Vietnam suspends granting new work permits to foreigners from coronavirus-hit areas

Prime Minister Phuc made the request at the government meeting on Tuesday to review socio-economic performance and discussed measures to mitigate negative impacts of the epidemic.

Earlier, the government decided to temporarily halt unilateral visa exemption program for citizens from South Korea and Italy due to rising infections in the two nations.

As of March 3, more than 36,720 employees from coronavirus-hit countries such as China, South Korea, Japan and Italy works in Vietnam, according to a report from the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs.

Of the foreign nationals, 15,310 Chinese citizens are working in Vietnam and 2,615 Chinese laborers have been put under quarantine.

There are also 27,347 Korean workers in the country and 3,766 of them have not resumed working. Most of the Korean nationals live and work in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Hai Duong, Hai Phong, Da Nang and Ha Nam.

There are 290 Italian nationals working in Vietnam, ministry said.

► Vietnam suspends visa-waiver program for Italian citizens

► Vietnam temporarily suspends visa-free program for Koreans on virus fears

Source: VGP