Wage policy must ensure a minimum standard of living for workers.

Comrade Thai Thanh Quy - Alternate member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee chaired the meeting. Also attending the meeting were Vice Chairmen of the Provincial People's Committee and leaders of departments, branches and sectors. Photo: Thanh Quynh

Continuing the regular January meeting of the Provincial People's Committee, on the afternoon of January 23, delegates listened to and gave their opinions on the Draft Action Program of the Provincial Party Standing Committee to implement Resolution No. 27 - NQ/TW of the 12th Central Executive Committee on reforming salary policy; Draft Action Program of the Provincial Party Executive Committee to implement Resolution No. 28 - NQ/TW of the 12th Central Executive Committee on reforming social insurance policy; Project to upgrade the Center for Leprosy Prevention and Dermatology into Nghe An Dermatology Hospital; Decision to amend Point b, Clause 1, Article 8 of Decision No. 60/2017/QD - UBND dated October 9, 2017 of the Provincial People's Committee on promulgating the Regulation on protecting state secrets in Nghe An province.

Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Thai Thanh Quy gave a speech at the meeting. Photo: Thanh Quynh

Ensuring minimum living standards for workers

At the meeting, delegates agreed on the content of the action program of the Provincial Party Standing Committee to implement Resolution No. 27-NQ/TW on reforming salary policy, with specific action programs.

In particular, for the public sector, by 2021, it is necessary to complete the consolidation and arrangement of a streamlined apparatus, operating effectively and efficiently; strive to achieve the rate of staff reduction according to the approved project (reaching at least 10% of the total number of staff compared to 2015).

For the business sector, it is necessary to adjust the regional minimum wage annually in the province according to Government regulations and the business's ability to pay so that the minimum wage ensures the minimum living standard of workers and their families.

Comrade Le Truong Giang - Director of the Provincial Social Insurance presented the main issues in reforming social insurance policies. Photo: Thanh Quynh

Increase the number of people participating in social insurance

Regarding the social insurance sector, over the past time, it has been gradually innovated, basically meeting the requirements and tasks, promoting the role and effectiveness in building, organizing the implementation of policies and managing social insurance funds.

However, the development and implementation of social insurance policies still have many limitations and shortcomings. The system of policies and laws on social insurance has not kept up with the socio-economic development situation, has not adapted to the aging population and the emergence of new labor relations. The expansion and development of social insurance participants is still below potential; social insurance coverage increases slowly. The situation of evasion, debt, fraud, and profiteering from social insurance is slow to be overcome. The pension and death benefit funds are at risk of imbalance in the long term.

Based on the Resolution of the Central Committee, the draft sets a target of striving for about 35% by 2021, about 45% by 2025 and about 60% by 2030 of people of working age in the locality to participate in social insurance.

Concluding this content, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Thai Thanh Quy emphasized that although according to analysis, the target rate of employees participating in insurance set for our province is quite high. However, these are targets that have been carefully calculated by the Central Government and set for the whole country, so it is required that all levels and sectors in the province must strive to achieve the set goals.

Comrade Duong Dinh Chinh - Director of the Department of Health presented the project to upgrade the Anti-Leprosy - Dermatology Center into Nghe An Dermatology Hospital. Photo: Thanh Quynh

Regarding the issue of upgrading the Anti-Leprosy - Dermatology Center to Nghe An Dermatology Hospital, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested to develop a suitable plan, creating favorable conditions for diagnosis, treatment and accompanying medical services. Along with that, the health sector needs to complete the project and after upgrading, not increase the staff, gradually moving towards complete autonomy.

Also this afternoon, the Provincial People's Committee listened to and gave opinions on the decision to amend Point b, Clause 1, Article 8 of Decision No. 60/2017 of the Provincial People's Committee promulgating the Regulation on protecting state secrets in Nghe An province.