(VOVWORLD) - The ultimate goal of the Vietnamese Party and State is to care for people’s material and spiritual life and their happiness, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in a dialogue with workers nationwide on Sunday. He said Vietnam’s acknowledgement of human rights has been enshrined in its Constitution since 1946 and the country considers people, including workers, as the center, the master, the goal, and the driver of national development.
 Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh holds a dialogue with workers (photo: VOV) |
The dialogue, held in hybrid format with the main site in the northern province of Bac Giang, drew 4,500 workers across the country. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the leaders of relevant agencies responded to workers’ questions and demonstrated the regard that the Party, State, Government, and employers have for workers.
3.4 million workers receive post-pandemic housing support
Vietnam has created various post-pandemic policies to help workers, according to Minister of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung.
"We have adopted Resolution 68 on helping workers during the pandemic and Resolution 116 on supporting workers through the unemployment insurance fund. So far 55 million workers have received 3.5 billion USD worth of assistance. We have also helped the children of workers who were affected by COVID-19 and enacted specific policies for children orphaned by the pandemic. Cities and provinces have identified 3.4 million people eligible for rent assistance,' said Dung.
Prime Minister Chinh said these policies are being quickly rolled out, but to facilitate the process, ministries and sectors need to simplify their procedures.
A representative of the Ministry of Construction says Vietnam has built more than 7.3 million square meters of social housing, including 2.5 million square meters for workers, which meets 40% of the needs of workers nationwide. In the near future, the government will increase its spending on workers’ housing.
 At the event (photo: VOV) |
Improving benefits for workers
Social welfare is a great concern of workers because it means life security. Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung says the Ministry has revised 11 policy areas in the Law on Social Insurance, including adjusting the retirement age, and will submit the revisions to the National Assembly next year.
"We propose to gradually reduce the period of social insurance contribution from 20 years to 15 years and then 10 years to make “benefits equal to contributions” in a spirit of equality and sharing. The revisions will increase alignment between social insurance groups to ensure workers’ benefits,' said Mr. Dung.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh asked agencies to collect workers’ opinions on social insurance and submit them to the government and the NA in order to include the revisions of the Law on Social Insurance in the law building program in 2023.
In response to workers’ expressed wish to improve their skills in order to increase their income, stabilize their life, and contribute to the nation, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said: "A plan to help workers improve their skills has been in place. The government has discussed allocating 86 million USD to vocational training. When we have more capital, we will move forward with this plan. Workers, the State, and local administrations will need to work together to make this plan effective."