Focus on creating jobs for workers.

(Baonghean) - Thanks to the dynamism of the government and the people, in recent years, the work of creating jobs for workers in Nghi Loc district has achieved remarkable results. This is an important factor in improving the lives of the people and contributing to the socio-economic development of the locality.

Workers at the fertilizer factory belonging to Nghe An Agricultural Materials Corporation, located in Nam Cam Industrial Park - Nghi Loc.

Nghi Loc district possesses many favorable conditions for socio-economic development. Its proximity to Vinh City – the political, economic, and social center of the province – coupled with abundant land resources, a large labor force, and a convenient transportation system, has attracted many large and promising investment projects. These are crucial factors enabling Nghi Loc to develop strongly and achieve significant results in various fields. However, these advantages are accompanied by considerable challenges for the locality. The high rate of urbanization and the expansion of industrial and economic zones will lead to a shrinking of agricultural land and unemployment for many farmers. Meanwhile, the local workforce does not yet meet the demand.

However, looking back at recent years, it can be seen that Nghi Loc's efforts in creating jobs for workers have achieved many encouraging results. To date, the total number of people of working age in the district is approximately 103,000. Of these, about 80-82% have regular employment. Why has Nghi Loc achieved such impressive figures? First, it must be affirmed that this is due to the numerous businesses and projects implemented and put into operation in the district, which have created jobs for a significant workforce. Currently, there are more than 200 businesses in the district, including many large projects such as the BSE Electronics Factory and the Tien Phong Plastic Factory, providing employment for over 3,000 workers. And in the near future, many projects are expected to attract investment, such as the Masan Food Industry Center, the Hoa Sen Nghe An Steel Sheet Factory, and the Royalfoods Thailand project, promising to create jobs for thousands more local workers.

To meet the needs of businesses, the district has focused on promoting vocational training using various funding sources to give people opportunities to find new jobs. However, most workers, after completing their training, face unstable incomes and difficulty finding new opportunities, thus unable to apply their acquired knowledge. Facing this problem, the district has directly worked with large companies such as Samsung and Canon to discuss labor supply. Samsung Electronics has directly recruited workers, and to date, approximately 400 workers have been hired. In addition, district leaders have contacted Dung Quat College of Technology and several businesses in the Dung Quat Economic Zone (Quang Ngai) to discuss labor training linked to job placement. Discussing this issue, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Viet, Deputy Head of the Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs Department of the district, said: "This is a great opportunity for local youth to receive vocational training and, after graduation, will be hired by businesses with suitable salaries."

A highlight in job creation for workers in the district is the labor export movement. Currently, the total number of workers from the district who have gone abroad is nearly 5,000. To mobilize, disseminate information, and guide the people, the district has coordinated with relevant agencies and labor supply enterprises to organize 19 consultation conferences in the communes. As a result, many workers have received complete and official information to choose the right path, suitable to their conditions, abilities, and skill levels. Almost every locality has people working abroad, but they are mainly concentrated in the communes of Nghi Tien, Nghi Quang, Nghi Xuan, Phuc Tho, Nghi Van, etc. Mr. Le Xuan Loi, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Phuc Tho commune, said: "In the commune's economic development orientation, overseas labor export is a key and important direction. Currently, the entire commune has 776 workers working abroad in 11 countries. More than 10 years ago, Phuc Tho was known as a poor commune, but now it is among the top communes in Nghi Loc district. The average income of the people is currently 24.9 million VND/year."

With capital obtained from overseas labor export, people in the district are actively establishing businesses, expanding production, trade, and commerce in diverse forms, creating jobs for thousands of workers. In Nghi Xuan commune, many workers who went abroad for work have returned and invested their capital and experience from overseas into production and business in their hometown. Currently, the commune has 30 established businesses, 400 service businesses, and 10 seafood exploitation cooperatives. As a result, the employment rate in the commune has reached 90%, the average per capita income has reached 24.5 million VND, and the poverty rate has decreased to 3.9%. Mr. Pham Ngoc Duyen, Secretary of the Nghi Xuan Commune Party Committee, said: “It can be said that overseas labor export is the foundation and basis for the development of small-scale industries, trade, and services, and the lives of the people are constantly improving. In the new rural development program, in addition to voluntarily donating land and labor, people throughout the commune have contributed 23.5 billion VND to build infrastructure, transportation, and irrigation systems, enabling the commune to achieve 19 out of 19 new rural development criteria.”

Over the years, the district has also focused on promoting the development of traditional craft villages to increase production value and create jobs for workers. Many craft villages have established brands and are increasingly developing, such as the export-oriented rattan and bamboo weaving villages in Nghi Phong and Nghi Thai, the sticky rice cake village in Nghi Trung, and the shipbuilding village in Trung Kien (Nghi Thiet). Currently, there are 22 small-scale handicraft villages in the district recognized by the Provincial People's Committee. The development of these craft villages has contributed to creating jobs for nearly 4,000 rural workers, creating a shift in the economic and labor structure.

It can be affirmed that Nghi Loc district has focused on promoting employment for laborers through various solutions and has achieved high results, not only helping to increase income and improve the lives of people but also contributing to the shift in labor structure and socio-economic development of the locality. However, alongside the achievements, there are still shortcomings and difficulties such as the low skill level and capacity of laborers, passive mentality, lack of boldness to strive for wealth, and limited vocational training... which pose significant challenges for the locality. Therefore, to address this issue, the district needs a comprehensive solution to improve the cultural and vocational skills of rural laborers; develop a system of on-site vocational training facilities; strengthen linkages and socialize vocational training; and connect businesses, employers, and vocational training institutions. Promote economic restructuring in accordance with each region, strengthen information dissemination and job placement services, and provide guidance to workers to help them find stable employment.

Nguyen Hung