Facing the decline in resilience of businesses, cooperatives and business households in the rapidly spreading COVID-19 pandemic, the Government has issued Resolution No 105/NQ-CP on supporting businesses, with four groups of specific solutions.
The resolution, issued on Thursday, requires drastically fighting against the pandemic and at the same time creating favourable conditions for enterprises, cooperatives and business households to recover, maintain and develop production and business.
Along with continuing to allocate COVID-19 vaccines to priority groups, the Government asks the Ministry of Health to issue a document this month guiding the purchase of biological products and testing equipment to perform self-testing; study and develop mechanisms; and facilitate and encourage enterprises to import vaccines.
According to the resolution, the State will also carry out quality inspection, license, preserve and organise free vaccinations.
The Ministry of Information and Communications will cooperate with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Public Security and other ministries, branches and localities to support remote medical examinations and treatment for 100 per cent at district and commune levels; as well as disseminate an electronic handbook to guide the response to the pandemic.
The Ministry of Science and Technology shall coordinate with the Ministry of Health and other ministries and sectors to develop a mechanism to promote research, technology transfer, and production of vaccines and drugs to treat COVID-19 in Viet Nam.
Localities will direct and create favourable conditions for enterprises, cooperatives and business households to both prevent and control the pandemic, while maintaining stable production and safety.
Secondly, the resolution requires ensuring stable production, smooth, efficient and safe circulation of goods, and overcoming supply chain disruptions.
In particular, the Ministry of Transport will guide localities to uniformly implement the "green channel" of road and waterway transport nationwide, inter-provincially and inter-regionally to transport goods smoothly, quickly and conveniently.
No additional conditions or permits are required, to ensure circulation of goods, especially essential goods, both for daily life and production.
The Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will support businesses, cooperatives and business households in promoting trade, connecting supply and demand, and not disrupting production.
The Ministry of Finance directs the General Department of Customs to allow enterprises, cooperatives and business households to submit scanned copies with digital signatures of documents that must be submitted in paper copies, notarised or authenticated, according to regulations of ministries and agencies to solve bottlenecks when clearing goods.
Localities together with enterprises must research and agree on plans and conditions for production and business organisation to adapt to local pandemic developments.
Thirdly, the resolution asks to cut costs, as well as remove financial difficulties and cash flow for businesses, co-operatives and business households.
The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs shall urgently submit to authorities and the National Assembly Standing Committee policies related to the reduction of contributions or support from the balance of short-term social insurance funds to timely support period employees rights.
The Ministry of Transport considers the airline service price policy to support airlines during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as publicly and transparently listing all types of transport fares to avoid unreasonable price increases.
Other ministries, such as the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the State Bank of Viet Nam, will consider policies on exemption and reduction on taxes, fees, charges, and support electricity and water bills, extension of payment for natural resources exploitation, and low interest rates for businesses.
The fourth solution is to create favourable conditions for labourers and experts.
This month, the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs directed localities to relax a number of regulations and conditions on granting, extending and certifying permits for foreign workers to work in the country.
This includes research on allowing enterprises and cooperatives to negotiate with employees to increase overtime hours in accordance with the pandemic situation and in line with regulations.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs continues to drastically implement "vaccine diplomacy" and speed up the negotiation and mutual recognition of "vaccine passports" to open the economy when conditions permit, reporting to the Prime Minister right this month. — VNS