COVID-19 to force millions of Southeast Asian labourers to lose jobs
Millions of labourers in Southeast Asia could lose their jobs as economies grind to a halt due to impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
Disinfecting an empty office in Thailand (Source: AFP/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Millions of labourers in Southeast Asia could lose theirjobs as economies grind to a halt due to impact of the COVID-19 pandemic,according to a report by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission forAsia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
In the policy paper on the Asia Pacific region issued onMarch 26, ESCAP noted that while exact data on the impact of the pandemic onemployment remained unavailable, the impact is likely to be substantial asservices and labour-intensive manufacturing comprise over 80 percent of theregion's informal sector and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and contributeto most of the jobs in the region.
The report stressed the need for countries with weak socialprotection systems to have ample policy space to save jobs and support minimumliving standards for households.
Meanwhile, in its report issued on April 3, the AsiaDevelopment Bank projected that growth in Southeast Asia will decelerate from4.4 percent in 2019 to 1 percent this year before rebounding to 4.7 percent in2021, partly because of the region's strong trade and investment ties withChina.
Based on the ADB's projections, Indonesia's growth isexpected to shrink from 5 percent last year to 2.5 percent this year. Thailandis expected to slow to minus 4.8 percent. Vietnam's annual average growth of 7percent will slow to 4.8 percent in 2020, while Singapore is expected to ekeout just 0.2 percent growth.
Already, several governments have rushed out programmes tosupport the masses of newly unemployed from sectors like tourism, hospitalityand garment production.
Thailand is giving a 5,000 baht (150 USD) monthly supportfor three months to some nine million informal or self-employed workers.Singapore's supplementary budget worth some 48 billion SGD (33.36 billion USD)pays unemployed workers 800 SGD a month, for three months, to help them lookfor a new job or undergo training./.
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Vietnam stands ready to support the Vietnamese government, employers and employees in the fight for decent work at the time of the global health, labour and economic crisis, said ILO Vietnam Director Chang-Hee Lee.
Indonesian President Joko Widodo on March 31 announced six social assistance programmes benefiting households seriously affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung handed over medical equipment worth over 7 billion VND (304,000 USD) as gifts from the Vietnamese Government and people to their Lao counterparts at a ceremony in Vientiane on April 4.
For the first time in almost a month, Vietnam has no new cases of COVID-19 to report. The National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control announced on April 5 morning that nobody has tested positive overnight.
The article stressed that throughout his revolutionary career, the founder of modern Vietnam consistently regarded the revolutionary press as a vital part of the Vietnamese Party’s and nation’s revolutionary struggle.
Pichai said the trade talks with the US are important and need to move forward professionally, without regard for any political changes in Thailand, believing that Thailand has clear principles, guidelines and procedures in place.
The tax adjustment supports the Malaysian Government’s strategy to reduce reliance on foreign food supply chains and to assist domestic farmers, a finance official has said.
The proposed venue is located in the Chatuchak area of Bangkok, featuring eight public sites, including Krungthep Aphiwat Central Terminal and several nearby parks.
Connectivity is expected to improve further with the completion of the fifth Laos–Thailand Friendship Bridge by the end of 2025, facilitating logistics and agricultural exports to Vietnam, Thailand, and China.
Two naval gunboats intercepted a fishing vessel carrying 1.5 tonnes of methamphetamine hydrochloride off the coast of the main island of Luzon just before dawn, in a joint operation with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
In the today context of socio-economic development and growth, the professionalism of Vietnam’s revolutionary journalists continues to rise, guided by exemplary mastery of new information technologies and the modernisation of their founding principles to preserve the enduring values of revolutionary journalism.
Thai Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Vuttikrai Leewiraphan Thailand's formal proposal will be substantial enough for the US to consider further detailed negotiations. He hoped for a tariff rate not exceeding 10% and suggested that the US might extend the negotiation period if an agreement is not reached by the July 8 deadline.
Organised by the Ministry of Culture and the Association of Thai Silk & Culture Promotions, the event honors Her Majesty the Queen on her 47th birthday anniversary and promotes Thai craftsmanship on an international stage.
Prensa Latina's recent article on Vietnam’s assurance of smooth and effective transition to a leaner structure highlighted Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s latest directions on implementing 28 resolutions regarding the decentralisation and delegation of authority.
The lab focuses on four key thematic areas: energy transition and green innovation, sustainable agriculture, circular economy and sustainable cities, and nature-based solutions and biodiversity.
The key content of the document titled "Accelerating Innovative Strategies: Addressing the OOSCY Challenges" will be refined further in a seminar preceding the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October.
This follows Telegram’s serious failure to address the content that has been repeatedly reported to them, despite various efforts of negotiation and cooperation made by MCMC, it said.
Efforts to empower women must transcend dialogue and translate into concrete commitments, including corporate pledges and government partnerships, according to the spouse of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The forum featured two in-depth discussion sessions, engaging representatives from governments, think tanks, and businesses from both ASEAN and China, on how to forge closer ties for a common future.
The new FIFA Hub in Jakarta will not only support football development in Indonesia but also serve as a coordination centre for 21 football associations across Southeast and East Asia.
Minister Counselor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen reaffirmed Vietnam’s principled and consistent stance on the Palestine issue, calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire across the entire Gaza Strip.
PM Anwar Ibrahim affirmed the determination of Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair for 2025, to utilise all viable regional mechanisms of the bloc and work with partners to de-escalate violence and restore a peace process led by Myanmar.
Talking to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Vietnam’s Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925–2025), Nikulina, who is also a veteran journalist of Russia’s Sputnik News, emphasised the vital role of mainstream journalism in defending the truth and maintaining public trust.
Disinfecting an empty office in Thailand (Source: AFP/VNA) 
