Dak Lak police seize rotten meat

Boxes containing rotten meat seaized. — Photo dantri.com.vn

Police seized about 800kg of rotten meat that was being transported from Da Nang to the central highland Dak Lak Province yesterday morning.

Seven Styrofoam boxes and two sacks containing foul-smelling meat were found on a passenger coach when it was stopped by the police in Dak Lak's Krong Buk District for inspection.

The coach driver, 45-year-old Nguyen Ba Le, said he had received the meat cargo from a stranger in Tam Quan Town in Binh Dinh Province, who asked him to transport it to Cuor Dang Commune. The meat was discovered when he was transporting the cargo.

In another case, Dak Lak police found more than one tonne of rotten meat on a coach running on the same route yesterday.

Food safety has become one of the hottest issues with the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday coming in just one month from now.

Two killed, three injured in fire

Two people were killed and three were injured in a fire that broke out early today morning in the northern Thai Nguyen Province.

At about 1.30am today, flames reportedly engulfed the house of Nguyen Cong Bang, 39, in Thinh Dan District's Thai Nguyen City. Bang's father Nguyen Van Tong, 73, and son Nguyen Tuan Hai, 17, were killed in the fire. Bang himself suffered serious burns and was rushed to Thai Nguyen A Hospital for treatment.

Two firefighters were also injured while fighting the blaze.

Police are investigating the cause of the fire.

HCM seeks 65,000 workers in 2016

HCM City needs 65,000 workers in the first quarter of 2016, according to the city's Human Resource Forecast and Labour Market Information Centre.

Tran Anh Tuan, deputy director of the centre, said the jobs in high demand are in the fields including marketing, sales, tourism service, hospitality, construction, health care services and househelper services.

In March, demand will be high for workers in textiles and garments, footwear, food processing, transportation, import-export services.

The shortage of labourers after Tet (Lunar New Year) is expected to range from 3-4 per cent.

Staff turnover is forecast to be more than 10 per cent of the total employed workforce after Tet.

Phu Quoc hosts Dugong Festival

Nearly 700 tourists, local leaders and residents on Phu Quoc Island in the southern province of Kien Giang participated in the Dugong Festival 2015 to raise awareness about the protection of Dugong and endangered marine creatures.

The annual event featured a parade from the People's Committee of Ham Ninh commune to Ham Ninh harbour, a popular tourist attraction on the island. After the parade, around 200 secondary school students who are members of six marine conservation clubs on Phu Quoc Island took part Dugong sand sculpture and photo contests and a game show on marine conservation.

Each club created a life-size model of a Dugong on the Beach and displayed photos taken by the students this year.

The activity was part of the project titled "Conservation of Dugong and Biodiversity of Phu Quoc and Tho Chu Island" implemented since 2013 by the non-profit organisation Wildlife At Risk and the Phu Quoc Marine Protected Area.

Chon Thanh–Duc Hoa road's construction to restart

The construction of the Chon Thanh–Duc Hoa road, which was suspended in 2011 over funds shortage, will be resumed next year under a build-operate-transfer (BOT) contract.

The 72.5km road is part of the 3,183km HCM Highway, running from Lang Son in the upper north to Ca Mau on the southern cape.

According to the HCM Highway Project Management Unit, the road construction needs funding of about VND2.05 trillion (US$91 million). The management unit has submitted the road investment proposal to the transport minister. If approved, the construction will be restarted next year and the road is expected to be ready in 2018.

The road is expected to meet the need for increased transport demand and ensure national defence in the southern provinces of Binh Phuoc, Binh Duong, Tay Ninh and Long An. When it connects with National Highway 14, the road will also link the Mekong Delta provinces with the south-western and Central Highland provinces.

The private investor is expected to get its return on investment after 22 years and seven months through toll collection at two toll stations installed in Tay Ninh and Long An provinces.

More red-tailed vipers seen in Thua Thien-Hue

Red-tailed vipers are appearing in many residential areas in the central Thua Thien-Hue Province threatening local life there, people have reported.

Residents in Hương Thủy town and districts of Quảng Điền and Nam Đong said they saw the vipers in gardens and bushes along the North-South railway route.

Some people had caught the snakes, while others tried to kill them with just a wooden stick but experts warned they should use a protective glove or uniform while approaching them, as those snakes were extremely poisonous.

Experts said the monsoon season was approaching the region and this was the reproductive time for the snakes so the numbers would rise rapidly.

That was why residents could see so many of them in their areas, they said.

Experts also warned residents to clear all living areas, and specifically chop down bushes around their homes.

Till now, no attack by any vipers have been reported from the province but earlier this month, more than 500 people in HCM City suffered from snake bites and were treated at the Cho Rau Hospital.

Patients mostly come from provinces of Long An, Binh Phuoc, Binh Duong, Dong Nai and HCM City.

Doctors advised snake-bite victims to keep still and be brought to the hospital as soon as possible after giving them proper first aid.

Binh Phuoc people get free health checks

About 1,000 poor people, particularly those from ethnic groups in the central Binh Phuoc Province, have received free health check-ups and medicines.

The health check-ups were conducted on Saturday and Sunday by military doctors, agencies from the province's Bu Gia Map District, the HCM City-based My Duc Hospital and Ngoc Lan Clinic, besides the "Viet Nam Live to Love" fund and the Viet Nam Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin.

Colonel Nguyen Thanh Ruan, an official from Military Zone 7's economic department 778, said the activity aimed to improve the relationship between the army and the people, and to help the local residents become more aware about disease prevention and control.

Several people donated food items such as rice, salt, cooking oil and instant noodles to help the local people plan the celebrations for the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday.

Trade union organisation to work on improving workers’ meals

Working meal is expected to be a key topic at the 7th meeting of the 11th Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL)’s Executive Board which opened in Hanoi on December 28.

Low quality and unhygienic workers’ meals have been one of the main causes of several strikes over the past time.

Delegates at the three-day meeting will discuss and approve a resolution relating to meal quality of labourers, with a focus on strengthening trade unions’ supervision over the quality.

The meeting will also see how trade union activities should be conducted in the context of Vietnam’s participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, VGCL President Dang Ngoc Tung asked participants to contribute opinions on ways to fulfil the goal of having 10 million trade union members nationwide and establishing trade unions at 90 percent of units and businesses with at least 30 employees.

During the event, delegates will elect additional members to the Executive Board and the Presidium of the 11th VGCL.

Improved infrastructure boosts economic growth in Central Highland

The much-improved transport infrastructure in the Central Highlands has helped accelerate the economic growth of the region in the past years.

During 2010-2015, the government has spent 43.9 trillion VND (1.95 billion USD) to upgrade 1,109 kilometres of national roads running through the Central Highlands.

A total amount of 18.7 trillion VND (832 million USD) has been used on the local road infrastructure in the same period.

At present, eight projects with a total investment of 15.7 trillion VND (697 million USD) and a total length of 681 kilometres are being implemented in the region.

The intensive investment in the past years has helped the region concret 3,620 kilometres of district-level roads (71 percent), 4,224 kilometres of commune-level roads (51 percent) and 4,657 kilometres of hamlet paths.

Three key airports – Pleiku, Buon Ma Thuot and Lien Khuong – in the region were upgraded to raise the capacity of all three airports together from 1.9 million to 3.3 million passengers per year.

According to the Central Highlands Steering Committee, improved transport infrastructure has helped attract more capital to the region.

Foreign investors have poured 819 million USD in 148 projects in Central Highlands provinces, with Lam Dong attracting the most projects.

The Republic of Korea has been the largest investor in the region, followed by the Netherlands and Hong Kong (China).

The expanded transport network also facilitates trade and services, as well as social welfare, contributing to reducing the rate of poverty households by three percent annually to 121,500 households at present, a decrease of 10,046 households from 2014.

The committee said the region hopes to raise around 109.7 trillion VND (4.87 billion USD) for infrastructure development during 2016-2020, of which 66.25 trillion VND (2.94 billion USD) are to be sourced from the State budget, government bonds and official development assistance.

Construction of Hung Ha Bridge begins

Construction has begun on the Hung Ha Bridge in the Ha Nam Province to link two modern expressways in northern Viet Nam.

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai on Monday attended a groundbreaking ceremony to mark the event.

The VND2.9-trillion bridge (US$130 million), located in the Ha Nam Province's Ly Nhan District, is expected to open a whole range of possibilities for transportation on the Ha Noi - Hai Phong and Cau Gie - Ninh Binh expressways.

Speaking at the event, the deputy PM stressed the importance of traffic infrastructure investment, saying that it had boosted social-economic development in the country over the last five years.

"Infrastructure investment is a decisive factor for the competitive capacity of each nation and region... The party and the state are determine to make a breakthrough and invest continually in transport infrastructure," Hai said.

The deputy PM praised provincial authorities and the transport ministry, and thanked the South Korean government for its support.

He said the transport ministry should help to complete the necessary procedures for the work to ensure its progress and quality.

Officials of Ha Nam and Hung Yen provinces have promised to prepare plans to rehabilitate people living in areas affected by the project and to quickly hand over the land required for it.

Of the total investment, VND2.5 trillion will come from South Korea's Economic Development Co-operation Fund and the rest from the Vietnamese government.

The bridge will be 2.1km long and 22.5m wide, and will have six lanes.

Dai Nghia Bridge No1 will be 2.24km long and 16m wide, and will have four lanes.

The main contractor of the project is South Korea's Hyundai Development Company.

The construction of the bridge will take an estimated three years.

On behalf of the contractor, South Korean Ambassador to Viet Nam Jun Dae Joo said the Hung Ha Bridge project was part of both countries' transport development strategy till 2020. It will connect two modern expressways to create a united economic region in Hong (Red) River area.

Social responsibility practice to promote fisheries sector’s standing

The enhanced practice of social responsibility will help improve the competitiveness, prestige and brand of the fisheries industry, which is now a hard currency earner of Vietnam.

At a workshop in Hanoi on December 28, Dinh Xuan Lap from the Vietnam Fisheries Society elaborated that amidst the growing integration trend, social responsibility is required by many seafood import markets such as Europe, America and Japan. The issue is even more important and compulsory when Vietnam joins the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement.

Though Vietnam’s aquatic products have entered over 160 countries and territories, the industry is still facing an array of problems, including environmental pollution, diseases on cultured aquatic species, high post-harvest loss, unhygienic food, and undue attention to labourers’ rights and interests.

Social responsibility has been practiced at 30 percent of the aquatic product processing factories while being almost ignored in aquaculture and fishing activities, workshop participants noted.

Nguyen Huy Dien, Deputy General Director of the Directorate of Fisheries, said though Vietnam has complied with a number of the FAO’s responsible fisheries rules, it still encounters obstacles due to the limited awareness and different viewpoints of the sector’s insiders.

Foreign partners also requested the Vietnamese side adhere to the sense of social responsibility at negotiations relating to international standards like ASC, BAP and GlobalGAP, he added.

At the function, attendees said to promote social responsibility practice at processing plants, aquaculture farms and on fishing ships, it is needed to firstly find out and address inappropriate issues regarding working time, preferential treatment to female workers, and labourers’ insurance.

That will help Vietnam’s fisheries sector strengthen its export competitiveness and satisfy importers’ requirements, they added.

RoK aids equipment for Vietnamese university

The Republic of Korea’s institute of quality testing and research handed over a set of scientific equipment for Da Lat University in the Central Highland province of Lam Dong on December 28.

The equipment worth 7.6 billion VND (334,400 USD) will be used for teaching and studying chemistry, environment, soil, agriculture, heavy or toxic metal analysis, and material science.

The Korean institute will continue to aid 17 more sets of scientific equipment for the Vietnamese university in the next five years as part of a bilateral cooperation programme financed by the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA).

It has two branches, one in Hanoi and another in Ho Chi Minh City.

Over the past few years, Da Lat University has forged numerous training and research collaboration programmes with Korean organisations, including the institute of quality testing and research.

Additional funding for ethnic boarding schools from 2016-2020

The Ministry of Education and Training will prioritise funding for poor localities to upgrade ethnic boarding school infrastructure between 2016 and 2020, Deputy Minister Nguyen Thi Nghia has said.

She made the statement at a conference in Hanoi on December 28 to review a project on developing ethnic boarding schools for 2011-2015 in Hanoi on December 28.

Reports admit that only 70-75 percent of key goals set for the project have been fulfilled due to insufficient funding in several localities.

Statistically, there were 308 ethnic boarding schools in 50 cities and provinces by 2015, with more than 88,200 students, or 8.03 percent of the total nationwide, surpassing the targeted 85,000.

As many as 120 out of the 308 ethnic boarding schools have met national standards, up 29 percent prior to the project’s launch.

Thanks to improving quality of lecturer staff, more than half of ethnic boarding students gained admission to universities and colleges. Nearly 20 percent took pre-college classes and the remaining underwent vocational training or sought jobs in localities.

In 2014-2015, 95.64 percent of ethnic boarding students graduated, 4 percent higher than that of the nation.

At the event, Nghia also asked localities to rally public resources to build or utilise existing school facilities.

Hoi An ancient city to throw New Year's celebration

A lantern festival will kick off a long night of New Year's celebrations at the Hoi An Statute Park on December 31.

City planners said the night gala will start at 8.30pm and be followed by an awards ceremony for the best Hoi An tourism video clips, a wedding photo contest and a fashion show of many designers including Papillon Noir and Chula, a dress line originally from Hanoi.

The event's organising committee said the night will include a bartender contest, break dance and flashmob, and local folk-song and dance performances.

The city will also celebrate the arrival of the 1.8 millionth foreign tourist in central Quang Nam Province.

A street dance and carnival will take place at the park before holding a prayer ceremony for world peace on New Year's Eve.

The city will also extend a kind welcome to the first tourist group to arrive in Hoi An on January 1 by hosting them on their first day in the city.-

Revolution complex inaugurated in Ho Chi Minh City

The Sai Gon - Cho Lon - Gia Dinh Revolution Memorial Complex was inaugurated on December 27 in Cu Chi district, Ho Chi Minh City.

Addressing the ceremony, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Phong said the complex was built to remember the sacrifices and contributions citizens and soldiers in the Sai Gon – Cho Lon – Gia Dinh region made to the nation’s revolution.

The facility covers 13.5 hectares in the Cu Chi Tunnel Relic Site in Phu My Hung commune, Cu Chi district, where such renown revolutionary figures as Nguyen Van Linh, Vo Van Kiet, Tran Van Tra and Mai Chi Tho lived and fought in the two resistant wars against French and US troops, Phong said.

The complex is expected to contribute to fostering patriotism and the love for the nation’s history and tradition among Party members, people, and young generations, said Le Thanh Hai, Politburo member in charge of steering the municipal Party’s Committee.

On the occasion, Hai presented on behalf of the President the Labour Hero title to the Cu Chi Tunnel Relic Site.

The over 250km-long Cu Chi tunnel system is one of the unique historic sites in the world. Local residents dug the underground shelter with simple tools and bare hands during the French occupation in the 1940s. This main axis system has many branches connecting to underground hideouts, shelters, and entrances to other tunnels.

The tunnels have three layers with the deepest 10 metres from the surface. The upper soil layer can support the weight of a 50-tonne tank and the damage of light cannons and bombs. The underground network provided sleeping quarters, meeting rooms, hospitals and social areas.

The historical site has been preserved and become a popular tourism destination, luring millions of visitors from inside and outside the country.

Cham Island introduces new crafts

The ancient city of Hoi An has introduced new craft products made from Firmiana colorata, commonly known as the Chinese parasol tree, a big tree in Cham Island.

Different products have been made by islanders for years in serving tourists.

Local people produce hammock from tree bark, oil, cake, skin cream and lipstick.

The city has planned to restore the tree and develop craft industry in connection with tourism in Cham Island and Hoi An city.

Early this year, three Firmiana colorata trees, which started growing in the island 200 years ago, were recognised as Heritage Trees by the Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment.

Cham Island, which was recognised as a world biosphere reserve by UNESCO in 2009, hosts around 100,000 tourists annually, of which 10 percent are foreigners.

The island, 20km off the coast of Hoi An, has seen the first local in Vietnam banning the use of plastic bags and promoting the 3-R (reduce, reuse and recycle) programmes since 2011.

Social responsibility practice to promote fisheries sector’s standing

The enhanced practice of social responsibility will help improve the competitiveness, prestige and brand of the fisheries industry, which is now a hard currency earner of Vietnam.

At a workshop in Hanoi on December 28, Dinh Xuan Lap from the Vietnam Fisheries Society elaborated that amidst the growing integration trend, social responsibility is required by many seafood import markets such as Europe, America and Japan. The issue is even more important and compulsory when Vietnam joins the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement.

Though Vietnam’s aquatic products have entered over 160 countries and territories, the industry is still facing an array of problems, including environmental pollution, diseases on cultured aquatic species, high post-harvest loss, unhygienic food, and undue attention to labourers’ rights and interests.

Social responsibility has been practiced at 30 percent of the aquatic product processing factories while being almost ignored in aquaculture and fishing activities, workshop participants noted.

Nguyen Huy Dien, Deputy General Director of the Directorate of Fisheries, said though Vietnam has complied with a number of the FAO’s responsible fisheries rules, it still encounters obstacles due to the limited awareness and different viewpoints of the sector’s insiders.

Foreign partners also requested the Vietnamese side adhere to the sense of social responsibility at negotiations relating to international standards like ASC, BAP and GlobalGAP, he added.

At the function, attendees said to promote social responsibility practice at processing plants, aquaculture farms and on fishing ships, it is needed to firstly find out and address inappropriate issues regarding working time, preferential treatment to female workers, and labourers’ insurance.

That will help Vietnam’s fisheries sector strengthen its export competitiveness and satisfy importers’ requirements, they added.

Chinese airline to launch Kunming-Nha Trang direct flight

China’s Yunnan Lucky Air on December 28 announced the launch of a direct flight between Kunming city in southwest China’s Yunnan province and Nha Trang city, Vietnam's southern central of Khanh Hoa province.

Lucky Air will use Airbus A320 to operate flights every Monday, Wednesday and Friday starting from January 25, 2016, according to the Xinhoa news agency.

Flights will depart from Kunming at 19:55 (Beijing time) and arrive in Nha Trang at 21:30 (local time).

The return flight will depart from Nha Trang at 22:30 (local time) and arrive in Kunming at 1:55 (Beijing time) the next day.

Nha Trang, the capital of Khanh Hoa province, is located on the south central coast of Vietnam and is well known as a popular tourist destination.

Traditional cuisine to be featured at ethnic culture, tourism event

Various ethnic cuisines will lure tourists to the Viet Nam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism in the western outskirt of the capital beginning on January 1.

The village will host the Mong ethnic group of northern province of Ha Giang, Tay and Nung groups of northern province of Lao Cai, along with artisans from Soc Son District of Ha Noi between January 1st and 3rd.

Traditional foods will be cooked and folk games will be performed, including keo co (tug of war) and running in sackloths. Also, students from Viet Bac Art and Culture School will entertain by singing folk songs and performing spring dances.

The organisers will also display the daily lives of Thai, Muong and Khmer ethnic groups at houses set up for each group within the village.

The village is located 40km to the west of Ha Noi's centre. It hosts various activities featuring ethnic cultures throughout the year.

Company could face fine for environmental damage

Agencies in Khanh Hoa Province have proposed that province authorities impose a VND225 million (US$10,010) fine on the Nha Trang Sao project investor for damaging the environment, encroaching and filling up Nha Trang Bay.

The proposal was released at a meeting held on Friday to review inspections on the Nha Trang Sao project. Nha Trang Sao Joint Stock Company is the investor.

The investor was ordered to stop the illegal construction and propose solutions for finishing the project to the authorised agency for approval before January 1, 2016.

Inspectors found several violations in the project including the illegal building of a restaurant and a 60-metre-long embankment.

The inspection was conducted following public accusations that the project has damaged the environment of Nha Trang Bay, a popular destination for international tourists.

The law-breaking constructions were detected by the province's Construction Department early this year.

The project investor has dredged up coral and filled part of the bay with sand and rocks to create an embarkment.

Ngo Van Dung, managing director of Nha Trang Sao JSC, said they had dredged up alleged dead coral and filled part of the bay with sand and rocks to create an artificial beach.

He said the building of the temporary dyke was aimed at facilitating construction, adding that once the project was finished, they would remove the dyke.

Nguyen Tac An, deputy chair of Viet Nam Marine Science Association, said the filling up of Nha Trang Bay would affect the area's ecology and it was impossible to restore.

The construction of Nha Trang Sao project was started in October last year with the total investment of VND670 billion ($29.8 million). The project is scheduled to be completed by the end of next year.

Outstanding journalists honored for reports on NA activities

Thirty-four outstanding examples of journalism, among nearly 400 entries reporting on National Assembly (NA) activities, were awarded yesterday as part of the 70th anniversary of Viet Nam's NA.

The journalism contest, entitled "70th anniversary of Viet Nam's National Assembly" and launched by the NA Office and Viet Nam Journalists' Association three months ago, received 396 entries of all media types, that represent vividly differing views and angles to report NA activities, said chairman of the NA Office, Nguyen Hanh Phuc.

The news stories also help the public learn fundamental information about law making and new policies, bringing the NA closer to the people, he said.

Phuc noted that during its 70 years of development of Viet Nam's National Assembly, the press always accompanies the legislature. Hundreds of news agencies, media and newspapers joined in reporting on the National Assembly agenda and work conducted during NA Standing Committee meetings. Also, a club for NA journalists was established to better connect journalists with NA activities.

"Journalists accompany the National Assembly to allow for more interesting and profound reports, so that the NA become closer and closer to voters," Phuc said.

Meanwhile, NA Chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung, vice NA chairman Uong Chu Luu and his counterpart, Tong Thi Phong, along with Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, were at the awards ceremony yesterday.

NA chairman Hung presented the award for the four best news stories, including "Improving the quality of legal documents" by Do Phu Tho from Quan doi nhan dan (People's Army) newspaper, "National Assembly 1946 bearing the stamp of HCM President to build law-rule State" by a group from National Assembly Television, "Fundamental cultural values in Constitution 2013" by Dinh Xuan Dung from Nhan dan (People) newspaper and "General election – history milestones in development of democratic republic constitute" by Thanh Ha from Dai bieu nhan dan ( People's representative) online newspaper.

People-to-people diplomacy crucial for better AO victim support

Grassroots chapters of the Vietnam Association of Victims of Agent Orange (AO)/dioxin (VAVA) should engage in more people-to-people diplomatic activities so as to enhance support to the victims and their fight for justice.

VAVA Chairman Nguyen Van Rinh made the request at the third meeting of the association in the 2013-2018 tenure, held in Ho Chi Minh City on December 29.

He asked VAVA’s subordinate bodies to consolidate their organisation, closely follow the victims’ health conditions and life, and ensure the implementation of policies designed for the targeted group.

He also suggested the units renovate fund-raising methods, diversify sponsorship sources and optimise their funds.

Eleven VAVA chapters at the district level and 218 others at the communal level were set up in 2015. The association has so far been present in 61 out of the 63 provinces and cities, 593 of the 666 districts, and 6,341 of the 9,242 communes.

Gifts, scholarships, wheelchairs, free check-ups, house repair and building, production aid were presented to more than 265,600 AO/dioxin victims nationwide this year. Caring centres and facilities that will employ AO/dioxin victims are being built in many localities, the meeting heard.

A number of communication activities have also successfully mobilised the public’s assistance such as a walk at Dam Sen Park in HCM City that attracted almost 10,000 people, an exchange with the victims held by the VAVA chapter in Da Nang city, and a fund-raising campaign for a lawsuit launched by Tran To Nga – an AO/dioxin victim.

The US military sprayed some 80 million litres of toxic chemicals from 1961 to 1971, 61 percent of which was AO containing 366 kilograms of dioxin, over nearly one quarter of the total area of South Vietnam.

Preliminary statistics showed that 4.8 million Vietnamese people were exposed to AO/dioxin and about 3 million people became victims. Tens of thousands of people have died while millions of others have suffered from cancer and other incurable diseases as a result. Many of their offspring suffer from birth deformities.

Legal consultancy for migrant workers discussed

A seminar on legal support to workers from other localities moving to Ho Chi Minh City was held on December 29.

The event was organised by the Centre for Social Development Research and Consultancy (SDRC) in collaboration with the Vietnam Judicial Support Centre for the Poor and the HCM City University of Law (HCMCUL).

At the seminar, experts in the field agreed that migrant workers have great demand for legal consultancy and support, but they remain passive in seeking access to the support.

According to a survey conducted by the HCMCUL’s legal consulting centre, residence-related issues are the first legal problems that migrant workers must face, followed by social security concerns, including health and social insurance and access to the State’s support policies.

Participants proposed several measures to deal with the issue, focusing on defining the legal matters concerned to the migrant workers and building flexible and suitable methods of support.

More than 26 million migrant workers are employed at more than 300 industrial parks and export processing zones in HCM City, according to figures from the city's People's Committee.

Workshop highlights nuclear development in Vietnam

The Vietnam Atomic Energy Agency (VAEA) under the Ministry of Science and Technology held a workshop on nuclear power development, in the central coastal province of Phu Yen on December 29.

Experts underlined the role of nuclear power to national energy security as well as regulations on safety and security in the nuclear power project in central Ninh Thuan province.

General Director of VAEA Hoang Anh Tuan said nuclear power has become a top choice of many countries, noting that as of May 2015, there were 438 active nuclear reactors around the world, generating about 11.5 percent of the global electricity output. Another 67 reactors are currently under construction.

Doan The Vinh from the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s General Department of Energy said Vietnam is developing civil nuclear power for peaceful purposes to ensure energy security and environmental protection while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The National Assembly and the Government have promulgated a power development strategy until 2020 and with a vision towards 2030. Accordingly, Ninh Thuan province has necessary conditions to build the first two nuclear power plants in the country.

Deputy Director of the Ninh Thuan nuclear power projects management board Phan Minh Tuan said the power plants are under construction with the combined capacity of 4,000 MW and using modern technology of Russia and Japan.

VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/TT/TN/Dantri