Creating sustainable livelihoods

- From January 1st, 2026, Government Decree No. 338 officially came into effect with adjustments to loan limits for job creation support. In Lang Son province, this preferential capital is rapidly spreading to every village, becoming a solid "foundation" helping thousands of households confidently invest, expand production scale, and realize their aspirations to get rich on their own land.

Thanks to access to the new loan limit under Decree 338, Mr. Hoang Minh Hong's family (Ky Lua ward) has proactively secured resources for their business of purchasing star anise.

On December 25, 2025, the Government issued Decree 338 detailing some provisions of the Employment Law on policies to support job creation, effective from January 1, 2026. According to the decree, workers can borrow up to 200 million VND per person; for production and business establishments, the maximum loan amount is up to 10 billion VND and no more than 200 million VND per worker receiving job creation support.

Ms. Hoang Thi Nhinh's family in Pac Van village, Thai Binh commune, is one of the households that received loans from this program. Ms. Nhinh shared: "My family owns a large area of ​​hilly forest land, but the biggest difficulty was not having enough capital to invest in seedlings, fertilizers, and clearing the forest. In January 2026, after receiving information and guidance from officials at the Dinh Lap branch of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies (VBSP) about the program under Decree 338, I applied for a loan of 200 million VND to invest in reforestation. With that capital, I have planted 4 hectares of pine trees."

To date, the total outstanding loan balance for the program supporting job creation, maintenance, and expansion has reached VND 2,371 billion, with 23,688 customers still having outstanding loans. Loan disbursements from the beginning of 2026 to date have reached VND 609 billion, with 4,927 borrowers. Of these, 1,267 customers received loans up to the maximum amount of VND 200 million.

Not only Ms. Nhinh's family, but many households in communes in the former Dinh Lap district also have access to capital with new loan amounts to develop production. Mr. Luong Cao Cuong, Deputy Director of the Dinh Lap Branch of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies, said: Currently, the outstanding loan balance for the program to support job creation, maintenance and expansion at the unit is over 232 billion VND, with 2,115 customers still having outstanding loans. From the beginning of 2026 to the present, the unit has disbursed 63.5 billion VND for this program to 393 borrowers, of which 246 customers received loans up to the maximum amount of 200 million VND.

Together with the Dinh Lap branch of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies, since the implementation of the increased maximum loan amount under the program, branches throughout the province have proactively disseminated information to the people. Through this, many households across the province have been able to access program capital with the maximum loan amount as stipulated in Decree 338. The increased loan limit has created favorable conditions for people to confidently invest, expand production scale, and gradually form effective economic models.

According to data from the Provincial Branch of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies, as of now, the total outstanding loan balance for the program to support job creation, maintenance, and expansion has reached VND 2,371 billion, with 23,688 customers still having outstanding loans. Loan disbursements from the beginning of 2026 to date have reached VND 609 billion, with 4,927 borrowers. Of these, 1,267 customers received loans up to the maximum amount of VND 200 million.

Mr. Phan Anh Thang, Deputy Director of the Provincial Branch of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies, said: Immediately after Decree 338 was issued, the unit coordinated with entrusted socio-political organizations to promote communication about the objectives, target groups, conditions, loan amounts, interest rates, and loan application process to the people. At the same time, it directed the branch offices to advise the People's Committees at the commune level to develop implementation plans, review loan needs, ensure that the loans reach the correct beneficiaries, and create favorable conditions for people to access policy capital quickly and effectively.

Accordingly, the dissemination of information was carried out through various forms, such as integrating policy content into village and residential area meetings, loan consultation conferences; broadcasting on local radio systems, websites, and social media; and publicly posting information at the headquarters of commune and ward People's Committees and cultural centers. As a result, people are increasingly aware of their rights and responsibilities when participating in the program, and are proactively developing suitable production and business plans to access loan capital.

Mr. Hoang Minh Hong's family in Ky Lua ward has been buying and selling star anise since 2016. Although they always wanted to expand their business, a lack of capital limited their investment. In early 2026, he was given the opportunity to borrow 200 million VND from a program supporting job creation, maintenance, and expansion. Mr. Hong shared: "With this capital, I can buy more star anise, invest in warehouses, and expand my business. I plan to increase my purchase volume from 20 tons to 50 tons per year. This will improve my family's income and create more jobs for local workers."

It can be affirmed that the timely increase in loan limits under Decree 338 is a correct step, meeting the actual needs of the people. With the decisive involvement of the Provincial Branch of the Vietnam Bank for Social Policies and the authorities at all levels, preferential loan capital has become an important "lever," not only helping people stabilize their livelihoods but also contributing to the sustainable socio-economic development of the locality.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/nghi-dinh-338-don-bay-sinh-ke-ben-vung-5087341.html