Rules not working in outlook

15th National Assembly expected to have 500 seats There will be a total of 500 seats in the 15th National Assembly at both central and local levels, according to a new resolution adopted by the National Assembly Standing Committee. Minister promises greatest efforts to ensure safety in COVID-19 vaccinations The Ministry of Health will mobilise all resources to carry out COVID-19 vaccinations, the largest-ever vaccination programme, so as to ensure absolute safety for people, Minister Nguyen Thanh Long has said. Long chaired a teleconference which was organised on March 6 and connected with 700 places across Vietnam to launch the vaccination plan and provide related training for medical workers nationwide in the use and storage of the vaccine, as well as the treatment of post-injection complications. He informed the teleconference that the vaccination programme will start on March 8, although the first batch of vaccine arrived in Vietnam on February 24. “As … [Read more...] about VIETNAM NEWS HEADLINES MARCH 7

When his roommates turn the lights off to go to bed at 10 p.m., Hoang Minh is just starting his eight-hour shift at work. Sitting with a laptop on his bunk bed, the 21-year-old enters information about overseas orders his company has received into the system. "This job just needs hands and eyes," he says. Because of the Covid-19 outbreak, Minh was allowed to work from his room in Hanoi's Cau Giay District. But within two days the company required him to return to office since his output had been lower than normal. His salary has remained at VND6 million ($260) a month since he began working here since 2019. Hoang Minh doing his data entry work in his room in Hanoi's Cau Giay District. Photo courtesy of Minh. After dropping out of college, the young man from central Vietnam had been dreaming of working in the technology field, a job he perceived as "computer-related." But instead he ended up with a data entry job. After two months of working through the … [Read more...] about To quit or not: a Covid-19 dilemma for Vietnamese workers

TOKYO -- More than 110,000 Olympic volunteers had their dream summer all mapped out for 2020. But now, with the Games postponed for a year due to the coronavirus pandemic and for many still in doubt, they are left waiting in limbo, lives on hold. Hiromi Yamamura and others had hoped to make friends from around the globe in an experience of a lifetime. Instead, the unsung backbone of any Olympics - its corps of volunteers - has had to recalibrate lives, put vacations or returns to home countries on hold and seek out part-time jobs in Japan so they are still free to volunteer. Volunteers acknowledged their uncertainty was small in the face of the pandemic’s brutal global cost, but it’s nonetheless taking a toll. Even as organisers swear the Games will go ahead as rescheduled this summer, some are nervous and pondering changes of plan. “I’m actually wavering about taking part now,” said Yamamura, 40, who lives in southwestern Japan, far from Tokyo. “Getting to Tokyo is … [Read more...] about Waiting for Tokyo: How 110,000 Olympic volunteers put their lives on hold

Prime Minister meets with outstanding Vietnamese entrepreneurs The sustainable development of the business community is an important foundation contributing to the nation’s prosperity, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc shared at a meeting with outstanding Vietnamese entrepreneurs and intellectuals with the theme of “Dialogue 2045” in Ho Chi Minh City on March 6. In his opening remarks, PM Phuc affirmed that entrepreneurs and intellectuals have made great contributions to the nation’s development. To stand shoulder to shoulder with powers around the world, Vietnam must have strong businesses and competitive brands at the regional and global levels, and competent human resources who can undertake the great jobs of the country, he stressed. To that end, it is necessary to free all resources and potential of and mobilise the strength of nearly 100 million Vietnamese people, including overseas Vietnamese, and at the same time attract and bring into full play the international resources … [Read more...] about March 1-7: Prime Minister meets with outstanding Vietnamese entrepreneurs