Better access to social security needed for disabled workers

Disabled workers work at a factory. They need more support to get access to education, healthcare and other services. (Source: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – More support for the disabled is needed to improve their access to education, health care, health and social insurance, and job placement services.

The recommendations were put forward at a workshop on strengthening access to social security for labourers with disabilities held in Hanoi on September 19 by the Ministry of Labours, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) in coordination with the Hanns Seidel Foundation.

The workshop analysed the findings of a joint survey conducted by the Institute of Labour Science and Social Affairs under the MoLISA and the Hanns Seidel Foundation, to shed light on disabled labourers’ livelihoods and their vulnerability and risks.

The survey also assessed the existing social security system and the role of non-official social security network in preventing and handling risks and challenges faced by disabled labourers.

It recommended social security intervention measures in line with the characteristics of the target group, and how to build a livelihood strategy suitable with disabled labourers.

According to the research, disabled labourers in Vietnam lack capital for production and business. Their disadvantages in terms of education, health, and mobility also caused difficulty for their livelihood activities.

The research group highlighted the need to change the approach in policies towards the disabled, expand support policies to all disabled labourers on the principles of equal education and self-help encouragement, and boost communications campaigns on the disabled.

Participants at the conference agreed that the research can be used as the basis for governmental agencies to review existing social security policies on the disabled and make necessary adjustments and supplements.

In order for the disabled to get access to social security services, participants recommended many solutions like boosting the role of organisations of the disabled, listening to their opinions during the process of implementation and supervision of relevant legal documents, and creating favourable conditions for them to take part in governmental agencies.-VNA