Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs: Focusing on ensuring social security and employment.

(Baonghean) - The Party Committee of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs currently has 15 branches, with a total of 124 Party members, operating in 9 branches belonging to the specialized departments of the Department's Office and 6 branches in affiliated units. During the 2010-2015 term, the Party Committee focused on leading cadres, Party members, civil servants, and public employees to uphold responsibility, proactively and creatively research and thoroughly understand the Party's guidelines and resolutions, the State's policies and laws, and the practical situation of the province to effectively fulfill its advisory function while improving the effectiveness and efficiency of state management in the fields of labor, policy, and social affairs.

Notably, the department promptly advised the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Council, and the Provincial People's Committee on the issuance of directives, resolutions, plans, and especially four projects: "Training of technical workers in the period 2011-2015, with consideration to 2020", "Promoting the socialization of vocational training until 2015, with consideration to 2020", "Assisting people with disabilities in Nghe An province in the period 2013-2020", and "Poverty reduction and improvement of living standards for people in the western and coastal areas of Nghe An until 2020". The quality of the advisory documents was highly appreciated by the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Council, the Provincial People's Committee, and relevant departments. In addition, the department promoted the dissemination and public disclosure of new regulations and policies, providing specific guidance on policies, programs, and projects within its field to the grassroots level. Emphasis was placed on training and improving the skills of grassroots officials, directing the development of models, and closely monitoring and resolving difficulties at the grassroots level. As a result, the Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs work during the past term mobilized the combined strength of the entire society, and all targets and tasks set forth in the Resolution of the Department's Party Congress for the 2010-2015 term were achieved and exceeded.

Practical training in mechanical engineering at the North Nghe An Economic and Technical Vocational College. Photo: Minh Quan

Over the four years (2011-2014), 141,800 jobs were created, including 51,042 through labor export. During the period from 2011 to 2015, the number of people whose jobs were created is estimated at 178,300, averaging 35,660 jobs per year, achieving the target set by the Party Congress Resolution (an average of 35,000-40,000 jobs created annually).

Regarding poverty reduction efforts, while 22.89% of households in the province were still poor at the end of 2010, by the end of 2014 the poverty rate had decreased to 10.28%, an average reduction of 3.15% per year (the resolution's target was 2.0%/year).

Regarding vocational training, the period from 2011 to 2014 and the estimated figure for 2015 reached 405,417 people (achieving 101.35% of the plan for the 2011-2015 period), increasing the percentage of trained workers from 40% in 2010 to 52% in 2014, and reaching 55% by the end of 2015 (ensuring the target set by the Congress Resolution). Policies and benefits for war veterans and social welfare beneficiaries were fully implemented, with timely and accurate payments to eligible recipients. Child protection and care, state management of gender equality, and activities for the advancement of women became increasingly in-depth and effective; the prevention and control of social evils continued to be strengthened.

During its term, the Party Committee also focused on leading and promoting administrative reform, notably advising the Provincial People's Committee to issue a document delegating the authority to the Chairman of the Commune People's Committee to sign certificates of poverty instead of the Director of the Department as before; innovating working methods and maintaining the effective operation of the reception and results delivery department under the "One-Stop Shop" mechanism; and implementing the use of official email accounts as required by the Provincial People's Committee and the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs. The work of receiving citizens and resolving complaints and denunciations was carried out seriously and in accordance with procedures and regulations.

In Party building work, the Party Committee led the review and reorganization of Party branches, consolidating the team of Party committee members and branch secretaries to suit the requirements of practical tasks; truly promoting democracy and intelligence, especially in the discussion of Party committee and branch affairs. Annual evaluation results show that most Party branches consistently achieved the title of "clean and strong" (in 2013, 95% of Party branches achieved this title), 100% of Party members completed their tasks well (except for one Party member who violated discipline in 2014), with 20% of Party members being qualified and completing their tasks excellently. The Party Committee achieved the title of "clean and strong" for four years (2010, 2011, 2012, 2014), and in 2013 achieved the title of "Party Committee that completed its tasks well".

Leaders of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs present gifts to children with disabilities.

The agency performed well in building its organization. During the term, it was rated as having excellently completed its tasks for four years (2010, 2011, 2012, 2014), and as having well completed its tasks in 2013. It was awarded a Government Flag in 2011, a Certificate of Merit in 2012, and for four consecutive years (2010, 2012, 2013, 2014) received the excellent emulation flag from the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs.

Entering the 2015-2020 term, the Party Committee of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs continues to enhance the leadership capacity and fighting strength of the Party committee and branches, while improving the quality of cadres, Party members, civil servants, and public employees. It focuses on leading efforts to improve the quality of advice provided to the province in issuing mechanisms and policies; and directing the effective implementation of the sector's political tasks. The goal is to achieve and surpass the following key targets: Maintaining a clean and strong Party committee (including 1-2 years of outstanding performance); 100% of Party branches are rated as having completed their tasks well or better, with over 70% achieving the clean and strong rating, and no weak Party branches; 80% or more of Party members are qualified and have completed their tasks well, with 15% of qualified Party members having completed their tasks excellently, and no Party members violating their qualifications; and training and admitting 25-30 outstanding individuals into the Party. 3-5 collectives and 4-5 exemplary cadres and Party members in implementing the "Studying and Following the Moral Example of Ho Chi Minh" campaign...

Regarding leadership in carrying out professional tasks, focus on employment and social security issues, striving to create jobs for an average of 35,000-37,000 workers annually (including 11,000-13,000 through labor export); providing vocational training to 79,000-80,000 people each year to reach a trained workforce rate of 61% by 2020; reducing the poverty rate by 2.5% to 3.0% annually; and promptly implementing policies and regulations for those who have contributed to the revolution and social welfare beneficiaries.

Nguyen Bang Toan

(Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Director of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs)