Need to raise awareness of social security goals and strategies

Comrade Le Minh Thong - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee chaired the bridge at the Provincial People's Committee. Participating in the online conference were representatives of the Provincial People's Council, departments, branches and 21 bridges from 21 districts, cities and towns. Photo: Thanh Nga

Creating jobs for more than 37,500 workers

According to the report presented at the conference, last year, the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs implemented synchronous solutions to enhance job creation and promote labor export. The whole province created jobs for more than 37,500 workers, reaching 100.1% of the plan, of which more than 13,600 workers were exported, reaching 100.5% of the plan.

Teaching sewing to mountainous students at Con Cuong Ethnic Minority Secondary School. Photo: Thanh Nga

To achieve job creation results that meet and exceed the plan, according to the representative of the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, vocational training is highly focused on by the department and industry. Last year, the industry recruited and trained more than 72,000 people, reaching 100% of the plan; raising the rate of workers receiving vocational training to 55.5%.

However, many opinions say that after vocational training, some rural workers do not have stable jobs and have low incomes. Some vocational schools lack facilities; the team of technical teachers and good experts in vocational education is not enough.

In addition, the propaganda work for workers whose contracts have expired in Korea to return home is still ineffective; the rate of illegal workers residing in Korea is still high (currently 2,300 workers). Many opinions hope that the Department will consult with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to reach agreements with the host country in issuing strong enough sanctions to bring workers back home on time.

There are still 9,500 poor households in special difficulty.

Representatives of the People's Mobilization Committee of Con Cuong District Party Committee visited and encouraged Mr. La Van Bang, Dan Lai ethnic group. Photo: Archive

According to the industry's report, the implementation of poverty reduction support policies and support regimes for poor households has been made efforts by all levels and sectors to complete the set goals. Through the fund mobilization programs for the poor, Tet for the poor has mobilized 132.5 billion VND, in which agencies and units continue to support and help poor communes in the West, with a total budget of more than 47.7 billion VND. It is estimated that by the end of 2018, the poverty rate in the whole province will decrease to 5.54%.

The issue most mentioned at the conference was the issue of sustainable poverty reduction that has not achieved the expected results, despite the joint efforts of the whole society. Mr. Dang Cao Thang - Deputy Director of the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs said: Currently, the rate of poverty reduction is getting slower and slower, the number of extremely poor households in the province is still high with 9,500 households, mainly due to the impact of storm No. 3, circulation No. 4 in 2018, causing severe damage to the western region of Nghe An.

Also at the conference, delegates at all ends agreed with the goals and targets in the report. Strive to reduce the poverty rate of the whole province to 4% by the end of 2019; districts with high poverty rates: Ky Son, Tuong Duong, Que Phong, Quy Chau and communes with poverty rates over 30% have a reduction of 4% - 5% compared to the beginning of the year. Comrade Doan Hong Vu - Director of the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs requested the districts to quickly review the number of poor households, complete in December, ensure the substance and correct subjects.

Revoking benefits for war invalids who receive them incorrectly is still difficult.

Also in the past year, the management and payment of benefits for people with revolutionary contributions were complete and timely, with an amount of nearly 122.68 billion VND/month for more than 75,000 people with revolutionary contributions. The Gratitude Movement was widely socialized, the whole province mobilized more than 18 billion VND for the Gratitude Fund.

Last year, the Department and branches also focused on directing and urging the review and supplementation of records of resistance fighters and their children infected with toxic chemicals; and supporting people with meritorious services in difficult housing conditions according to Decision No. 22/2013/QD-TTg dated April 26, 2013 of the Prime Minister.

The housing support policy for meritorious people cannot be fully implemented in 2018. In the photo: Mr. Ho Van Hoat's house in Hamlet 8, Quynh Van Commune (Quynh Luu) has seriously degraded but there is not enough funding to build it this year. Photo: Thanh Nga

However, Director of the Department Doan Hong Vu also pointed out some difficulties such as: Currently, the work of collecting back the beneficiaries of the wrong war invalid regime is facing difficulties. Localities and departments and branches have had dialogues with the beneficiaries and they all admitted that their records were incorrect, however, the collection is not easy because the beneficiaries are old and sick. Besides, many beneficiaries affirmed that although their records are not up to standard, they are "real people with real jobs". Therefore, the Department and branches have asked for the Ministry's opinion and have received instructions that if the beneficiaries are poor households or are suffering from serious illnesses, they are exempt from collecting back the benefits.

At the same time, districts also need to strengthen guidance and support in finding original documents for those who want to restore their records, to avoid loss of honor and benefits for wounded soldiers.

The Director of the Department also requested that districts strengthen the screening of subjects infected with toxic chemicals, ensuring the roadmap and targets set by the Ministry. Focus on screening, comparing, and supplementing records for the remaining wounded soldiers.

Comrade Le Minh Thong concluded at the conference. Photo: Thanh Nga

Concluding the conference, comrade Le Minh Thong affirmed: Last year, the Department has strengthened coordination with departments, branches and localities to fully implement and successfully complete the goals and targets of the year. He suggested that in the coming time, the Department should continue to promote propaganda work, raise awareness for all levels, branches and people about the strategic social security goals of our Party and State in the current period.

Implement targets and tasks well, especially in sensitive areas; resolve backlog of applications for confirmation of people with revolutionary contributions; provide vocational training to meet labor market requirements; repatriate illegal workers in Korea...

In the coming time, the Department and branches need to strengthen foreign relations to attract investment resources for the sectors of the sector; strengthen coordination in leadership and direction of provincial departments, branches, sectors and unions to create consensus in implementing tasks and targets in the field of social security.

Thanh Nga