Besides, 40 vocational schools will approach the standards of ASEAN-4, comprising Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines. Meanwhile, at least 40 percent of institutions for vocational trainining will be financially autonomous.

These targets were set by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) at a conference in Hanoi on September 25 that reviewed the 15-year implementation of the Politburo’s Resolution No. 37-NQ/TW on orientations for socio-economic development, and ensuring national defence and security in the northern midland and mountainous region by 2020.

The ministry reported that 2.17 million jobs were generated in the region between 2006 and 2018. In the first six month of this year, an additional 710,000 jobs were created.

According to the ministry, the quality of vocational training has been improved significantly, meeting the region’s demand for trained labourers.

It aims to raise the rate of trained employers to 70-75 percent and reduce the percentage of labourers working in the agriculture sector to 45-50 percent by 2030.

Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Le Tan Dung pointed out the fact that a high rate of poor households in such localities as Ha Giang, Cao Bang and Lai Chau, are ethnic minority families.

Therefore, the ministry has proposed the Politburo issue more resolutions on socio-economic development in the northern midland and mountainous region, he said./.