Indonesia

Hanoi (VNA) - Indonesia and the Republic of Korea on April 6 agreed to hold a signing ceremony of their bilateral free trade deal in the near future to quickly implement it in a way that helps minimise the economic fallout from the new coronavirus pandemic. During a videoconference with Indonesian Trade Minister Airlangga Hartarto, RoK Trade Minister Yoo Myung-hee said the international community must join forces to sustain the global supply chain, according to the RoK’s Yonhap news agency. In line with efforts to overcome the economic jitters, the two countries agreed to hold a signing ceremony of the much-awaited Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) at the earliest date possible after the situation is stabilised, reported Yonhap The two countries struck the deal in November last year with a goal of holding an official signing ceremony in the first half of 2020 to pave the way for the official implementation. The CEPA is equivalent to a free trade agreement … [Read more...] about Indonesia, RoK agree to sign FTA

Jakarta (VNA) - The Jakarta Manpower, Transmigration and Energy Agency said on April 6 that a total of 162,416 workers in Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, have been laid off and forced to take unpaid leave due to COVID-19 pandemic. Of the figure, 30,137 workers of 3,348 registered companies were laid off, while 132,279 others from 14,697 firms were also put on forced unpaid leave," according to the agency. The data will soon be submitted to the Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, it said. As part of its stimulus package to counter the effects of the epidemic, the Indonesian government has issued a policy of expanding its pre-employment card programme which provides job skills training and incentives for laid-off workers. President of the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) Said Iqbal has called on the government to prepare more measures to support workers who lose their jobs, such as providing money to workers and drivers. On … [Read more...] about Hundreds of thousands of workers in Jakarta affected by COVID-19

Of the sum, cash and kind worth 71.3 billion VND were earmarked for the COVID-19 prevention and control fund. The chapter has been distributing the support in kind totally valued at nearly 16 billion VND to medical establishments providing treatment for COVID-19 patients and concentrated quarantine facilities, Chau said. … [Read more...] about Latest covid-19 news in Vietnam and Southeast Asia

In Vietnam, the government has said that besides preventing the virus from entering the country, the country should be taking serious precautions and carrying out preventive measures to cope with risks from the community, even with patients who show no symptoms. … [Read more...] about ASEAN strengthens measures to control COVID-19

"The situation in the East Sea is complicated, with unilateral actions including militarization, increasing military exercises, especially the activities of Chinese oil survey ship Haiyang Dizhi 8 and its escorts, which are infringing upon the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf of Vietnam with illegal survey activities," Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh said at the 52nd ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand. … [Read more...] about Vietnam accuses China of serious violation of sovereignty at ASEAN meeting