Ho Chi Minh City Social Insurance said on Wednesday it had asked local authorities’ permission to pay out unemployment allowances via ATM only.

The Ho Chi Minh City employment agency recently forecast that some 240,000 people would need unemployment benefits annually, beginning this year, a figure that would put a strain on manpower, resources and infrastructure at insurers.

At a December 18 meeting between the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs and related agencies, participants agreed that the ATM option was very attractive.

Unemployment insurance was legalized in Vietnam last January 1. Since the beginning of this year, 1,200 people in Ho Chi Minh City have registered to receive benefits, as one can only register after paying into the program for a full twelve months. Some 1.3 million people had begun paying into the fund so far, according to the department.

Source: Tuoi Tre