HCM City authorities have told the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs to compile statistics on needy families.

The statistics will serve the city’s implementation of social welfare policies in 2011-2015.

According to Government regulations, households in the suburbs with monthly incomes of under 400,000 dong ($20) per person are considered poor. Families in inner areas are listed as needy if a person has a monthly income of 500,000 dong and below.

HCM City conducts a poverty survey on an annual basis. The city had around 2,000 poor families in 2008. In 2009, it had around 1,000 households that earned less than 6 million dong ($320)/person/year.

HCM City Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs Director Le Thanh Tam noted that most people classified as needy are those who can’t work.

PV