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Social News 2/1
Traffic sector declares hotlines
The National Traffic Safety Committee has declared 10 hotlines
that residents can call to report information on transport and traffic safety
during this year's new year festival.
Residents can call the Directorate for Roads of Vietnam at
0916908085, 0913432383 and 0917908085, or leaders of the Ministry of
Transport at 0912379753, 0903474737 and 0913209741.
The hotlines of the National Traffic Safety Committee include
0989088719, 0917577777 and 0995918666.
To contact the Road and Railway Traffic Police Department
under the Ministry of Public Security, residents can call 06942608.
The announcement followed a request from Prime Minister Nguyễn
Tấn Dũng to ensure traffic safety during the festival.
Dũng asked the Ministry of Transport and local departments of
transport to strengthen their management of the safety conditions of vehicles
on the road and apply strict penalties for transport violations such as
illegally increasing travelling ticket prices and transport fees.
Dũng also asked the Ministry of Public Security to draw up
plans for patrols during the festival. Penalties will focus on drunk drivers,
drivers encroaching on the wrong lanes and using unsafe vehicles, and illegal
automobile and motorbike racing.
The National Traffic Safety Committee required police
departments to keep a close watch on roads with heavy traffic, especially
main roads leading to major urban areas, seaports, stations and terminals.
Illegal terminals will be shut down, and unsafe vehicles will
be confiscated.
Veteran English teacher criticises language teaching in
Vietnam
Many English teachers working outside
Nguyen Quoc Hung, who is former deputy principal of Hanoi
University, spent 25 years teaching English on television, and is now an
advisor for the national foreign language teaching project, said 90 percent
of the 8,000 English teachers in Vietnam had failed to meet the upper
intermediate level.
“We do not provide learners with a standard learning method,
so they do not know how to improve their English skills. I’ve received many
letters from viewers of my English programme on TV complaining about this
even though there has been available a set of books guiding these around the
world,” Hung said.
Hung said the ability of Vietnamese teachers of English was
substandard. The training of English teachers still focuses on theory instead
of practice, and the national foreign language teaching project, which runs
until 2020, was aiming to raise the proficiency of all teachers to the upper
intermediate and advanced levels.
“There are two breakthrough solutions to the situation:
providing standard learning methods for learners and standardising teaching
methods for teachers,” he said.
"English tests in
The teaching project has a budget of VND16tr (USD760.27m) and,
though half of that has been earmarked for classroom equipment, Hung said it
might be ìneffective to apply new software and technologies in foreign
luanguage teaching and learning in remote and mountainous areas.
He said hiring foreign experts in teacher training was a good
approach.
“It’s really a concern when only 16 percent of high school
students chose English as a subject for their high school graduation exam in
the 2013-2014 school year,” Hung said.
He said schools use different English curriculums, many of
which are developed by foreign countries, but fail to adjust them for
Vietnamese learners.
Patients to pay for half of cancer drugs
Cancer patients will have to pay for many drugs previously
covered by the State's health insurance fund when the new Law on Insurance
goes into effect next year.
These include Erlotinib and Gefitinib, used to treat lung
cancer, and Trastuzumab, used to treat breast cancer. Head of the Health
Insurance Department Tong Thi Song Huong said these drugs were too expensive
for the fund to cover completely.
Under the new law, patients will pay half the cost for 44
drugs, including those used to treat colorectal cancer and early-stage breast
cancer, which cost VND200-800 million (US$9,400-$37,000) per month, said Pham
Luong Son, head of the Viet Nam Social Insurance's unit on Health Insurance
Implementation.
Son said any drugs covered by the insurance fund must meet
requirements for cost and effectiveness and must be legally available in
The fund currently covers the drug used to treat Hepatitis C.
Next year, however, patients will have to pay 70 per cent of the cost.
Covering the treatment fully would cost VND 90 trillion (US$4.2 billion) each
year, according to Son.
"We need to make the adjustment to ensure we balance the
effective use of the insurance fund and effective treatment for
patients," he said.
Cancer drugs account for a large percentage of insurance
expenses. The fund paid a total of VND48 trillion ($2 billion) for cancer
treatment in 2013, according to a representative from the Viet Nam Social
Insurance Agency.
Free medical campaign brings joy to the poor in Hanoi
The campaign, an activity marking the 60th Vietnamese Doctors’
Day (February 27), will include surgeries for elderly patients with cataract
and children with cleft palate and heart diseases.
On the first day of the campaign, Duc Giang general hospital
gave free medical checks up, treatment and medicine to 300 people at Thach Da
commune, in Me Linh District.
A similar humanitarian campaign co-organised by the Vietnam
Red Cross (VRC) and the Ministry of Health, which aims at benefiting over one
million poor people each year in Vietnam, has been underway since November.-
Industrial park development requires housing for workers
A recently amended master plan for developing industrial parks
urges faster construction of social housing for workers.
There are currently more than 2.2 million workers in
industrial parks, 98.5 per cent of whom are Vietnamese. This number is
projected to rise to 7.2 million by 2020 under the master plan, including an
estimated 4.2 million who would need housing.
Most migrant workers in industrial parks come from the
countryside and pay at least VND200,000-300,000 (US$9.5-14) in monthly rent,
according to a Government report. Their average payment is VND3-4 million
($140-190).
These rented spaces are narrow with only 2-3 sq. m per person
and sanitary conditions are often poor.
Five years after the Government implemented a plan to build
social housing for industrial park workers, there have been 64 such projects
nationwide with total investment of VND4.4 trillion ($211.4 million),
producing more than 20,200 apartments. Another 59 projects with a total
investment of VND18.1 trillion ($861.9 million) are being constructed and
will provide nearly 67,000 apartments.
Still, housing remains an urgent need, construction officials
said.
"Many industrial parks have not set aside suitable areas
for workers' housing. Besides, enterprises are hesitant to invest in housing
for workers because it requires a huge long-term investment. The bank
interest rate for construction is still high and it takes a long time to
recover capital," said Nguyen Manh Ha, director of the Ministry of
Construction's Housing and Real Estate Market Management Department.
Ha said that preferential policies to invest in social housing
had been largely neglected, adding that the preferential levels also depended
significantly on localities' conditions and regulations.
"There have been many Government regulations simplifying
administrative procedures, but implementation in some localities is still
slow, hindering investors," he said.
Minister of Construction Trinh Dinh Dung said that his
ministry had worked with relevant ministries and sectors to submit a decree
to the Government last year on developing housing projects.
Under the decree, those investing in housing for workers would
be exempt from land-use and land-lease fees, he said. The investors would
also enjoy a 50 per cent discount on value-added tax, exemption from
corporate income tax, preferential loans for investment and financial support
for infrastructure construction.
Additionally, the new decree allows workers in industrial
parks to buy houses instead of only renting them.
However, to meet demand by 2020, the construction minister
said it was necessary to create favourable conditions for investors by
shortening administrative procedures, including those for changing commercial
housing projects into social housing projects.
Social work offers graduates little incentive
Job instability and lower incomes compared with other sectors
keep young people out of social work even when they graduate in the subject,
a seminar at the HCM City Open University heard last week.
Tran Huu Phat, a fourth-year student of social work, spoke
about the salary issue as did other students. The Dong Nai native told
Vietnam News after the seminar that he applied to study social work at
university after carefully researching the sector as a way to challenge
himself since this is a newish kind of work.
While at the university he recognised he had a passion for the
work, and was so eager to graduate and become a social worker.
But he was disappointed recently to find out that social
workers are not paid well — just 4-5 million VND (190-238 USD) monthly. He
does plan to apply for a job as a social worker, but if the salary remains
low, he will switch careers.
"To be a social worker is my passion, but I cannot afford
to do it with a low income since I have to plan for my future and family and
support my parents," he said.
"I don't need a high salary. I hope to get enough money
to survive. It is unfair that the salary of a social worker is lower than
others'."
It is illogical for someone to spend most of their time and
energy on worrying about society while not being able to take care their own
family, he said.
Other students expresses a similar view.
Huynh Gia Hien, a third year social work student at the
university, said: "I am a social worker. If my living condition is not
stable when the programme ends, I will quit my job. In preventing corruption,
why don't we have a policy of helping social workers achieve better living
conditions?"
Phung The Kiet, 22, a new social work graduate from the
university who now works as a volunteer at NGOs, said he decided to study
social work because he could earn money and also get opportunities to help
others.
"I have just graduated. I don't worry about being
unemployed. There are so many job opportunities, because recently the
government has Scheme No.32 to assist this sector. However, many graduates
expect a very high salary. It's hard."
Kiet said he would continue in this sector, pointing out that
those with enthusiasm and a kind heart can pursue this career.
But he admitted that out of 25 students in his class, only
five want to do so.
He now relies on his family's support but hopes to get a
stable job to cover his expenses. Le Bich Phong, a social work graduate from
the HCM City Open University who now works for Life Centre, too said that not
many of his classmates have entered the field.
"Mine was the first batch at the HCM City Open
University's social work department and had 174 students. However, at a
recent reunion, we found that less than 10 from my class are social
workers."
He explained that in developing countries the condition of
social workers is unstable.
But Le Thi My Hien, director of the HCM City Open University's
Center for Applied Social Work, said it is the same situation in other
countries. With salaries being lower than in other sectors, not many young
people choose to be social workers, she said.
Each year the HCM City Open University takes in 80-100
students, and the low salaries do not prevent talented people from studying
and doing social work, she said.
She dismissed fears of corruption caused by the low salaries, saying
the students are responsible people who know they should set an example for
others as social workers.
Only an estimated 10 percent of social work graduates work in
social sectors, but the ratio has increased in the last two or three years.
The health sector has realised that social work is necessary,
Hien said. 115 Hospital has hired two social work students from the
university and the
The education sector, industrial parks, vocational training
schools, courts, local and foreign charities, and organisations serving
disabled and older people need well-trained social workers, Hien said.
But Huynh Minh Thao, communication manager at Information,
Connecting and Sharing (ICS), an independent LGBT rights organisation, said
none of his 10 colleagues are social work graduates. Instead, they graduated
in law, communication, healthcare, and even Oriental studies, he said.
Other NGOs too recruit staff from other streams while only
some volunteers are students of social work, he said.
"Social work gives us much benefit, not only money.
Universities should teach students to do social work out of just enthusiasm.
If they think much about money, it is hard for them to take up a job after
graduation."
In his job it is hard to get wealthy, but he earns enough to
manage his life and buy a house after working for many years, he said, adding
that the biggest reward for a social worker is spiritual.
Soc Trang targets 97 percent of locals to access electricity
next year
About 97 percent of residents in the Mekong Delta
Over the past years, the company has paid heed to expanding
the power grid to rural areas which are mainly inhabited by Khmer ethnic
people, he noted.
Notably, a project worth 305.4 billion VND (14.5 million USD)
to develop the power system was completed in 2012, providing electricity for
20,192 households, mostly of Khmer people. All the target households didn’t
have to pay any fees for facilities from power lines to meters.
The project’s second phase, costing 212.57 billion VND (10.1
million USD), are near completion as more than 90 percent of the workload has
already been done. This phase is carried out province-wide with 16,784
household beneficiaries and hoped to raise the total number of households
accessing electricity across the province to 314,866, or 96.9 percent.
Meanwhile, the third phase with an investment of 100.1 billion
VND (over 4.76 million USD) will be implemented in 2015 to supply power to
8,575 households.
In the years ahead, the power company will go on with more
large-scaled projects to ensure power supply to local resident as well as
shrimp farms, Hai said.
EVN plans to bring electricity to almost all rural households
by 2020. So far, all districts, over 99 percent of communes, and 98 percent
of rural households across
Hanoi moves to help the disadvantaged enjoy cosy Tet
The Hanoi Labour Federation has planned support activities to
help poor workers and disadvantaged people enjoy a warm Lunar New Year (Tet)
holiday, which falls in mid-February, 2015.
As many as 3,000 workers in
Additionally, the federation will present Tet gifts to poor
workers, disadvantaged children, and policy beneficiary families.
It has guided trade unions at all levels to monitor the
payment of wage and Tet bonus for workers, while working with relevant
authorities and businesses to timely address difficulties facing them.
Last year, the federation worked with businesses based in the
city to provide free travel for more than 2,000 workers to go home in Thanh
Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh and Quang Binh provinces.
This form of assistance has become an annual event since 2009.
Tet gifts to come to poor students in HCM City
Gift-giving activities targeting disadvantaged children and
students will be held in
A programme entitled “Spring gifts to you” hosted by the HCM
Communist Youth Union’s municipal chapter and the centre for supporting
pupils and students, will present about 2,000 gifts worth 1 billion VND
(47,000 USD) to street children and poor primary pupils in outlying areas.
To support poor students in returning home for Tet, up to
3,000 free bus tickets will be given to those from the central and Central
Highlands localities.
From December 15, 2014 to February 14, 2015, a part-time job
bazaar will provide chances for students who cannot welcome Tet at their
homes to get more money to cover their lives.
During the programme, 350 recruiters are expected offer about
4,000 jobs with an average wage of 15,000-30,000 VND per hour.
According to the municipal youth chapter, its programmes aim
to present at least 7,500 Tet gifts and 5,000 free bus tickets to
disadvantaged students and workers. A wide range of cultural and art
programmes and free medical check-up will be also organised during the
occasion.
Quang
Ninh province starts work on PPP office building
The
The project worth nearly 500 billion VND (23.7 million USD) is
being built on an area of 1,140 square metres, including 23 storeys and two
basements.
Once completed in the next two years, the project will ensure
office space for 16 provincial departments and sectors.
Local authorities are focusing on infrastructure building projects
under the PPP model.
Southern province shares emulation experience with Laos
Vice Chairman of the southern
Dung spoke in length the province’s socio-economic situation
over the past few years and introduced the organisational system, functions,
and activities of the local board of emulation and rewards.
He also shared experience in building and expanding effective
models in the field.
The Lao guest said the visit was to study the provincial
experience in promoting the emulation and rewards campaigns in both quantity
and quality.
Annual Tet art performance planned to greet Overseas
Vietnamese
The annual “Xuan Que Huong” (Homeland Spring) art performance
to greet Overseas Vietnamese who come home for the traditional Lunar New Year
(Tet) will be held on February 7-8 in
The State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs under the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) said as the country will mark several
significant anniversaries in 2015 such as the 70th National Day, the 85 th
founding anniversary of the Communist Party, and especially the 40 th
anniversary of the liberation of the southern region, the programme will take
the theme of “Glorious Homeland”.
The event is expected to see the attendance of high-ranking
Party and State leaders and many Vietnamese overseas returning to the country
for the Tet holiday.
There are currently around 4 million Vietnamese living and
working in 103 countries and territories worldwide.-
Programmes garner support for fishermen
Two programmes launched by the
It was reported at a conference on December 26 that 45 billion
VND (2.1 million USD) has been donated to the “Fishing nets of love for
fishermen in Hoang Sa and Truong Sa” programme since its launch in September
2011.
The programme has granted a total of 39 billion VND (1.86
million USD) to hundreds of fishermen in central and southern provinces to
help them buy new ships, repair old ships and continue fishing at sea.
In addition, more than 100 sets of communication equipment
were handed over to fisheries trade unions to assist their members in their
offshore trips.
Meanwhile, the “Love for Hoang Sa and Truong Sa” programme
raised nearly 98.5 billion VND (4.76 million USD), most of which was spent on
financial aid for the families of soldiers who are carrying out missions at
sea
Part of the proceedings will be also used to build the Gac Ma
memorial park dedicated to soldiers who sacrificed their life to defend the
national sovereignty over Gac Ma island in Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago.
The VGCL has issued an appeal to trade union members
nationwide to continue donating to the two programmes.
Forest ranger killer faces tough justice
A truck driver who deliberately drove his vehicle into a
forest ranger captain on duty, killing him on the spot on Sunday, deserves
severe punishment, Minister of Agricultural and Rural Development Cao Duc
Phat has said.
In an urgent communique sent to authorities in the Central
Highlands Province of Lam Dong on Monday, he asked them to quickly
investigate the incident and mete out strict punishment.
He said severe punishment was needed to deter others from
acting against officers on duty in the future.
The murder is said to have occurred when Captain Vu Xuan Hai
and his team of forest rangers were on patrol in Da Teh District's Quoc Oai
Commune.
Suspecting a truck of illegally carrying timber, Hai signaled
for the driver to stop for inspection.
The driver ignored the signal and hit Hai with his truck, it
was reported. Hai died on the spot. The driver, whose identity has not been
released, was arrested by district police soon after the incident.
Hai has been known as a forest ranger captain who has taken
strong action against poachers for many years, trying to stop them from
destroying local forests.
Minister Phat also sent a letter of condolence to Hai's family
on Monday. He said Hai's fighting spirit and bravery has set an example for
other forest rangers in the country.
This is not the first time that poachers have intentionally
harmed law-enforcement officers.
On March 11 this year, two poachers ignored an order by a
group of forest rangers in the Central Highlands Province of Dak Nong and
drove their motorbikes right into the rangers. One of the rangers died on the
way to a local hospital.
Ministry calls for vigilance to stop flu viruses, diseases
The Ministry of Health has urged provinces and cities
nationwide to intensify measures to preventing flu viruses and diseases in
the run up to the Lunar New Year holiday, a move triggered by reports of
avian flu outbreaks in some localities.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD)'s
Animal Health Department said influenza strain A type H5N1 had been recorded
in poultry in three communes in the Mekong Delta provinces of Tra Vinh and
Vinh Long. The A/H5N6 virus had also been found in Son Tinh District in the
central
Avian flu virus A/H7N9 has been raging in
There was likely to be a surge in the demand for food in
preparation for the Lunar New Year holiday, which will fall in late February
next year, and the trade, transport, and slaughter of unsafe poultry could
increase. Respiratory and digestive diseases are also likely to mushroom
during that time due to the humid weather, MARD warned.
The Ministry of Health has asked localities to pay special
attention to rural and remote areas as well as localities that have
previously been hit with the viruses.
Local health departments must tighten supervision in
communities and at border gates, and gear up for flu prevention and patient
treatment.
They have also been instructed to step up food safety
inspections and strictly punish markets, food stores, restaurants and
collective kitchens that violate relevant regulations.
Son La smashes 850 drug trafficking cases
In 2014, drug-related crime task forces in northern Son La
province arrested more than 1,200 traffickers who were involved in nearly 850
drug trafficking cases.
They also seized 156 kg of heroin, 5kg of opium, 96,000
amphetamine tablets, along with guns and ammunition.
In recent times, drug-related crime along the border with Son
La province has become complicated and the traffickers venturesomely used
guns and other weapons to resist when being detected.
Colonel Tran Anh Tuan, Director of the provincial Police
Department, said drug traffickers often operate along borderlines which
require the task forces to devise measures to effectively stop them from
transporting drug into the province.
Relevant agencies in Son La province are urged to accelerate
prevention and control activities.
Source: VNN/VNA/VNS/VOV/SGT/SGGP/ND
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Thứ Năm, 1 tháng 1, 2015
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