New norm to step up poverty fight

Policies on jobs, social welfare, labour safety and care for the underprivileged will be a priority this year, Labour Minister Pham Thi Hai Chuyen told Thoi Bao Kinh Te (Vietnam Economic Times).
Policies on jobs, social welfare, labour safety and care for theunderprivileged will be a priority this year, Labour Minister Pham ThiHai Chuyen told Thoi Bao Kinh Te (Vietnam Economic Times).

Q:This is the last year for implementing the socio-economic developmentplan for the 2011 to 2015 period. What is your solution for tackling theunresolved issues of last year?

A: The ministry will come upwith practical measures for executing policies related to jobs,vocational training, social welfare, labour safety, poverty reductionand care for the underprivileged.

Unresolved cases ofindividuals, who have rendered great services to the nation, such aswounded soldiers and martyrs and their children, who have been affectedby toxic chemicals, needs to be dealt with definitively.

Theministry will also research a new standard for poverty and includegender equality, protection, care and education of children in the socioeconomic development plan.

Q: A new standard for poverty will beput into practice this year. Is this a breakthrough solution forachieving the plan for sustainable poverty reduction?

A: Duringrecent years, poverty assessment has been based solely on income levels.Actually, I think that is not appropriate. The new standard of povertyidentify those who are not able to afford even the most basic life needsor receive the most basic social services. Therefore, applying the newstandard for determining poverty levels will help overcome thedisadvantages of the old one, and simultaneously help resolve thepractical demands of the poor.

The new poverty standard will be implemented for the 2016 - 2020 period. This new policy will help alleviate poverty.

This will also offer an overall solution for achieving sustainable poverty reduction.

Q: What has the ministry done for ensuring a happy lunar New Year holiday for every labourer?

A: The ministry gives top priority to ensuring that everyone is well-fed and happy during Tet or the Lunar New Year holiday.

Inparticular, the ministry has directed enterprises and companies toensure full payment of salaries, bonuses, and implement social welfarepolicies for workers during the Lunar New Year of 2015.

Hanoi andHo Chi Minh City have also set up essential goods stores in industrialparks to meet the demands of employees. In particular, the People'sCommittee of HCM City and unions are maintaining and developing a fundto support poor workers with fares and gifts during the Lunar New Yearholiday.-VNA

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