Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong (28 years old, Nam Dinh) has decided to quit her job to take care of her sick child. Ms. Phuong calculates that she will soon receive the first month's unemployment benefit with the amount of 2.97 million VND. According to Ms. Phuong, if we only rely on this amount of money, it will be extremely stressful.
Everything is expensive now. The nearly 3 million VND unemployment benefits are only enough to cover milk, clothes, and tuition for children. If I lack it, I have to borrow or use almost all of my husband's salary," said Ms. Phuong.
Ms. Phuong said that just before summer school, her two children's meals in class cost more than 3 million VND/month. The electricity, water, and personal expenses of family members are also 2 million VND/month while her husband's salary is only over 7 million VND.
With a subsidy of nearly 3 million VND, Ms. Phuong does not dare to think about the need to rest or learn a trade as a subsidy.
"If I were to learn a trade but now I was only supported with 70%, then the professions that are supported with 100% would not be suitable. The amount of 3 million VND is just enough for normal living and cannot be enough to learn more about a trade for a few months of unemployment" - Ms. Phuong said.
To earn more income while taking a break from work to take care of her children, Ms. Phuong still sewing clothes at some stages at home. Ms. Phuong hopes to soon adjust the unemployment benefit level to the regional minimum wage to live more comfortably when having to quit her job.
I think I will keep the current 60% benefit level, but at least I will receive it at the regional minimum wage. This will help workers feel secure, because this level can be considered the lowest to ensure basic living conditions" - Ms. Phuong proposed.
Receiving the first month unemployment benefit of VND 2,878,000, Mr. Nguyen Van Chinh said that he had to calculate carefully to avoid losing money. However, this amount of money is only enough to ensure his own life.
"The cost of food and drink is now simple and is 1.5 million VND/person. Adding electricity, water, clothes, and personal expenses is about 1 million VND more. Holding nearly 3 million in hand, I could not help the family" - Mr. Chinh said.
According to him, for families with both husband and wife unemployed, this benefit level will really put more pressure on life.
Thinking about the monthly insurance salary of nearly 4.8 million VND, Mr. Chinh felt even more disadvantaged. According to Mr. Chinh, the benefit level must be equal to the contribution level or at least 75% to meet the living needs of workers when they lose their jobs.
For those who have just started working, according to Mr. Chinh, paying insurance for more than 4 million VND until unemployment benefits is only more than 2.3 million VND, which must be strict in spending or having to work extra to ensure their lives.
According to the Law on Employment, the monthly unemployment benefit is equal to 60% of the average monthly salary for unemployment insurance contributions of the 6 consecutive months before the employee is unemployed.
The maximum benefit level is not more than 5 times the basic salary, not more than 5 times the regional minimum wage. The maximum period of unemployment benefits shall not exceed 12 months.
However, in reality, many enterprises only pay social insurance for employees based on the regional minimum wage, the lowest level prescribed by law.
