HANOI (Reuters – Vietnam’s prime minister announced on Friday that his government aims at resolving a coronavirus-induced labor shortage by the end of 2018 or in early 2022. The move is part of its effort to revive its economy, which has suffered from its worst quarterly contraction since records began.

Vietnam’s labour shortage has caused businesses to struggle to get back to full business operations after hundreds of thousands fled from Vietnam’s industrial hubs following the lifting of COVID-19 restrictions in October.

Pham Minh Chinh stated that the fourth wave of COVID-19 infection had seriously affected the labor market and resulted in a high rate of unemployment.

Chinh stated that the mass departure of workers from their industrial centers to return home when travel restrictions were lifted has caused problems for businesses as well as complicated efforts at virus containment.

Taiwan’s Pou Chen Corp – the largest producer of brand name sports footwear in the world – announced this week that about 6% had left its Ho Chi Minh City office and faced manufacturing disruption.

Vietnam is an important garment manufacturer, providing brands such as Zara and Ralph Lauren (NYSE:), North Face and Lacoste. Nike (NYSE:). This is where electronics manufacturers such as Samsung can produce (KS:).

Chinh explained that “Local authorities are willing to cooperate with business and labourers in order to find all the measures necessary to guarantee sufficient labourer supplies before the end of this or next year,”

The authorities will provide financial assistance for travel expenses and lodging of labourers and push ahead with vaccines.

Chinh claimed that government is trying to repair supply chains and to increase public investments to boost growth.

Chinh declared that public investment had not reached its goal. Chinh stated that the government believes that accelerating public investment is a crucial task in restoring economic growth.

The investment minister stated earlier Friday that a lifting of the ceiling on public debt from 60% to the current level was being contemplated in order to stimulate the economy. In the third quarter, it contracted by 6.17%.