Hanoi, June 4 -- Some 70,000-80,000 workers across the country have returned to work since the mass disruption caused by the novel coronavirus in Vietnam, said Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) Le Van Thanh at an online conference held on June 3 to discuss and share experience in job creation and sustainable business in the new normal [after COVID-19].

During the first four months of 2020, it was estimated over 5 million workers in Vietnam either lost their jobs, had their work hours reduced or suffered income loss, said Thanh. A MOLISA survey said 67 percent of all businesses had to lay-off part of their workforce while up to 80 percent of businesses in the informal sector had to suspend their operations fo...