The issue of clean water and rural waste management is a hot topic.

On the morning of July 10th, the 21st session of the 18th Provincial People's Council, term 2021-2026, held discussions in groups. Participating in the discussion in Group 2 were provincial People's Council delegates elected from the districts of Nam Dan, Dien Chau, Nghi Loc, Quynh Luu, and Hoang Mai town.

Attending the discussion session of Group 2 were members of the Provincial Party Standing Committee: Le Duc Cuong - Head of the Provincial Party Organization Department; Ho Le Ngoc - Head of the Provincial Party Internal Affairs Department. Also in attendance were leaders from relevant departments, agencies, and localities. Delegate Ho Sy Nguyet - Vice Chairman of the People's Council of Quynh Luu District, chaired the discussion session.

Addressing the issues of clean water and waste management in rural areas.

The issues of constructing clean water plants and sorting and processing waste to protect the rural environment were "hot" topics that delegates from Group 2 focused on discussing.

According to delegate Nguyen Thi Quynh Hoa - President of the Provincial Women's Union (delegate from Quynh Luu district), investing in waste treatment and providing clean water to rural areas is a matter of great concern to voters, who hope the province will have a comprehensive solution for providing clean water to rural residents.

"I propose that the Provincial People's Committee study the decentralization of authority for the construction of waste treatment plants to local authorities. In reality, it is very difficult for districts to concentrate on building plants and attracting water treatment plants, as well as waste treatment plants. This is a major task in building new rural areas, so the province needs to study and find specific solutions to this problem," suggested delegate Nguyen Thi Quynh Hoa.

Sharing concerns about the lack of clean water treatment plants in rural areas, Mr. Tang Van Luyen, Chairman of the People's Committee of Dien Chau District, said that Dien Chau District has planned land for investment in a clean water treatment plant project in Dien Truong commune to provide clean water for residents of 8 communes in the northern part of Dien Chau District. The district has also given opinions and surveyed the needs and location for the construction of the water treatment plant.

However, the project is facing obstacles. The representative requested that the Provincial People's Committee and relevant departments promptly study solutions to accelerate the investment and construction progress, ensuring that clean water is brought to people in rural areas, including Dien Chau district.

Regarding this matter, Mr. Hoang Van Bo, Chairman of the People's Committee of Quynh Luu District, stated that according to new regulations effective from January 1, 2025, the State mandates waste sorting at source. However, in reality, the current waste sorting system and treatment infrastructure still have many shortcomings, requiring solutions for waste sorting and treatment.

"A clearer solution is needed for waste sorting because legal regulations require it to be mandatory, while the processing infrastructure is still inadequate, public awareness is low, and waste collection fees are very low, making it impossible to balance the operation of waste treatment plants. Therefore, I propose that the province pay attention and have a clearer solution in the regulations on waste sorting, processing, and collection," the Chairman of the People's Committee of Quynh Luu District suggested.

Finding solutions to attract labor for businesses.

Delegate Ha Xuan Quang - Secretary of the Dien Chau District Party Committee - expressed his concern: The labor market and the shortage of labor in businesses are issues of great public concern.

According to delegate Ha Xuan Quang, the general situation in the province, and Dien Chau district in particular, is that a large number of local workers are currently working outside the province. Meanwhile, the demand for labor from companies and corporations in Nghe An, both currently and in the future, is very high.

It is predicted that in the near future, when industrial parks, industrial clusters, and the Southeast Economic Zone are cleared and handed over for the VSIP 2 project, which covers an area of ​​approximately 500 hectares, they will attract a large number of workers.

According to delegate Ha Xuan Quang, there is indeed a labor market conflict, especially after the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly in garment factories in the province, including Dien Chau district.

"The question is, what solutions do we have to improve vocational training for workers, because currently, companies and businesses are recruiting highly skilled labor? This is an issue that local departments, agencies, and the Provincial People's Committee need to address," the delegate proposed.

Clarifying the content of the delegate's proposal, Ms. Vy Ngoc Quynh, Deputy Director of the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, stated: Currently, many large enterprises are investing in Nghe An, creating a high demand for labor. In the first six months of 2024, the demand for labor recruitment by enterprises in the province was 45,000 people, of which 36,000 were recruited by enterprises within the province. In the first six months of 2024, enterprises in the province only recruited about 50% of their labor needs.

"We have a labor force, but recruitment is difficult because workers tend to seek higher-paying jobs. Currently, many markets are opening up, offering higher incomes than within the province. Workers will flock to places with high incomes, good working environments, benefits, and safe working conditions," explained Comrade Vy Ngoc Quynh Quynh.

Discussing solutions to improve the quality of labor training, Comrade Vy Ngoc Quynh stated: Currently, there are 54 vocational training institutions in the province, training 65,000 workers annually. To improve the quality of vocational training, the Central Government has mechanisms and policies, the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee has Project No. 14-DA/TU dated January 25, 2022, of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee on training and developing skilled human resources in Nghe An province for the period 2021-2025, with orientation to 2030, and the Provincial People's Council has Resolution 32.

Regarding the difficulties in recruiting labor for businesses, in July 2024, the People's Committee of Nghe An province held a meeting to address the labor shortage for businesses.

"The Department of Labor and related sectors have repeatedly recommended that businesses pay more attention to the basic wage and social welfare for workers. The Department of Labor will continue to coordinate with the Management Board of the Southeast Economic Zone to work specifically with each enterprise to find solutions to attract labor, especially solutions to attract 7,000 Nghe An workers currently working in other provinces and cities nationwide to return to work in the locality," added Comrade Vy Ngoc Quynh.

In addition, delegates discussed issues related to slow disbursement of national target programs, policies on traditional crafts, and delays in the supply of cement for new rural construction, etc.