1. Completing 100 percent of the task of developing institutions and policies on labour, revolutionary contributors and social affairs
The Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs, developed and submitted 45 projects, including two to the Secretariat, one dossier for law-making and 42 in the working programme of the Government and Prime Minister. In addition, 25 projects are circulars, under the promulgating competence of the Ministry.
The policies and laws on labour, revolutionary contributors and social affairs have been increasingly completed, gradually creating a transparent and equal legal framework. They are expected to better protect the legal rights and benefits of labourers, enterprises, the elderly, children and revolutionary contributors, as well as enhancing social justice and support for vulnerable groups to stabilise their lives, including the creation of favourable conditions to boost investment, production, business and socio-economic development.
2. Giving support to 43.77 million people and workers, as well as nearly 742,000 businesses and employers facing difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with a total budget of more than 74 trillion VND
Zero-dong mini supermarket for poor people during the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic in Hanoi. (Photo: NDO)
Amid the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs, has proactively grasped and advised the Government to issue Resolution No. 68/NQ-CP on a number of policies to support employees and employers facing difficulties due to COVID-19 and the Resolution No.116/NQ-CP on policies to assist employees and employers affected by the pandemic, from unemployment insurance fund.
Total funding for the implementation of Resolution No. 68/NQ-CP and Resolution No. 116/NQ-CP nationwide so far, has reached 74,102 billion VND, giving assistance to 43.77 million people, workers and nearly 742,000 businesses and employers facing difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The support has contributed to implementing “dual goals” set by the Government and the social welfare packages.
3. Improving subsidies, allowances and incentives for revolutionary contributors
Implementing the Ordinance on Incentives for people with meritorious service to the revolution, in 2021, the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs, submitted to the Government for the promulgation of Decree No.75/2021/ND-CP, stipulating the allowances and preferential regimes for people with meritorious service to the revolution.
With the new decree, the preferential treatment of the people with meritorious services was 1.624 million VND.
In 2021, the State budget spent over 26.457 trillion VND, in monthly allowances, to over 1.2 million regular beneficiaries and 170 billion VND to 17,000 one-time beneficiaries.
4. Expanding international cooperation in labour and social affairs
Minister of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung and Minister of Health and Social Welfare Kwon Deok Cheo sign a bilateral agreement on social insurance between Vietnam and the RoK on December 14, 2021.
Minister of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung and Minister of Health and Social Welfare Kwon Deok Cheol, signed a bilateral agreement on social insurance between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) on December 14, 2021. This was the first agreement between Vietnam and the RoK in this field, contributing to creating favourable conditions for workers from the two countries.
In 2021, the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs successfully organised, co-organised and participated in hundreds of forums, seminars and high-level meetings, to boost the cooperation in the field of labour and social affairs, including the High-Level Dialogue Forum and Launch Ceremony of the Comparative Study on Laws and Policies in the Management of Migrant Workers in ASEAN, the 20th meeting of ASEAN Committee on Women and the fourth ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Women.
During the last year, the ministry coordinated with the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare of Laos, to successfully hold the seventh Vietnam – Laos labour and social welfare ministers' meeting and signed a cooperation agreement in the field of labour and social welfare between the two ministries during the 2021-2025 period.
5. Promoting the development of vocational education and formation of vocational education communication ecosystems during the 2021-2025 period.
In 2021, the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs, advised and proposed the Prime Minister for issuance of the Strategy for Development of Vocational Education during the 2021-2030 period and the planning of vocational education and training institutions network during the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2045; submitted the Project on digital transformations in vocational education by 2030 to the PM; issued the Quality Management System national standards ISO 9001: 2015; announced 18 online public services at level four, connected with the national axis; and operated vocational education data systems, including teaching and learning application software for general subjects.
In addition, the ministry formed and developed the vocational education communication space during the 2021-2022 and 2023-2025 periods.
As a result, in 2021, nearly 1.9 million new vocational educators around the country were recruited, reaching around 80 percent of the plan.
Meanwhile, about 1.658 million graduated from vocational training at all levels, equivalent to 80 percent of the plan.
6. Enhancing the Party’s leadership in sustainable poverty reduction during the 2021-2025 period, with a vision to 2030
In 2021, the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs proposed the Secretariat to issue Directive No. 05-CT/TW, on strengthening the Party’s leadership in sustainable poverty reduction until 2030; submitted to the PM for issuance of Decision No.1705/QD-TTg, promulgating the plan on the implementation of National Assembly’s Resolution No.24/2021/QH15, approving the investment policy of the National Target Programme on sustainable poverty reduction during the 2021-2025 period.
By the end of 2021, the national poverty rate was only 2.23 percent, down 0.52 percent, and the proportion of near-poverty households was 3.37 percent (down 0.34 percent). The State budget continued to allocate 20 trillion VND, to carry out a number of social security and poverty reduction policies.
7. Prompt assistance for children severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and enhancement of gender equality
Last year, the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs consulted the PM to issue Decision No.23/QD-TTg, on a National Action Programme for Children during the 2021-2030 period and Decision No.830/QD-TTg, approving a programme to protect and support children to interact in the cyber environment, in a healthy and creative manner for the 2021-2025 period. The ministry also issued and implemented many projects and programmes on the prevention and protection of children from accidents, injuries and violence, with a reduction of child labour.
The Ministry timely proposed the PM to issue Directive No.36 on measures to protect and care for children affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as coordinated, directed and implemented support for them.
In addition to the State’s policies, Minister of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs issued three decisions on giving assistance to 3,417 orphans due to COVID-19 and new-born children of women infected with COVID-19.
Regarding gender equality, the Government approved the National Strategy on Gender Equality during the 2021-2030 period; the PM approved the communication programme on gender equality until 2030.
8. Expanding coverage and raising the level of social protection support and subsidies; timely promptly concretising policies and laws on prevention and control of social evils
Last year, the Government issued Decree No. 20/2021/ND-CP, stipulating social assistance policies for social protection beneficiaries.
The total number of beneficiaries receiving social assistance policies since July 1, 2021 was about 3.25 million. The localities around the entire country provided over 3.13 million social protection beneficiaries with full monthly social allowances, equalling a total budget of over 18 trillion VND.
The Ministry proposed the PM to provide 9.46 million poor people, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with 141,971 tonnes of rice and 423,000 hungry people, during the between-crop period, with 6,343 tonnes of rice.
The Ministry timely advised and developed a Decree detailing a number of articles of the Law on Drug Prevention and Control and the Law on amending and supplementing a number of Articles of the Law on Handling of Administrative Violations on drug addiction treatment and post-treatment management.
The Prime Minister issued Decision No.1269/QD-TTg, promulgating the Programme on Prostitution Prevention and Control during the 2021-2025 period.
9. Strengthening inspection and administrative reform to improve trust about social policies among the people
In 2021, the Inspectorate of labour, war invalids and social affairs sector, carried out 2,067 inspections and issued 8,810 recommendations and 424 decisions, on sanctions against administrative violations, with a total fine of 8,256 billion VND.
The ministry developed a set of questions and answers on policies to support employees and employers in implementing Resolution No. 68/NQ-CP and Decision No. 23/2021/QD-TTg, as well as set up a hotline to receive feedback, recommendations, complaints and denunciations, during the implementation process.
Special working groups on prevention and control of COVID-19 in southern provinces and cities were formed. Meanwhile, 12 delegations inspected the implementation of social policies, Resolution No.68/NQ-CP and Resolution No.116.NQ-CP, in 33 provinces and cities.
10. Enhancing communication, press work and application of information technology, towards social consensus in formulating and implementing policies
Amid the complicated development of the COVID-19 pandemic, the communication, press and application of information technology was boosted by the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs.
Last year, the ministry held many virtual conferences, seminars and meetings with localities, to urge the implementation of Resolution No. 68/NQ-CP and Resolution No.116/NQ-CP.
The information technology application has significantly contributed to the management and direction of the Ministry and agencies, as well as supported the implementation of policies to assist people and workers affected by the pandemic.
The provision of online public services at levels three and four were strengthened.
