The government, through the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, resumed cash transfer payments for factory workers whose contracts were suspended by their employers.

The transfer programme aligns with the government’s policy of supporting workers who have been affected by the downturn of the global economy.

The resumption of the programme starts with nearly 9,000 workers from several provinces, in line with the government support policy, with each of them receiving between $20 and $40.

A June 2 ministry announcement said a total of 8,831 workers from 19 suspended factories – in the sector of garment, footwear, and travel goods – will get the cash support.

The government previously offered the payments to workers who were affected when Covid-19 forced their employers to suspend operations, but the scheme was temporally halted due to improvement of the situation.

Eligible workers will receive the cash support from Wing Bank, based on their phone numbers, which were submitted to the ministry by their factories’ administration staff.

Those whose contracts are suspended for between 7 and 14 days will receive $20, while those whose contracts are suspended for between 15-30 days will receive $40.

Workers are encouraged to collect the payments within 10 days of being notified, or the bank will return the money to the government.