A number of solutions to ensure social security have been offered up at an online conference held by the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs on July 30.

The conference, linking Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, central Da Nang city, Central Highlands Dak Lak province and Mekong delta Can Tho city, reported that in the first six months of 2009, despite difficulties from the global economic slowdown, the country provided jobs to some 650,000 labourers, including nearly 33,500 working abroad.

However, the conference also warned of the potential failure in fulfilling the yearly plan. It is estimated that 1.5 million labourers will get jobs this year - 77,000 of them exported - which represents only 88.5 percent of the yearly plan and 93.2 percent of last year’s figure.

It pointed out a series of problems to be dealt with, including weaknesses in labour management, a shortage of technicians, delays in poverty reduction projects, and child labour abuse.

The delegates suggested focusing at first on a programme to rapidly and sustainably reduce poverty in the 61 poorest districts, helping them step up labour exports, implement unemployment insurance policies, and assist labourers who lose jobs.

They also put stress on the acceleration of National Target Programmes on employment, poverty alleviation, education and training, as well as building new national target programmes for the 2011-2015 period, the implementation of social policies and the mobilisation of social resources in improving living conditions for poor families./.