Employment opportunities for Vietnamese students in UK

A seminar titled “Prospect V 2013” has been held at Cass Business School in London to support students in advancing their future careers.

The event was co-organized by the Vietnam Professionals (VietPro) in the UK and Vietnam Talent Corporation (VTCorp)

Before the opening ceremony, Vietnamese young intellectuals and their British friends observed a minute of silence in tribute to General Vo Nguyen Giap.

Nguyen Ngoc Anh, head of the Prospect V 2013 organizing board said that VietPro aims to help Vietnamese students abroad to perfect their “soft” skills such as communications skills to seek stable jobs in the UK after graduation.

Trinh Thi Van Anh, Director of VTCorp in Hanoi said that the company has signed a one-year agreement to establish partnership with VietPro to co-odinate in supporting Vietnamese students in the UK.

Anh expressed hope that the event will also be held in other cities of the UK to help students access employment opportunities and build a strong Vietnamese student community in the UK.

Son La hydro-power plant wins Asian Power Awards

The Son La Hydroelectric Power Plant has won three prizes at the Asian Power Awards 2013 in Thailand, dubbed the “Oscars” of the power industry, according to the Vietnam Electricity Group (EVN).

The plant, based in the northwestern province of Son La, achieved a gold award titled the Fast-Track Power Plant of the Year and two other prizes - Hydro Power Project of the Year and the Power Utility of the Year.

The work was also voted as one of the country’s ten outstanding science and technology events of 2012 by the Vietnam Science and Technology Journalists’ Club.

In addition to the Son La Hydroelectric Power Plant, Vietnam’s Mong Duong coal-fired power plant also received two bronze awards in the Coal Power Project of the Year and the Fast-Track Power Plant of the Year categories.

This year’s awards attracted the participation of 34 Asian power utilities during which 22 prizes were presented.

The 2013 Asian Power Awards, held every year since 2005, aims to honour the region’s leading power companies for exceptional initiatives and projects in the power sector.

With a total investment of VND60 trillion (approximately US$2.85 billion), the Son La Hydroelectric Power Plant was officially put into operation last December, after seven years of construction, three years earlier than scheduled.

It has six turbines with a total capacity of 2,600 MW and will provide the national grid with over 10 billion kWh of electricity each year.

Sapa feels the chill in mid autumn

The weakening cold spell caused the temperature in the northern highland resort town of Sapa in Lao Cai province to drop to 10 degrees Celsius on October 13.

Other localities in Lao Cai province, including Pho Rang town and Bac Ha Mountain, also recorded low temperatures ranging from 15-20 degrees Celsius.

This is the second time Sapa’s temperature has decreased to 10 degrees Celsius since the beginning of autumn 2013, according to local meteorologists.

On September 29, a small cold spell struck Lao Cai, causing the temperature in Sapa to fall to 10.2 degrees Celsius.

A strong cold spell is expected to hit northern Vietnam, including Lao Cai province, on October 15.   

Meteorologists warned this year’s winter is likely to come 30 to 45 days earlier than usual.

Coastal localities brace for new tropical storm

Coastal provinces are bracing themselves for tropical storm Nari, the 11th storm to hit Vietnam this year.

Thousands of fishing vessels have been directed to seek safe harbor, with the storm forecast hit the central coastal provinces of Quang Tri and Quang Ngai on October 15, according to the National Steering Committee for Flood Prevention and Control.

The central province of Nghe An has been spreading information among the public while inspecting areas vulnerable to landslides.

The province’s rescue forces and facilities are scheduled to stand ready for action on October 14.

Meanwhile, the central province of Ha Tinh mobilized about 1,000 people, including army soldiers, public security forces, border guards and locals to build sea dykes through Thach Kim commune.

According to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorlogical Forecasting, by 7am on October 13, the storm was centrered at 15.3 degrees north latitude, 114.7 degrees east longitude, about 300 kilometres southeast of Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelago, and packing maximum winds between 134 and 149 kilometres per hour.

In the next 24 hours, the storm is expected to intensify as it moves west at around 15-20 kilometers per hour.

Earlier, on October 12, the National Steering Committee for Flood Prevention and Control issued an urgent notice, calling for cities and provinces to urge fishing vessels to seek ports of shelters as soon as possible and prepare for evacuating people from dangerous areas.

Hanoi ensures safety for General Giap’s funeral

The capital city of Hanoi remained orderly and safe as millions of people from all corners of the nation and international friends flocked to the city to pay tribute to General Vo Nguyen Giap since his death on October 4.

According to the Hanoi Police, at peak times, tens of thousands of mourners gathered around the General’s private house at 30 Hoang Dieu Street and the National Morgue at 5 Tran Thanh Tong Street while millions lined the streets to bid final farewell to the General.

Major General Nguyen Duc Chung, Director of the Hanoi Police, attributed the funeral’s safety and order to people’s good awareness of regulations.

Earlier, the capital police rolled out plans on traffic management and increase information work via the media.

Over the past days, voluntary young people and militias also contributed to ensuring security and order in the capital city, he said.-

Vietnam Buddhist Sangha commemorate General Giap

The Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS) and Ho Chi Minh City ’s VBS Executive Board prayed for General Vo Nguyen Giap during a solemn commemoration for the distinguished son of the nation at Vinh Nghiem pagoda in HCM City on October 13.

Present at the ceremony were the Vice Chairman of Buddhist Sangha Patronage Council, the Most Venerable Thich Duc Nghiep; Permanent Vice President of the VBS Executive Council, the Most Venerable Thich Thanh Nhieu; and acting standing Vice Chairman and General Secretary of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha’s Executive Council, the Most Venerable Thich Thien Nhon.

They were joined by many Buddhist dignitaries, monks, nuns and followers in the city.

Participants observed a minutes silence to commemorate General Giap’s immense contribution to the nation. After the ceremony, a prayer service was held for the General, who died on October 4 at the age of 103.

National young inventors contest winners honoured

Dang Dinh Nam and Nguyen Duy Huynh from the Hanoi University of Business and Technology have won the special prize at the 9 th national young inventors contest.

The two, with their lift truck model, were honoured at a ceremony in Hanoi on October 13.

The ceremony also awarded prizes to 106 outstanding out of the 452 entries in five areas including environment, toys and household utensils, stationery, environment friendly products, and computer software.

On the occasion, the 10 th national young inventors contest officially kicked off to continue upholding the creativeness of youngsters nationwide.

HCM City honours outstanding enterprises

The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Business Associations ( HUBA ) on October 13 honoured 105 local enterprises which have substantially contributed to the development of the southern hub in 2013.

Addressing the event, Party Central Committee member and Vice Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Nguyen Thi Thu Ha praised the attendees for their active and positive influence on the city’s socio-economic development.

She called for the business community to further integrate with the international economy and join the campaign “Vietnamese people use Vietnamese goods.”

The ceremony is one of many annual activities arranged by HUBA to mark Vietnam’s Day for Entrepreneurs.

According to HUBA Chairman Huynh Van Minh, the programme is aimed at honouring and encouraging outstanding enterprises and entrepreneurs in all areas, thus expanding successful models in the business community.

Netherlands helps reduce poverty in Lao Cai

A project named “ Spice of Life” promoting sustainable poverty reduction has been implemented in the mountainous province of Lao Cai, aiming to help 3,000 local spice-producing households increase their income by 10 percent.

Jointly initiated by the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Netherlands Development Organisation and funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the project will be carried out in nine districts over the 2013-2016 period.

The project aims to improve the income and livelihoods of small-scale spice producers through improving their productivity and boosting their relationships with processors and trading companies.

The project is beneficial to both the economy and the environment, as it will fund a 20 ha expansion of forest through the planting of cinnamon trees and other spice plants.-

General Giap, a bright example for younger generations

General Giap devoted all of his life to Vietnam, and his passing should inspire patriotism in younger generations, according to Martin Hacthoun, a journalist of the Prensa Latina News Agency.

Hacthoun, who is now Prensa Latina correspondent based in Argentina said his meetings with the General during his working time in Vietnam between 2006 and 2007 gave him an insight into a modest man and his genius military mind.

The writer remembers the General stating that unity is the key for all nations in the world who want victory . Hacthoun added that the life of the revolutionary figurehead has proved inspirational to the nations of Latin America.

One month ago, a publication of General Giap’s book ‘People’s War, People’s Army’, considered as a key text of military theory, was published by Argentinean bookshop chain Cienflores.

New cap set for labour export deposits

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs has set a new cap on deposit rates paid by workers for labour export businesses at a maximum of US$3,000.

The ceiling deposit rate is different depending on the kind of job and labour market.

Under the ministrys newly-issued circular, the highest deposit level of $3,000 will be applied for on-the-job trainees to work in Japan and fishermen working on fishing vessels in the Republic of Korea.

Meanwhile, the lowest deposit ceiling rate of $300 will be applied for those going to work in Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand and Laos.

For those markets that do not have a ceiling deposit rate, workers will pay a deposit equivalent to the price of return airline tickets to Viet Nam.

Viet Nam has exported more than 62,600 workers over the past nine months of this year.

The regulation will come into force on December 1 this year.

Residential checking project starts in capital

Ha Noi police on Friday began a 20-day round of checking residential record books across the city in a bid to clarify the number of permanent and temporary residents, as well as foreigners.

Local authorities will visit each household and ask residents to present their residential record books, identity cards or certificates of temporary residence for inspection.

The findings will be added to a national database on population management deployed by the Ministry of Public Security, which will be piloted in the city.

New decree on fines, punishments for vets

The government aims to bring clearer guidelines and punishments for veterinary malpractice through a decree which comes into effect from November 25.

Violations related to putting down animals in unlicensed facilities, preliminary treatment, using banned chemical or substandard hygiene will be punished with fines from VND10-15 million (US$470-705).

Violations related to the slaughter of animals with infectious diseases will receive fines of VND6-7 million ($282-329).

HCM City vocational schools to be upgraded under strategy

As part of the national strategy on vocational training development, the HCM City authorities aim to improve facilities and teaching at 14 selected schools.

Under the strategy outlined under the General Department of Vocational Training, Viet Nam would have 40 high-quality vocational schools by 2020.

Thirty majors offered at the schools would meet quality standards set by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Nguyen Ngoc Phi, Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, said that vocational training schools would pilot enrollment and training for eight majors in accordance with international standards.

They include the control and management of ships; food-processing engineering; hotel administration; and construction engineering.

In the current 2013-2014 school year, there are 12 major training programmes that meet international standards and four with ASEAN-level standards, according to Duong Duc Lan, head of the General Department of Vocational Training.

Graduates of these major fields will have recognised international or regional qualifications, Lan said.

Each school must enrol at least 50 students per year for each career track, and must have an assessment system of training quality recognised by UK-based City & Guilds, a world-leading vocational education organisation.

In addition, the schools are required to help at least 90 per cent of students find jobs three months after graduating.

Nguyen Dac Hien, head of the training division of one of the schools chosen to take part in the programme, Hung Vuong Technology Secondary School, said nine of its teachers had been sent to Korea and Thailand for further study.

The school also has modern machinery for student practice, Hien said.

Three majors, metal-cutting and sharpening, mechanics-electronics and mechanical maintenance, are being offered in accordance with ASEAN standards, he said.

Companies will sign agreements with the schools to provide students in these major programmes with jobs soon after graduation, he added.

This year, the HCM City Vocational Training College has three technical majors, including metal-cutting and sharpening, industrial-refrigeration electricity and industrial electricity. They all meet ASEAN standards.

Commenting on the national strategy, representatives of vocational training schools in the city said that curricula should be given priority. It focuses too much on theory and not practice, they said.

A workshop underscoring the necessity of protecting the Central Highlands’ dipterocarp forest ecosystems was held in Buon Ma Thuot city of the central province of Dak Lak on October 10. Participants heard that this kind of forest is mainly located in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam.

The country boasts some 500,000 ha of dry dipterocarp forests, concentrating in lowland parts of the Central Highlands, according to the Vietnamese Academy of Forest Sciences.

These forests play an important socio-economic role as they supply a large amount of high value timber and non-timber products to local people and the country.

However, the forests are being threatened by overharvesting, resulting in loss of area and biodiversity, and vanishing species including the Tapirus indicus (Asian tapir) and Bos sauveli (grey ox). In response, local authorities and relevant agencies should apply synchronous measures to save the forests.

In addition to integrating the protection of dipterocarp forest ecosystems into the national biodiversity conservation plan and the local socio-economic development plans, Dak Lak province appeals for a document issued by the State on preserving this kind of forest.

It is necessary to build some animal rescue stations in the central provinces of Dak Lak and Gia Lai, home to vast expanses of dipterocarp forest, as well as plant nurseries in order to propagate rare indigenous flora species.-

Several rare bird species, even some listed in Viet Nam's Red Book, have returned to forests and nature reserves in the Mekong Delta province of Hau Giang thanks to environmental improvements.

According to forest rangers and experts from the Institute of Tropical Biology in HCM City, the bird sanctuary recently welcomed many new species of birds.

Since August 2011, about 4,000 individuals from over 30 species have come to the garden. These include painted storks, darters and Asian open-bill storks, which have all been listed in the Red Book.

With about 5,100 hectares of forestland and 2,500 hectares of forests, Hau Giang is home to 71 species of terrestrial animals and 135 species of birds, in addition to many types of fish, reptiles and amphibians.

Polluting companies told to clean up waste

All establishments that cause serious environmental pollution must treat their waste within two to seven years, according to a plan approved by the Prime Minister.

At least 229 establishments were cited in the Prime Minister's decision 64/2003/QD-TTg issued in 2003 for causing pollution.

They include production and service businesses, rubbish dumps and hospitals. Their waste must be treated by 2015.

Another 222 polluters, including 104 rubbish dumps and 118 hospitals, will have to install waste treatment systems between 2016 and 2020.

Stable prices key to better living

The National Wage Council has asked the Government to increase minimum wages for those in the private business sector from January 1.

The council, which includes representatives from the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs; the General Confederation of Labour; and the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has suggested rises ranging from VND250,000 (US$11.90) to VND400,000 ($19) a month, equivalent to 15-17 per cent on current levels for businesses located in four zones.

Zone One, which now provides a minimum level of VND2.35 million ($111.90) a month covers urban Ha Noi and HCM City. Zone Two, which pays VND2.1 million ($100) covers rural Ha Noi and HCM City along with urban Can Tho, Da Nang and Hai Phong.

Zone Three, which pays VND1.8 million ($85.70), covers provincial cities and the districts of Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Hai Duong, and Vinh Phuc. Zone Four workers, who are on VND1.65 million ($78.60), live in the remaining localities.

The council expects that the increase will enable their wages to cover 75 per cent of workers' basic living needs because, despite regular adjustments, the wage level can only guarantee less than 70 per cent of these needs.

The most recent survey conducted by the Institute for Workers and Trade Unions of 68 firms with 2,000 workers across the country revealed that 5.2 per cent had a total income lower than VND2 million ($95) per month.

This was especially true for those living in industrial zones in HCM City, Ha Noi and Dong Nai, who cannot save. while others simply live in poverty.

So, is the regular minimum wage increase really helpful? People doubt it! The policy seems to be far less efficient than expected. Most employers are not happy with the wage rise, especially in the context of economic recession which makes it difficult for many enterprises to survive.

The increase will surely force companies to cut spending as their budgets provide no room to manoeuvre. It will probably prevent companies from investing further to expand production and improving quality and productivity.

This means the demand for labour will fall, but the number of jobless will rise. Each year, an additional 1.7 million people nationwide seek jobs.

Companies may have to dismiss some workers. For firms on the verge of bankruptcy, the requirement to pay more to workers is like a death-blow.

According to the Ministry of Planning and Investment's Department of Business Registration Management, nearly 28,800 enterprises ceased operation in the first six months of the year, 10.5 per cent higher than the same period last year.

Some companies may be forced to reduce workers' hours so that they can afford to pay them. If companies fail to abide by the regulation, labour disputes - most of which are caused over wages and social insurance payments - will probably increase.

Leapfrog

The above arguments are put forward when considering indirect impact of the policy. Now, let's talk about the policy's direct influence on workers. For years, commodities prices leapfrog after the Government announces a plan to raise minimum wages.

A woman working in an industrial zone once said that whenever hearing that the minimum wage would increase, her landlord rushed to raise house rental.

According to many experts, the yearly increase of a few hundred dong is actually to pay off inflation. However, the amount is never enough because prices will again escalate.

Viet Nam has one of the highest frequencies of wage rises in the region, but the real value of wages is much lower than that in other countries. This can be blamed on the inefficiency of price-control policies as well as inconsistencies among market management mechanisms.

As long as prices of electricity, clean water and petrol keep rising and prices of other essential goods are not stabilised, the periodical wage rises will achieve little.

To improve living standards, a wage-rise policy is not enough. The Government must implement better price-stabilisation policies and also have a better regime to protect workers' rights and contribute to harmonious, stable and progressive labour relations.

A good wage regime will successfully promote creativity and improve productivity of the workforce, especially high-quality workers and professionals.

A satisfactory income policy minimises conflicts of interest and strikes in enterprises; and maintains the stability and attractiveness of the investment and business environment.

Source: VEF/VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/Dantri