Delegates at the conference (Souce: baodansinh.vn)
Lao Cai (VNA) – The beneficiaries of social assistance have gained better access to basic welfare services such as health care, education, clean water and legal support, it was reported at a conference in the northern province of Lao Cai on April 25-26.
Director of the Department of Social Assistance Nguyen Van Hoi highlighted the improvement at the conference, which was co-held by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) and UNICEF.
He attributed the progress to the synchronous implementation of relevant policies. Meanwhile, some provinces have raised their monthly allowances for the needy to higher than the national average. They have also called for donations to social work.
Data show that about 28 percent of Vietnam’s population need welfare services. They include 8.6 million old people, 6.7 million persons with disabilities, and 1.4 million children with disadvantaged backgrounds.
MoLISA has proposed to build a law on social work.
Ha Dinh Bon, Director of MoLISA’s Department of Legal Affairs, said existing policies that support social workers have not met the reality’s demand. Current legal regulations on social work are also unable to address shortcomings.
He called for the issuance of better legal documents to develop the number and capacity of social workers. Social work must become a professional job that helps the disadvantaged deal with difficulties on their own.-VNA
