Industrial park workers struggle

Workers at industrial parks in HCM City continue to face difficulties in accommodations, income, education and health services for their children, a city official has said.

Nguyen Vo Minh Thu, head of the labour affairs division of the HCM City Export Processing and Industrial Zone Authority, said many employees were looking for work because of staff cuts.

In addition, many enterprises have not paid social insurance payments to the State fund for one to three months, and a lot of workers have not received unemployment insurance payments.

According to a survey of the Viet Nam General Confederation of Labour, at least 2.1 million people are employed at industrial parks, and of that figure, 70 per cent are from other provinces and cities.

Only 10 per cent of them live in apartments built by the State or their enterprises. The remaining 90 per cent have to rent substandard rooms in residential areas near their workplace.

In HCM City, there are 15 industrial parks and export processing zones with around 300,000 workers, Thu spoke at a round-table discussion held on Wednesday by the Institute of Workers and Trade Union of the Viet Nam General Confederation of Labour in HCM City.

In a related matter, Nguyen Thi Gai, vice chairwoman of the union of the Department of Education and Training, said at the roundtable that teachers at many private schools were also suffering because they had not received preferential policies.

Teachers at most private schools are paid for nine months only, unlike public school teachers who receive a salary for 12 months, even though they do not work during the summer.

New labour safety law sets workplace rules

The new Law on Labour Safety aims to offer better protection for workers, setting out new workplace safety regulations and providing support for victims of workplace accidents and occupational diseases to switch jobs.

At a conference held on Monday by the National Assembly's Committee of Social Affairs, Director of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs' Labour Safety Department Ha Tat Thang said that as the number of enterprises increased and more companies applied modern technology, policy improvements were needed to ensure labour safety.

Because the issue of labour safety was not only covered in the Labour Code but also many other legal documents, it was difficult for law enforcement to take action, especially at local levels, he said. Moreover, labour safety and hygiene standards needed to be revisited in the context of production expansion and the application of new technologies and production materials.

The Labour Safety Department stressed the need for more activities raising awareness about legal policies, especially in professions with high risks, as well as more labour safety training for employers.

The department said companies and factories with high risks of work accidents would have to develop safety standards and contingency plans.

The draft Law on Labour Safety will be submitted for reconsideration at the Government's meeting session in July.

The Directorate for Roads closed the tollbooth at the Deo Ngang Tunnel yesterday due to a dangerous section of road on the approach to the tunnel.

The road surface has been damaged by heavy vehicles.

The Directorate has asked police and the Department of Transport in the central province of Ha Tinh and the Department of Transport in the neighbouring province of Quang Binh to monitor the tollbooth until the road is repaired.

Ha Noi Police seize food additives

Ha Noi Police seized 150kg of food additives on Wednesday illegally imported from China by Dong Yang Nong San Investing and Commercial Co Ltd.

The company, located in Thanh Xuan District, failed to show authorised agencies documents to prove the origin and quality of the additives.

The food additives, which were to be sold to restaurants to soften beef, had no label or expiry date. Police are continuing their investigation.

One body found after shipwreck

The Central Steering Committee for Storm and Flood Prevention and Control in the central coastal province of Binh Thuan said the body of a fisherman had been recovered from a shipwreck that occurred on Tuesday.

The body has been identified and and returned to his family in the province's Phan Thiet City. Rescue forces have managed to save 13 of the 19 fishermen who were on board at the time.

Binh Thuan province and Phan Thiet City authorities have provided financial support for each of the families of the rescued fishermen. Border Guard, Navy forces and fishermen have been looking for the other five sailors who remain missing.

Police on hunt for gambling ring

The local police in the central Thanh Hoa Province are hunting for two persons suspected to have links with a VND5 trillion, or US$235 million, online gambling ring.

The suspects are Tran Thi An of the northern Nam Dinh Province's Vu Ban District, and Nguyen Huy Giap of the Thanh Hoa Province's Thach Thanh District.

Earlier, the police caught the gang leader Duong Ba Lieu, 48, and four other suspects red-handed when they were gambling online at Lieu's house on Sunday. Later, seven other gang members were also arrested.

The police seized several items from the suspects' houses, including VND320 million, or $15,000, and US$900 in cash; a fax machine; five laptops; three shotguns; and four swords.

The case is being investigated further.

Government decree supports fishermen

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has issued a decree aiming to expand aquatic production activities and develop a fleet of fishing vessels in coastal localities.

Under the decree, fishermen are allowed to borrow up to 95 percent of the cost of a new steel vessel.

The shipowners can take out an 11-year loan from commercial banks at an annual 7-percent interest rate. They will pay only 1-3 percent of the rate while the Government will pay the rest.

The banks can extend payback period for the borrowers if their ships face risks at sea.

Besides, the State Bank of Vietnam will also support owners in paying their fishing boat insurance, up to 100 percent of insurance costs for fishermen.

Seamen will also be provided with training courses to operate steel fishing ships and new seafood preservation technologies.

The decree will take effect on August 25.

Summer camp arouses youngsters’ love of homeland

As many as 170 outstanding young overseas Vietnamese from across the world are enthusiastically attending a summer camp highlighting the nation’s sea and island sovereignty as well as cultural and historical values.

Organised by the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs (COVA) since 2003, the annual event creates an opportunity for young expatriates to enhance solidarity and exchanges with fellows at home, said Vice Chairman Dang The Hung.

Participants embarked on a cross-country tour from July 8, during which they will participate in a string of activities such as visiting President Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, meeting with fishermen, and enjoying special art performances on seas and islands.

“On the first day we had nice experience with a presenter who spoke in the dialects of Vietnam’s three different regions. This helps us understand more about the Vietnamese language”, said 16-year-old Le Thi Ngoc Yen from Poland.

Meanwhile, this is the fifth time 18-year-old Tran Duy An from Hungary has returned to Vietnam. He said the Vietnamese community in Hungary are all thinking of the homeland, especially after China illegally placed its oil rig in Vietnam’s waters in early May.

According to An, the community frequently organise cultural activities and Vietnamese classes for children in an effort to preserve the traditions and mother tongue.

Vu Long Van from Ohio, the US, said the summer camp gives overseas Vietnamese youth like him a good chance to learn more about the culture and the life in their homeland.

Over 2,800 blood units collected so far

More than 2,800 units of blood have been collected thanks to a nationwide donation campaign called “Red Journey”, according to Director of the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion Nguyen Anh Tri.

Participants have toured five out the 25 cities and provinces, namely Kien Giang, Can Tho, Vinh Long, Binh Duong and Ho Chi Minh City, before travelling to Central Highland and central localities on the afternoon of July 8, encouraging locals to join the drive.

Minister of Health Nguyen Thi Kim Tien highlighted the charitable activity as a great help to save many lives, especially those with thalassaemia - a genetic blood disorder which can lead to heart failure and liver problems.

The annual campaign was launched in the southern province of Kien Giang on July 3 with the aim of collecting at least 19,000 units of blood.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Vietnam needs nearly 2 million units of blood each year. About 7 percent of the world population have thalassaemia gene, with Vietnam among the high-risk areas. The country records more than 20,000 patients with the disease on an annual basis.

Last year, the Red Journey drew over 100 volunteers travelling to 15 cities and provinces, collecting more than 13,000 blood units.

Appearance of wild bulls peaks villagers' curiousity

After the rumoured appearance of will bulls, an endangered creature in the area emerged, villagers in Phu Yen Province began searching for the animals, said to have left the forest to forage in their crops, just to catch a glimpse.

On June 30, Le Quoc Son, a local from Dong Hoi Village reported two large animals had been wandering around a local stream, 2km from the village. He said that each night, the animals approached the village to eat from the fields. Around 3,000 square metres of corn has been destroyed.

According to Son, everyone thinks that the two animals are gaurs (bos gaurus) because their bodies are black brown but the hair near the feet is while. They also have large horns. Out of curiosity, many people decided to visit the forest at night to see the animals with their own eyes.

Dang Chi Hau, Chairman of Xuan Quang 1 Commune People's Committee confirmed that there are wild animals destroyed villagers' crops. "We waited near the forest and saw a suspected gaur go into the fields to eat. We reported the case to the authorities of Dong Xuan District and the forest rangers of Dong Xuan," he said.

Authorities advised residents to stay away from the locations where the animals are known to roam. An official from Dong Xuan Commune Forest Ranger Unit said they were trying to verify the information and would do everything possible to prevent the animals from clashing with villagers since gaurs are an endangered species in Vietnam.

On May 26, a gaur suddenly came from the forest and went on a rampage in Dai Lanh Commune, Quang Nam Province, killing one and injuring three.

First steel-clad fishing boat in Danang City

A fisherman from Danang has spent VND11 billion (USD523,800) to build a steel-clad fishing boat, the first of its kind in the city.

The boat, named Sang Fish 01, was launched in June. It is 25.5 metres long, 7.8 metres wide and 3.6 metres high. It has six main holds and can accommodate 18 crew members.

Sang said that he and his wife decided to build the boat for off-shore fishing expeditions near the Hoang Sa Islands, contributing to the protection of national sovereignty. They are planning for their first expedition in the Hoang Sa area next week.

Road in Hanoi named after Vo Nguyen Giap

A 12-km stretch of road, running from Noi Bai International Airport to Nhat Tan Bridge in Hanoi, is to be named after General Vo Nguyen Giap.

This is among the contents of a resolution on naming a number of roads in Hanoi which was submitted by the municipal People’s Committee to the People’s Council.

The People’s Committee proposed naming 26 roads in nine districts and changing the names of 19 streets named after places, historical sites and famous people.

Some other cities and provinces have also already approved the renaming of local roads after General Vo Nguyen Giap.

Another 12-km section of road, running from Noi Bai International Airport to Thang Long Bridge, will be named after Late Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet. Meanwhile, a local road will be named after Late State President Vo Chi Cong.

Job fair for returnees from RoK, Japan

A job fair for workers who have finished labour contracts in the Republic of Korea and Japan and returned home on schedule will be held concurrently in Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, and Lang Son provinces on August 2.

The event presents a golden opportunity for hundreds of skilled Vietnamese workers to find suitable jobs and make full use of their overseas work experience.

The programme is for returnees from the Employment Permit System (EPS) of the RoK and apprenticeship of Japan.

According to the organising board, job seekers can attend online interviews or in-person face to face interviews at the job trading floors in the three provinces.

A job bazaar for Vietnamese labourers in the central and southern of the country is also in the planning stages to be held in the coming time.

HCM City wards eliminate poverty

Three wards in HCM City do not have a single family living under the city's poverty threshold, according to the steering committee for a programme to reduce poverty and increase affluence.

They are Ward 15 in District 11, Ward 15 in District 5, and Ward 13 in District 6.

Families with an average income of below VND16 million (US$760) per member are considered poor in the city, an amount almost three times the national poverty threshold.

In May the District 11 ward became the city's first to eliminate poverty followed by the one in District 5.

On July 3 the ward in District 6 became the third to achieve this.

Truong Van Luong, head of the steering committee's office, said by the end of this year the city hopes to see another 25,000 families climb above the poverty line, reducing the poverty rate to 4 per cent of the population.

Some 30-40 wards and two districts – 5 and 6 – are expected to have no poor households by the end of this year, he said.

As of early this year there were nearly 83,000 poor households, accounting for 4.5 per cent of the population.

But by the national measure of poverty — annual income of less than VND4.8 million ($228) per person in rural areas and VND6 million ($285) in urban areas — there are no poor households in the city.

Railway officials check for overloading

The transfer of goods from trucks to trains and vice versa will be tightened to stop overloaded vehicles before they depart from railway stations as part of efforts being made by the Viet Nam Railway Corporation and the Transport Ministry to stop dangerous overloading.

Owners and drivers will have to show their vehicle registration and their load capacity bills for railway officers to cross check.

If the weight exceeds the vehicle's permitted load, officers can refuse the goods.

More staff will also be employed to monitor the loading of goods from trains to trucks to prevent overloaded vehicles from departing railway stations.

Since the Transport Ministry's decision to tighten control over overloaded vehicles took effect in April, the Railway Corporation has checked 332 railroad cars and detected 13 infringements.

Director General of the Viet Nam Railway Corporation Nguyen Dat Tuong said that road transport costs had increased because of the April ruling, making firms look more to railway freight.

"It is an opportunity for the railway sector to develop," he said.

"But the railway sector still faces a major challenge from outdated infrastructure including single tracks and narrow-gauge lines with a width of just one metre," he said.

It takes 30-40 hours for passenger trains to go from the north to the south of the country but it takes longer for freight trains because they have to stop at many stations and priority is given to passenger trains.

Tuong also said that seaports were not connected to railway lines, so many goods transported by sea were transported by road, pushing up costs.

He added that although railway transportation was cheaper than other means of freight, the cost for loading and unloading goods was high.

"As a result, the cost by rail is higher than by road," he said.

As quoted in Giao thong Van tai (Transport) newpaper, lecturer Tran Huu Minh from the University of Transport said that out of nearly 700 million tonnes of freight transported by land each year, only 6-10 million tonnes were carried by train and the rest went by road.

He said that to improve the capacity of the railway sector, restructuring was necessary to reduce transportation times and loading costs, and improve links between roads, railways and waterways.

In May, Transport Minister Dinh La Thang approved a plan to strengthen these links, and improve the capacity and effectiveness of railway transportation to reduce pressure on roads. In Viet Nam, about 70 per cent of goods are transported by road.

Khanh Hoa: all ethnic minority people covered by free health insurance

The central province of Khanh Hoa will cover all health insurance costs for local ethnic minority people who have not benefitted from existing support programmes in this field, the provincial People’s Council decided at its session on July 9.

Currently 47,700 ethnic minoirty residents in 26 extremely poor communes in Khanh Hoa are entitled to free health insurance and free medical treatment under the Prime Minister’s decision QD 30/2007/QD-TTg.

Furthermore, in 2013 Khanh Hoa began buying health insurance for ethnic minority people living under or just above the poverty line in 27 other communes, who total 11,050.

The new scheme adopted by the provincial People’s Council will dole out around 2.6 billion VND each year to pay for health insurance for the remaining 4,210 ethnic minority people who do not belong to any of the two above-mentioned categories.

With the plan, 100 percent of ethnic minority people in the province will be covered by health insurance.

Khanh Hoa is home to the Raglai, Co Ho, E De and Cham ethnic minority groups with a total population of around 62,000.

Besides medical care, Khanh Hoa also provides various social welfare services to its ethnic population using its own budget.

HCM City to relocate 776 households in August

Up to 776 households in ten districts of HCMC will be relocated this month and next, accounting for 54.4% of the total of 1,427 households affected by 24 projects in the city, said HCMC Vice Chairman Nguyen Huu Tin.

The city had completed construction of 1,689 apartments and prepared land for the resettlement as of June, Tin said at a meeting of the HCMC People’s Council on July 8.

At present, the ten districts are taking prompt action to accomplish procedures and will relocate the 776 households soon, he added.

For those households who wanted to be resettled in the same locality where their properties are affected, the HCMC government has asked districts to persuade them to move to nearby areas, or asked investors of housing projects to quickly complete condos in the same area for their resettlement.

According to the investigation on the living standard of households after resettlement in the 1991-2012 period, 68% of households said they are satisfied, 22% said their livelihoods are the same while the remainder said their conditions are worse. The investigation was conducted in 12 districts.

Related to the employment for people affected by projects, the investigation showed that 38% households felt better, 45.5% felt unchanged while the rest said it was worse.

Tin said that thousands of properties are ineligible for home ownership certificates for various reasons.

More specifically, the number of transactions done on verbal agreements and not abiding by prevailing rules after July 1, 2004 amounted to 34,000, with nearly 20,000 houses encroaching on public land and not aligning to zoning plans. Such houses have not been issued ownership certificates.

To resolve the problem, HCMC authorities are waiting for permission from the Government to grant home ownership certificates for such properties as well as for owners of properties that have been used stably for long without disputes or violations of land-use planning.

Khmer people turn their heart to East Sea

The Khmer ethnic minority community in the southern province of Bac Lieu are closely watching the developments in the East Sea as China is illegally placing its oil rig in Vietnam’s waters.

Most venerable Tang Sa Vong, head of Buppharam pagoda in Vinh Loi district, said the East Sea issue was the talk of most gatherings of local Buddhists and followers.

All the pagodas in the province have informed their monks and nuns as well as Khmer people of China’s violations of Vietnam’s sovereignty, sovereign right and jurisdiction.

Huynh Muoi in Gia Rai district said local Khmer people are indignant with China’s acts in the East Sea which go against international norms and agreements between the two countries’ leaders.

They ask China to stop its illegal acts by withdrawing the rig and escort ships out of Vietnam’s waters, he added.

Thach Quet, head of the Thach family in Vinh Trach Dong commune, Bac Lieu city, said the members of his clan always trust the Party and State’s policy of addressing the East Sea issue by peaceful measures on the basis of international law.

In early May, 2014, China illegally dispatched the rig as well as a large fleet of armed vessels, military ships and aircraft to Vietnam’s waters and positioned the rig at 15 degrees 29 minutes 58 seconds north latitude and 111 degrees 12 minutes 06 seconds east longitude. The location is 80 miles deep into Vietnam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone.

Despite Vietnam’s protest, China expanded its scale of operation and moved the rig to 15 degrees 33 minutes 36 seconds north latitude and 111 degrees 34 minutes 11 seconds east longitude, 60 nautical miles deep inside Vietnam’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

Vietnam promises best conditions for youth

Vietnam pledges the best possible conditions for its adolescents and young people to enjoy their rights and fulfil their obligations in accordance with law, an official from the Ministry of Health said on July 10.

General Director of the ministry’s General Office for Population and Family Planning, Duong Quoc Trong made the remark at a meeting in the central province of Khanh Hoa to mark World Population Day (July 11), themed ‘Investing in young people’.

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Chief Representative in Vietnam, Arthur Erken said there are some 1.8 billion people in the so-called youth group (10-to-24 age range) in the world, accounting for around one quarter of the global population.

Appropriate investment and attention will help the young people fully realise their potential as citizens, leaders, and those who bring positive changes to the world, he noted, adding that UNFPA calls on all Governments to include new goals for young people in their post-2015 development programmes.

Vietnam is in a golden population period which will last until 2040, with nearly 40% of its population between 10 and 24 years old, an all-time high.

This is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the country to push up its socio-economic growth by providing equal attention for all population groups and empowering the young to fully realise their potential, Erken added.

After the meeting, participants joined a workshop on population and family planning issues.

Nha Trang observes World Population Day

Nha Trang city hosted a meeting on July 10 to mark this year’s World Population Day (July 11) themed “Investing in young people”.

The event, co-organised by the General Department of Population and Family Planning (GDPFP) and the Khanh Hoa provincial People’s Committee, attracted nearly 1,000 representatives and staff from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and 63 provinces and cities across the country.

Addressing the event, UNFPA Chief Representative in Vietnam Arthur Erken said Vietnam has entered the “golden population structure” period with a high ratio of young workers aged between 10 and 24 constituting nearly 40% of national population.

This offers a good opportunity for Vietnam to boost sustainable socio-economic development by fully utilizing young people’s strengths,  he added.

According to GDPFP General Director Duong Quoc Trong, Vietnam is implementing Party and State policies and laws on population and youth work in the 2011-2020 period under the message of World Population Day.

The country will create favourable conditions for young people to become involved in learning, scientific research, and cultural and sport activities, ensuring their rights and obligations.

Within the framework of the event, a wide range of activities were also held, including a parade highlighting media events on population in island areas and a seminar on population and family planning in 2014.

2,500 local people benefit from Doosan medical service

Doosan Heavy Industries Vietnam (Doosan Vina) in collaboration with Chung Ang University Hospital (CAUH) is holding their 6th annual corporate social responsibility (CSR) medical service from July 7-12.

Approximately 2,500 residents of six neighboring villages in central Quang Ngai province will receive exams treatments and medicine.

This years’ service includes health care in Vietnam and heart surgery in the Republic of Korea (RoK) for three special children.

The children and a family member will be flown to RoK for specialize heart surgery at Chung Ang University Medical Center in Seoul between July 13 and August 2.

The sixth annual medical service involves a group of fourteen doctors and nurses from CAUH plus one hundred twenty Doosan Vina volunteers.

Some of the common diseases for the elderly that are treated include rheumatoid arthritis, high blood pressure, anemia, sciatica, aches, and bronchitis while children receive treatment for malnutrition and dental problems.

“The living conditions here are still difficult, so they don’t pay much attention to their health. If they have regular exams their health will improve, some diseases such as bronchitis, high blood pressure or dental problems will be detected and treated.We are very happy that so many people took this chance to have their health checked”, said Deputy Chief of CAUH Medical Clinic, Kim Myung Nam who was also the group leader.

This year’s charitable activities sponsored by Doosan Vina and CAUH is estimated at a total cost of US$165,000.

Different healthcare services available at local clinics should be defined more clearly so that patients are aware of the facilities available to them. This would stop them from being referred to provincial hospitals and causing overcrowding.

Osmat Azzam, a health economist from the Luxemburg Agency for Development Co-operation, made the comment at a workshop on the basic healthcare service package (BHSP) yesterday.

As defined by the World Health Organisation, the BHSP is a minimum collection of basic health services that the public should have guranteed access to, especially children, women and the elderly residing in the catchment areas of primary healthcare facilities.

The BHSP in Viet Nam offers services that health insurance covers.

Osmat, who has been studying healthcare in the northern mountainous provinces of Cao Bang and Bac Kan since 2009, said the BHSP there was offered at two standard levels -commune health centres and district hospitals.

"Most basic health services are delivered at district hospitals," Osmat said, noting that many services were also available at commune health centtres such as immunisations and family planning.

Nguyen Kim Phuong from the WHO Viet Nam Country Office said the BHSP was crucial as few countries had enough resources to cover all the services people need.

Priority services needed to be identified in order to optimise the use of available resources and provide the maximum healthcare benefits.

She said the package could help improve equality and reduce poverty because many people were vulnerable to illness-related poverty.

Deputy director of Bac Kan Province's Health Department Hoang Van Linh said that health service costs did not stop at treatment – whether it was a trip to the drug store or a major operation – but also the income lost by those who were sufficiently unwell to be unable to work.

He said that studies on the BHSP and more understanding about financing healthcare could help mobilise and distribute resources more efficiently and effectively.

Luxemburg has been supporting healthcare for the poor in Cao Bang and Bac Kan since 2009.

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