Several business groups in the Central Highland province of Gia Lai have recruited ethnic minority people for their labor force, creating a steady and stable means of income for many in the region, particularly in rubber and coffee exports. The Ministry of National Defense companies and the Vietnam Rubber Group alone employ more than 15,000 ethnic people, accounting for 50-80 percent of their labor force. Phung Ngoc My, Deputy Chairman of the Province People’s Committee, said that when business groups submit projects for approval they are asked to give priority employment to local ethnic residents, to speed the approval process. (www.saigon-gpdaily.com.vn [1] Jun 10)
