Top social security targets for 2018

The Vietnamese government’s goal is to reduce poverty by 1.3% overall and bring the unemployment rate in urban areas below 4%. Another goal is to ensure that trained workers constitute 60% of the workforce.

Vocational training: key to human resource improvement

Vietnam’s international integration and economic development require investment in human resources, in particular training the workforce. This year, Vietnam will implement coordinated measures to improve vocational training to keep up with the 4th industrial revolution.

High quality human resource will solve the problem of sustainable employment, a key to escaping the middle income trap.

Minister of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung said, “In 2018, the government and localities will invest more in this area, particularly in innovation and application of advanced technology, overall labor effectiveness, and shifting from low productivity sectors to high productivity sectors and value chains. We need to improve workers’ skills and reform business administration. An effort should be made to ensure sustainable poverty reduction by providing vocational training to farmers, especially in mountainous areas and areas inhabited by ethnic minority people.”

Institutions fine-tuned

Improved laws related to labor and society will protect citizens’ rights to social welfare. The 2013 Constitution for the first time states citizens’ fundamental social security rights for people. The 2012 revised Labor Code stipulates continued development of the labor markets.

This year, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs will focus on revising the Labor Code, drafting a decree on preferences for national contributors, and finalizing salary reform and social insurance policy reform projects.

Minister Dung said, “As Vietnam is about to amend 119 provisions of the Labor Code, more time is needed for further study and impact assessment. The government and our Ministry are finalizing this project to submit to the National Assembly next year. Amendments are related to gender equality, female working age, wages, overtime pay, insurance, and female retirement age.”

High income labor export market expanded

Vietnam intends to send 110,000 people to work abroad this year. If successful, this will be the 5th consecutive year the number of guest workers will exceed 100,000.

The Ministry has initiated measures to maintain major markets, such as providing language proficiency, skills, and job orientation training to workers before their departure.

Deputy Minister of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs Doan Mau Diep said, “Taiwan (China) and Japan are large labor markets with strong demand. Vietnam has sent the greatest number of workers to Japan, which has opened new jobs like nursing assistant. The Department of Overseas Labor will negotiate this issue with Japan’s agencies. Because Japan is in dire need of workers, our demands will most likely be accepted.”

Vietnam aims to expand its social security coverage to all by 2020.