Vietnamese PM Approves $4.6M ILO-funded Labor Projects

Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has approved the portfolio of two labor projects funded by the International Labor Organization (ILO) with a total non-refundable aid of over $4.6 million, the government said on its website.The first project costing $4 million aims to assist the development of labor relations and salary policy reforms, including the drafting of a Law on Minimum Wage and the implementation of the Labor Code and the amended Trade Union Law.The second project valued at $624,802 will focus on improving the capacity to enforce insurance laws in Vietnam in the period of 2012-2014.The government leader has assigned the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) to assess, sign and carry out these projects.ILO Vietnam Director Gyorgy Sziraczki said that a sustainable job creation for everybody including the poor and vulnerable groups is crucial to poverty reduction and human resources development in Vietnam.According to the ILO, around 1.3 million Vietnamese are currently unemployed with over a half of them aged 15-24. And the trend is on the rise.Worse still, around 69% of female workers and 54% of male workers are listed in the vulnerable groups, added Mr. Sziraczki. (www.chinhphu.vn Dec 11)