Nghe An Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs: Proud of 75 years of construction and growth

Proud of the historical journey

75 years ago, in the proclamation of the establishment of the Provisional Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, President Ho Chi Minh signed the Decree establishing the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Social Relief, the predecessor of today's Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, to carry out the social work tasks of the early revolution. Through many hardships, difficulties and challenges, generations of cadres, civil servants and public employees of the sector have constantly innovated and always made important contributions to the cause of training human resources and implementing policies to ensure social security, contributing greatly to the cause of national liberation, national reunification, building and defending the Fatherland.

Ben Thuy Self-Defense Force protected Vinh Power Plant during the resistance war against America. Photo: Archive

Right from the early days of the resistance war against French colonialism, the Nghe An Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs coordinated to mobilize people to burn the land for resistance, set up rice jars to feed the army, donate money, rice, land and many other assets to the resistance fund, set up a fund to support injured soldiers, welcome wounded soldiers back to their villages and encourage households to take care of wounded soldiers; launched a movement to increase production to eradicate hunger, mobilized tens of thousands of young people to join the National Guard, join the army to the South, join the youth volunteer force, join the frontline laborers, go to the transport by cart, transport by river and sea.

Provincial leaders visit wounded soldiers and meritorious people on July 27. Photo courtesy of PV

After the country's reunification in 1976, Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces were merged into Nghe Tinh province. The momentum of the Great Victory in Spring 1975, which unified the country, encouraged and created momentum for the people of Nghe Tinh to start building historical projects such as: Vach Bac Irrigation, Vach Nam - Song Nghen Irrigation, Ke Go Lake, Vuc Mau, Song Rac and many other key economic and social projects... With its responsibility, the Department of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs advised the Party Committees and authorities at all levels to mobilize hundreds of thousands of workers to construction sites to participate in construction. Along with that, thousands of young people were mobilized to build the economy in the Central Highlands; tens of thousands of young people were mobilized to carry out noble international duties in Cambodia and the brotherly country of Laos.

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 visited and presented gifts to families with especially difficult circumstances in Ve Nong hamlet, Van Dien commune, Nam Dan district. Photo courtesy of PV

The end of the wars was also the period when the Party and State issued resolutions to pay tribute to heroic martyrs and implemented preferential treatment for those who had contributed to the country. Nearly 1.5 million people in Nghe Tinh province who had joined the army, youth volunteers, frontline workers, joined the militia and guerrillas and fought in their homeland were considered and awarded medals. Thousands of mothers were awarded and posthumously awarded the title of Heroic Vietnamese Mother, many localities were awarded the title of Hero of the People's Armed Forces.

Youth Union members of Vinh city pay tribute to heroic martyrs at the city's martyrs cemetery. Photo: Archive

Most localities in the province have built martyrs' cemeteries or memorials. Historical sites such as Truong Bon, Dong Loc T-junction, and Cam Bridge have been proposed for recognition and restoration, and built into historical relics. The Vietnam-Laos International Martyrs' Cemetery gathers nearly 11,000 remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who sacrificed their lives to help Laos. In addition, there is also a cemetery for Nghe An martyrs at Truong Son Cemetery and Road 9 Cemetery in Quang Tri Province. Facilities for nursing and caring for seriously ill and mentally ill soldiers, elderly and lonely relatives of martyrs have been built and operated to show gratitude to those who have contributed to the country, all with the participation and great contributions of cadres, workers and employees of the Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs sector.

Constantly striving and creating

During the renovation period, the labor sector has gradually joined hands with local departments, agencies and sectors to implement new goals and tasks, while also implementing well the regime and policies for people with meritorious services and social work. Currently, the sector is managing and implementing the regime for nearly 71,000 wounded and sick soldiers and people with meritorious services to the revolution, paying an average of 120 billion VND per month.

Since 1992, more than 8,488 houses of gratitude have been built, 14,399 houses have been repaired and upgraded, and 64,419 savings books have been donated with a total amount of more than 195 billion VND. Over 92% of policy households have a standard of living equal to or higher than the average level of local residents; 100% of Vietnamese Heroic Mothers who are still alive are cared for and supported for life by agencies inside and outside the province; hundreds of war invalids, seriously ill soldiers, war invalids, mentally ill soldiers, single relatives of martyrs, the elderly, the homeless, orphans, disabled and abandoned children are cared for and raised in a centralized manner.

State management of social protection, child protection and care, gender equality and activities for women's advancement are increasingly in-depth, of high quality, creating a widespread impact in the community. The work of preventing and combating social evils, especially drug addiction treatment, has been strengthened, contributing to stabilizing the political situation, security and order in the province.

Visiting teaching aid models at the Provincial Skills Competition. Photo: Vu Trung Hau

Along with that, vocational training and employment policies have been well implemented. The system of vocational training facilities for workers has developed in both scale and quality, with an average of 70,000 people trained annually, raising the rate of trained workers in 2019 to 63%, of which the rate of trained workers reached 58.1%. Every year, over 35,000 workers are employed, of which 13,000 are exported. The poverty rate has decreased from 12.1% in 2015 to 4.11% in 2019. In recent times, the industry has also well implemented policies to support people facing difficulties due to the Covid-19 pandemic according to Government regulations.

Consulting and introducing jobs for workers in Quy Hop district. Photo: Vu Trung Hau

Over the past 75 years, with its contributions, the Nghe An Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs has been awarded the Second and Third Class Independence Medals by the Party and the State; the First, Second and Third Class Labor Medals and many Excellent Emulation Flags by the Government. Units under the Department and hundreds of cadres, civil servants and public employees in the department have been awarded the Labor Medal by the President; Certificates of Merit by the Prime Minister, the Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee and Medals and Commemorative Medals for the Cause of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs.

The great honor continues to come to the Nghe An Department of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs. In 2015, the President awarded the First Class Labor Medal for the second time. In 2019, the Government awarded the Excellent Emulation Flag. For many consecutive years, it has always been the leading flag of the Department of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs nationwide.

Many generations of cadres have promoted their roles, capacities and intelligence to bring the industry forward and develop continuously. Since then, many cadres over the years have been awarded many Orders, Medals and Certificates of Merit by the President and Minister.

To promote the achievements gained in the 75-year journey of construction and development, in the coming years, the Department of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs will continuously strive to reap comprehensive achievements in labor work, care for people with meritorious services and ensure social security. Thereby, contributing to socio-economic development, maintaining security, national defense and stabilizing social order.

Many workers in Nghe An have stable jobs after vocational training. Photo courtesy of PV

In the 5-year development plan (from 2021 - 2025), the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs is focusing on implementing tasks with important goals and tasks. With the target of creating jobs for 190.13 thousand people, in the total number of people with new jobs, the proportion of workers working in the industry, construction, and service sectors will increase and the proportion of workers working in the agriculture, forestry and fishery sectors will decrease.

The rate of trained workers in the total number of workers working in the economy strives to reach an average of 66.12% in the 2021 - 2025 period. The unemployment rate in urban areas in the 2021 - 2025 period remains at an average of 2.5%; Enrollment and training for 320,000 people, of which college and intermediate level: 65,400 people. Increase the rate of trained workers to 71.5% by 2025 (68% vocational training). Regarding the poverty reduction target, it is expected that in 5 years, the number of poor households according to the poverty standard for the 2021 - 2025 period will be reduced by about 2/3; Strive for 100% of communes, wards and towns in the province to do a good job of war invalids, martyrs and people with meritorious services every year; By 2025, 100% of families of meritorious people will have a standard of living equal to or higher than the average standard of living of local residents.

Continuing the 75-year tradition, entering a new phase, the tasks of the sector are extremely heavy and full of challenges, but with determination and new confidence, all cadres, civil servants, public employees, and workers of the Labour - Invalids and Social Affairs sector vow to continue to practice, strive to study, set an example, and follow the ideology, morality, and style of President Ho Chi Minh, with the determination that no matter how difficult it is, we will strive, practice, study, be dedicated, energetic, creative, and united, to successfully complete the tasks assigned by the Party and the people.