VietNamNet Bridge – The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) announced the sector’s top eight events on January 3.

1. Party Central Committee Secretariat promulgates Instruction on Occupational Safety and Hygiene

Under the instruction, the Secretariat requested that Party committees, Party organizations, authorities, fatherland front committees and social organisations reform their content and educational method for disseminating information to the public and raise their awareness of occupational safety and hygiene, improving workers’ understanding and practical knowledge of occupational accidents and disease prevention.

They are also asked to conduct studies into applying scientific and technological advances to manufacturing, improve working conditions for labourers and raise the effectiveness of State management on the field.

Additionally, they should reform their mechanisms and policies to utilise social resources, and actively pursue international integration.

2. National Assembly approves Employment Law

Covering seven chapters and 62 articles, the Employment Law adjusts major issues of support policies for job creation, labour market information, national vocational qualification, job services and unemployment insurance.

The law, which was passed on November 16 and is to be enforced from January 1, 2015, will be the first of its kind to regulate matters relating to employment and Vietnamese labourers ages 15 and up.

3. The revised Labour Code and the debut of the National Wage Council

The revised Labour Code, adopted at the third working session of the 13th NA on June 18, 2012, officially came into force on May 1, 2013.

Including 17 chapters and 242 articles, the new Labour Code was designed to promote gender equality in recruitment, employment, training and salary regimes.

The National Wage Council made its debut on August 6 with representatives including workers, employers, and State management agencies. The Council is responsible for providing consultations, appraisals and initiatives to the State on minimum salary levels and national salary policies to ensure that salaries are transparent and consistent with the demands of the labour market.

4. Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) sign a special memorandum of understanding (MoU) on sending Vietnamese workers to the RoK under the framework of the Employment Permit System (EPS) programme

At the signing ceremony of the Vietnam - RoK MoU on sending Vietnamese workers to the RoK.

It is a joint effort to address the number of illegal Vietnamese workers overstaying visas in the RoK, which dropped from 51.1% at the end of 2012 to 38.2% in October 2013.

Under the special MoU, sending Vietnamese workers as guest workers to the RoK for work under the Employment Permit System (EPS) is to be resumed in 2014.

The special MoU has one year of validity starting from December 31, 2013 and will be applied to Vietnamese labourers who have passed their Korean language tests during 2011 and 2012.

5. The successful implementation of the amended and supplemented ordinance on preferential policies for revolutionary contributors.

The Government has promulgated a number of documents to facilitate the implementation of the new Ordinance, including Decree No. 31 on clarifying conditions for recognition as a revolutionary contributor, and responsibilities of the ministries and agencies in implementing the ordinance; as well as Decree No. 101 on defining preferential allowance and treatment to those who made contributions to the revolution.

6. The new approach to hunger and poverty

Sustainable poverty reduction schemes are to be brought in line with growth and development, making it easier for residents to earn a stable income.

The MoLISA will also perfect the social support system step by step while restructuring over 432 care facilities to extend help to the poor.

7. Programmes effectively support children living in difficulties

Two programmes have been deployed nationwide to support the education of poor and disadvantaged children. Two years after their launch, the two programmes have raised nearly VND20 billion (US$940,000) to help more than 6,100 children in 47 cities and provinces across the country.

Part of the same effort, over its five-year operation, the ‘Milk for Schools’ programme has benefited two million children across the country who have received 200-220ml of milk a day, with a total investment of VND75 billion (US$3,5 million).

8. Project approved on Increasing Inspection of labour, invalids and social affairs sector by 2020

The PM approved the project on November 11. It is designed to complete the legal framework for the organisation, operation and policy of the MoLISA’s inspectorate, increase the professionalism of inspectors working in the field, and ensuring the effective implementation of the sector’s policies and laws.

Source: Nhan Dan