COVID-19 on those migrant workers, help them meet basic needs.”

Mrs. Tran Thi Hai Viet, Vice President, Viet Nam Red Cross Society said: “Ha Tinh province is currently under pressure to support migrant workers who returned due to COVID-19. The IOM’s cash assistance is a practical and much needed initiative to help ease the economic impacts of COVID-19 on migrant workers, their families and local communities. We will make sure that cash distribution activities are carried out in a transparent manner to ensure money reaches people in need.”

This initiative is implemented under the framework of IOM’s 18-month regional multi-stakeholder project funded by the Government of Sweden to enhance protection of migrant workers in Asia impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a part of IOM’s Corporate Responsibility in Eliminating Slavery and Trafficking (CREST), a regional partnership programme aiming to enhance the protection of the human and labour rights of migrant workers in business operations and international labour supply chains.

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For more information, please contact Ms Vu Nguyet Minh at mvu@iom.int
For media inquiries, please contact Ms Nguyen Thi Hong Yen at thihnguyen@iom.int