Lawmakers queried Minister of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Hai Chuyen at the online question and answer session of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee meeting on August 21.

Minister Chuyen, who was the first minister to be questioned at the session, answered deputies’ questions relating to vocational training, especially in implementing vocational training policies, job creation for ethnic minority people and management of foreign workers in Vietnam .

Responding to questions on solutions to improve the quality of vocational training and job creation for rural workers, the minister said the task has been paid due attention.

Many centres for vocational training and employment have been built or upgraded, helping improve workers’ life and develop the country’s socio-economy, Chuyen added.

Regarding vocational training and job creation for agricultural and rural areas, the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) and other relevant ministries and agencies have implemented a number of related programmes, however the quality failed to meet the market’s demand, she noted.

In the future, besides improving the content of vocational training and job creation programmes attached to society’s need, MoLISA will cooperate with the Farmers’ Association, and the Youth League in providing vocational training and offering jobs in rural areas, Chuyen said.

Answering a question on the causes of the low rate of ethnic minority people taking part in vocational training, which is under 10 percent compared to the national rate of 43 percent, Chuyen said this was due to the limited budgets in the provinces.

In addition, enterprises are not eager to provide vocational training and investment in remote areas, thus, not encouraging ethnic people to attend training classes, the minister admitted.

Unsuitable methods are other reasons that hindered vocational training and job creation for these people, she added.

Minister Chuyen also frankly admitted the ministry’s responsibility, saying that in the coming time, the ministry will adjust the training methods. Added to this, the State will continue to build and upgrade vocational training centres in 62 poor districts nationwide.

In 2012, MoLISA will check the vocational training programmes throughout the country and deal with their shortcomings, she pledged.

Regarding measures to manage foreign workers in Vietnam and deal with those who violate the laws of the country, Chuyen said Decrees No. 34/2008/ND-CP and 46/2011/ND-CP provided detailed provision on the responsibilities of individuals and organisations on foreign worker management in Vietnam.

The MoLISA’s responsibility is to direct the provincial Departments of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs to check, supervise and manage organisations recruiting foreign workers.

Minister Chuyen also asked for strict measures towards organisations recruiting employees but violating Vietnam ’s law.

According to Deputy Minister of Public Security To Lam, there are about 78,440 foreigners working in Vietnam , a rise of 6 percent compared to 2011.

The Deputy Minister said a large number of foreign employees are working in Vietnam due to requirements from projects, especially the ones with foreign contractors. However, there still have shortcomings in management activities.

The official noted that some foreign employees are waiting to be granted work permits, while some arrive in Vietnam as tourists and then stay in the country for employment.

He also said that the ministry decentralised the management of foreign employees to grassroots levels to ensure security and social orders at the localities where foreign workers are living.

In conclusion, Vice National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan, who presided over the session, said Minister Chuyen answered the deputies’ questions seriously and took her responsibilities for those under her scope of management.

She also asked the minister to continue giving guidance and effectively implement vocational training and job creation tasks with attending to market requirements, in terms of quality and quantity.

The minister should also pay attention to improving human resource quality, making contributions to poverty reduction and ensuring social welfare as well as implement policies on vocational training for ethnic minority people and rural workers, considering it an important measure for sustainable poverty reduction, Ngan said.

Measures to overcome difficulties and deal with shortcomings in state management of vocational training for the ethnic groups should be soon implemented, the NA leader added.

She also asked the MoLISA to complete regulations related to foreign worker management in Vietnam .

It is also requested to strengthen the inspection of the implementation of legal regulations regarding foreign employee recruitment by foreign contractors in Vietnam.

The ministry should collaborate with the Ministries of Public Security, Foreign Affairs and Defence for joint management of foreign workers, Ngan said.-VNA