VietNamNet Bridge – The Department of Employment under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs is setting up a national database on the labour market to help employees have greater access to recruitment information.

Students learn to repair automobiles at the Vocational College of Electricity and Water Supply. The labour market can now access recruitment information thanks to a national database on labour resources. (Photo: VNS)

It will also conduct research on policies to strengthen the connection between employers and employees in an aim to create stable employment and to meet the competitiveness demand of the labour market.

In addition, it will publish a handbook on the short – and long-term labour outlook and other materials for both employers and employees.

Nguyen Dai Dong, head of the Department of Labour and Jobs, said the department would give guidance to localities to develop projects and activities as part of the programme.

The department would also improve co-operation with other countries to send more guest workers.

Importantly, it would complete regulations on the labour market in order to protect the legal rights of labourers and improve the operation of employment centres across the country.

Challenges

The biggest challenge for workers is the lack of information on the labour market and access to labour supply centres, according to the Department of Employment.

In terms of the economy, the increase in prices of many products, the excess of imports over exports, and the decrease in foreign investment compared to last year are among many factors that have led to a low rate of creating jobs for the local workforce.

The high bank interest rates have posed barriers for businesses to mobilise capital to expand their production.

The national fund for creating employment remains very limited, according to the department.

These difficulties have caused many businesses to limit their business and production, which adds to the number of jobless workers.

In addition, the national fund for employment, which is sourced from the Government budget, meets only 35 – 40 per cent of demand.

The political crisis in Libya and Egypt have left many guest workers in these countries jobless and they have returned to Viet Nam earlier than scheduled. These workers continue to look for a job.

As of May 20, about 146,000 workers were registered as jobless, an increase of 131 per cent compared to the same period last year, according to centres of employment.

Under the programme, during the first six month of this year, about 720,000 workers have been offered jobs, of which 676,000 workers are working in Viet Nam and 44,000 overseas, according to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.

The country sets a target of creating jobs for 1.6 million workers by the end of this year.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News