Two H’mong ethnic minority women in the northern mountainous province of Lào Cai’s Bắc Hà District. A new report on social mobility and equality shows that ethnic minority groups are still trailing behind the majority Kinh ethnic group in access to skill learning and subsequently better employment. — VNS Photo Việt Thanh Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI – Though Việt Nam’s economy has grown rapidly over the last decade, social mobility is lagging as the country’s poor still lack access to learn new skills and gain better jobs. A new report "Social Mobility and Equality of Opportunity in Việt Nam: Trends and Impact factors” launched by Oxfam on Thursday highlighted the problem and the threat it poses to the country’s sustainable growth. The report consolidates data from the Việt Nam Household Living Standards Survey 2004 -14 and interviews with about 700 people over the last two years in three provinces of Lào Cai, Nghệ An and Đắk Nông in the north, central and Central Highland regions, … [Read more...] about Việt Nam social mobility slowing: report
Social services anonymous reports
Female entrepreneurs successful in business on social media platforms: report
Female entrepreneurs successful in business on social media platforms: report By Chi Thinh The infographic summarizes the survey results on women entrepreneurs conducting online businesses. Up to 81% of female entrepreneurs surveyed have run successful businesses on social media platforms – PHOTO: COURTESY OF FACEBOOK HCMC – Up to 81% of surveyed businesswomen noted that social media platforms have significantly supported their online businesses, according to the recently launched “Future of Business Survey” by Facebook on the occasion of International Women’s Day. The report reveals that 39% of respondents who are owners or partners of small businesses on Facebook are female. In Vietnam, almost eight out of 10 female entrepreneurs operating on Facebook responded that online tools have supported their wide-ranging business activities, including advertising, providing information, communicating, selling products and accepting payments. Aside from the positive … [Read more...] about Female entrepreneurs successful in business on social media platforms: report
Quảng Ninh temporarily stops licensing karaoke services
A fire fighting drill is conducted at Karaoke Phantom in Hạ Long City, Quảng Ninh Province. The province has temporarily stopped granting new licences for the entertainment service. — VNA/VNS Photo www.qtv.vn Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — The northern province of Quảng Ninh will temporarily suspend the licensing of karaoke and discotheque services throughout the province to complete planning for these activities. The information was released in a newly-issued document by the provincial People’s Committee on fortifying State management, ensuring social order and security and fire prevention and safety, and preventing social evils related to karaoke and discotheque services in the locality, Vietnam News Agency reported on Thursday. Accordingly, local departments of culture and sports and people’s committees of districts, towns and cities are required to not grant licences for karaoke and discotheque activities. Chairpersons of the People’s Committees … [Read more...] about Quảng Ninh temporarily stops licensing karaoke services
Include material, spiritual support in social assistance: experts
Children at the SOS Children’s Village orphanage in Hà Nội learn to play football. — VNA/VNS Photo Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — Models of social assistance need to be diversified and require comprehensive collaboration between the State, society and citizens, a Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) official said. The statement was made on Monday at an international conference on increasing the participation of society in supporting vulnerable groups, held in Hà Nội on October 23-24. With the participation of representatives from MOLISA, development foundations, women’s and children’s associations, and international non-governmental organisations, the conference aims to share and discuss experiences while providing support to vulnerable groups in Việt Nam. The number of vulnerable citizens is increasing as a result of the country’s processes of industrialisation and urbanisation being under the influence of the market economy, Đồng Huy Cương, … [Read more...] about Include material, spiritual support in social assistance: experts
Compulsory social insurance for expats to go ahead despite firms’ concerns
A lot of foreigners work as English language teachers in Việt Nam. — VNS Photo Trương Vị Viet Nam News Thu Hà – Mai Hiên HÀ NỘI — A controversial rule requiring foreign workers in Việt Nam to make social insurance payments is likely to be put into practice soon, several months after the Government’s issuance of a decree to implement the new provision of the Law on Social Insurance 2014, which came into effect on January 1 this year. The chorus of varied and strong opinions from the business community and related ministries and sectors has delayed the issuance. However, Trần Hải Nam , deputy head of the Department for Social Insurance under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA), said a draft decree had been sent to the Government, after getting the nod from the National Assembly Standing Committee in mid-March. Nam said the draft is expected to be ratified in about a month. The draft decree is expected to narrow the number of … [Read more...] about Compulsory social insurance for expats to go ahead despite firms’ concerns
Urban poverty poses serious threat to growth: WB report
Migrant workers work at night at the Long Biên Wholesale Market in Hà Nội. The urban poor face big difficulties in accessing jobs, affordable housing and other services. They are also more at risk when storms hit, because they usually live in flood-prone areas. — VNA/VNS Photo Vũ Sinh Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI — Many countries in the East Asia and Pacific region face the threat of social divisions that could hurt efforts to reduce poverty, according to a World Bank report released yesterday. It says that the threat applies to countries of middle-income status in particular. The countries are a critical juncture in their urbanisation and growth process where potential social divisions in cities could harm prospects for future poverty reduction, the report says. Titled “Expanding Opportunities for the Urban Poor,” the report says urbanisation in the region has created enormous opportunities for many, but the rapid growth of cities has also created challenges including the lack … [Read more...] about Urban poverty poses serious threat to growth: WB report
Social work proves vital to HCMC’s poorest
Children play at Tam Bình Centre for Children’s Nourishment and Protection in HCM City’s Thủ Đức District. VNS Photo Gia Lộc Viet Nam News Gia Lộc HCM CITY — Hydrocephalus, a brain condition that can cause loss of mental and physical ability if left untreated, has not prevented a 10-year-old boy from playing football at a field in HCM City’s Bình Thạnh District. The boy’s persistence can be attributed to the enthusiastic care and treatment from social workers who work at the shelter where the boy has lived since he was a baby. He is one of more than 51,100 disadvantaged children benefiting from the city’s project on social work development for the 2011-2015 period. Speaking at a conference this week reviewing the project, Lê Chu Giang, head of the Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs’ social welfare division, said social work services were offered at shelters, social welfare centres, hospitals and schools. The c ity is designated as a “special … [Read more...] about Social work proves vital to HCMC’s poorest
750,000 Hà Nội workers affected by social insurance debt
Photo for illustration. – Photo vov.vn Viet Nam News HÀ NỘI – Hà Nội Social Insurance may not be able to reduce social insurance debt to 4.04 per cent by the end of 2017. Remaining social insurance debt until the end of November was more than VN Đ 2,800 billion (US$120 million), accounting for 8.47 per cent of the debt collection plan, Dân trí newspaper reported. Hà Nội owes the highest debt, directly affecting the rights of more than 750,000 workers. The information was released by Đàm Thị Hoà, deputy director of Hà Nội Social Insurance, at a conference on December 7. The main reason, according to Hà Nội Social Insurance, is the legal gap in proceedings related to social insurance debt cases. Litigation against enterprises having social insurance debts still faces obstacles. From January 2016 to November 2017, social insurance agencies transferred dossiers of 492 debt-owing enterprises to the Labour Union, asking them to sue these … [Read more...] about 750,000 Hà Nội workers affected by social insurance debt
UN offers global approach to social-protection system
Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung (right) receives former Chilean President and Chair of the UN Social Protection Floor Advisory Group Michelle Bachelet. — VNA/VNS Photo Thai Binh HA NOI — Viet Nam, through its development strategy, planned to boost economic development while ensuring social equality and environmental protection. The statement was made by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung at a reception for Michelle Bachelet, former Chilean President and Chair of the UN Social Protection Floor Advisory Group in Ha Noi yesterday. According to the PM, together with economic development programmes,Viet Nam was also implementing 40 social security programmes. Thanks to its sustainable development strategy, Viet Nam has maintained its growth rate of nearly 7 per cent during the 2006-10 period despite the impacts of the global economic crisis, he said. However, Dung noted that Viet Nam remained a low-income, developing country, so investment in education and healthcare as well as … [Read more...] about UN offers global approach to social-protection system
Social insurance sector says it slashed red tape
The administrative reform, simplifying procedures and accelerating the application electronic transactions have significantly helped businesses to reduce time and costs. — VNS Photo Xuân Hương Viet Nam News HCM CITY — The social insurance sector has made significant improvement in administrative procedures reform after four years implementing the Government Resolution 19/ NQ-CP on improving the business environment, delegates told a seminar in HCM City on September 28. Đào Việt Ánh, deputy general director of Việt Nam Social Security, said the administrative procedures were reduced by 75 per cent from 114 in 2013 to 28 now. That was thanks to the application of information technology as well as electronic transactions for both organisations and individuals in all areas involved in the sector, he said. At present, the sector’s IT system has connected with over 12,000 medical facilities and performs electronic surveillance. Nguyễn Minh Thảo from the Central I nstitute … [Read more...] about Social insurance sector says it slashed red tape