Pandemic-hit female workers get financial support

The activity demonstrates Mastercard and CARE’s commitment to contribute to the overall effort of Vietnam in driving a strong economic recovery

The charitable move comes by virtue of the partnership between Mastercard and CARE International in Vietnam to support local women. The symbolic ceremony for the cash transfer takes place today in Hanoi with the participation of representatives of the recipients, JupViec.vn, and CARE International in Vietnam.

Each woman has received up to VND3 million (around $130) via direct bank transfer. The supported amount differs, depending on individual circumstances and financial damage caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.

“These women working in the informal sector are amongst the most vulnerable and most affected by the pandemic. During this time of uncertainties, the economic crisis caused by the outbreak may hit harder than the coronavirus itself, thus protecting and supporting the people have never been more critical,” said Le Kim Dung, country director at CARE International Vietnam.

“Our end goal is to empower and help them to overcome this difficult time. We hope that by assisting in this way, the recipients can be more proactive and flexible in spending their money according to their situation and priority," Dung added.

According to Phan Hong Minh, director of JupViec.vn, when social distancing was in place, female workers under informal employment suffered from declining working hours or even lost their jobs.

This led to greater financial pressure for these women as they still have to pay for their living expenses while receiving either less or no income.

“In our case, there has been a significant decline in the number of orders on our platform in comparison to the same period last year, and our working partners have also witnessed a drop in their earnings consequently. On behalf of more than 800 house cleaners, we would like to thank Mastercard and CARE International for this humanitarian relief, which is very meaningful,” said Minh.

A quick survey conducted by CARE International in Vietnam and JupViec.vn shows that the majority of women who have received the emergency support this time will use the money to cover their costs of living, pay overdue house rents, buy medicine, clear their debts, or pay tuition fees for their children.

For part-time house cleaners who also have other side jobs, such as online food sellers, tailors, manicurist, waste collectors, this money is also used to invest in their small businesses. For those who work full-time as house cleaners at JupViec.vn, they intend to use the money to buy more cleaning equipment as well as to cover the cost of transportation, phone bills, and data usage when using the app for their work.

“Mastercard highly appreciates the National Steering Committees’ preventive efforts against the pandemic, making Vietnam one of the first few countries to open up, and the first in Southeast Asia to move forward to post COVID-19,” said Winnie Wong, country manager of Mastercard.

“To drive a robust recovery and financial inclusion, there is a need to include all participants of the economy and leave no one behind. That's why Mastercard has joined this collaboration to provide financial support to women who are engaged in lower economic activities in informal employment and falling behind in terms of social security and economic stability.

The activity demonstrates Mastercard's and CARE’s commitment to contribute to the overall effort of Vietnam in driving a strong economic recovery. Besides this, the two partners are also working to ignite the potential of Vietnam’s women community that plays a vital role in promoting economic growth and reducing income inequality and poverty in the national economy.