VietNamNet Bridge – There is an increasing number of work accidents in the country according to the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs' Department of Work Safety.

The department predicts that between 2010-15, about 170,000 people will suffer work accidents each year, with about 1,700 of them resulting in death. Additionally, the number of people suffering from occupational diseases will increase by 1,000 per year, causing a loss of more than VND2 trillion (US$95 million).

To decrease the number of work accidents and occupational diseases, as well as improve people's work safety awareness, the country implemented a 2006-2010 national programme with participation of Thai Nguyen, Thanh Hoa, Thua Thien-Hue and Dong Nai.

The programme reached satisfactory results after three years, according to the ministry.

From 2006-09, fatal work accidents were down 7.34 per cent per year compared to 2005.

By October of this year, the programme had given work safety training to more than 570 small- and medium-sized enterprises, as well as 800 farmers. This doubled the programme's target numbers.

However, the number of work accident still tends to increase, according to the ministry.

Fatal work accidents increased from 406 cases in 2000 to 601 in 2010.

In the first six months of this year, the country saw more than 3,530 cases of work accidents which killed 273 people and left a loss of VND160 billion ($7.6 million).

The national programme on work safety from 2011-15 will focus on improving work conditions, reducing pollution in work environments and taking care of workers' health.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News