Pupils from ethnic groups attend a class at the Boarding Ethnic Group School in Chư Sê District, Gia Lai Province. VNA/VNS Photo Văn Thông HÀ NỘI Physical and economic connectivity, market links and labor market mobility were among the top drivers distinguishing the best-performing ethnic groups, according to a study released by the World Bank (WB) yesterday. Other factors included endowment of productive assets, access to education and healthcare, traditional institutions and local governance, gender roles, perception of ethnicity, and access to external support, according to the study, titled “Drivers of Socio-Economic Development Among Ethnic Minority Groups in Việt Nam”. By shedding light on this intricate set of drivers behind the top-and bottom-performing ethnic groups, the study is expected to inform the ongoing revision of development policies and programmes for ethnic minorities, which are estimated to account for … [Read more...] about Study reveals development drivers of ethnic groups
Study leave policy
More doctors leaving public hospitals to go private
More talented and experienced doctors are leaving public hospitals to work in private facilities, raising concerns of a shortage of key doctors in the public sector.– Photo thanhnien.vn ĐỒNG NAI – More talented and experienced doctors are leaving public hospitals to work in private facilities, raising concerns of a shortage of key doctors in the public sector. Low salaries and poor working conditions were among reasons given by doctors leaving public hospitals. Figures from southern Đồng Nai Province’s Department of Health show that the number of doctors leaving public hospitals for private facilities has increases over the past few years. In 2016, as many as 65 doctors quit their jobs in favour of the private sector. The number increased to 98 in 2017 and 102 in 2018. Since early this year, 11 doctors from public hospitals resigned to move to private centres. Dr Lê Thị Phương Trâm, deputy head of … [Read more...] about More doctors leaving public hospitals to go private
Living energy of “broken leaves”
Đỗ Hà Cừ (sitting on wheel chair) received certificate of merit from the Vietnam Central Youth Union in the national volunteer festival last year. — Photo tienphong.vn Viet Nam News Xuân Tùng HÀ NỘI — Đỗ Hà Cừ and Nguyễn Minh Luân may be overlooked by many due to their disabilities, but they still manage to bring a lot to their communities. Cừ, 35, opened a community library named Hy vọng (Hope) and it has become popular among book lovers in Thái Bình City in the northern province of the same name. The library has more than 4,000 books featuring various genres from children’s literature to historical novels. Cừ was born with impairments due to exposure to Agent Orange, a mixture of herbicides that US military forces sprayed in Việt Nam from 1962 to 1971. He has been paralysed since he was small. Cừ’s family members … [Read more...] about Living energy of “broken leaves”
Thousands of Myanmar women forced into marriage in China: study
China has around 33 million more women than men due to the decades-long one-child policy. To plug the gap tens of thousands of poor women from Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam are sold as brides each year, some going willingly, while others are tricked or trafficked. In the first research of its kind, a report by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health estimated 7,500 women from war-torn Kachin and northern Shan states have fallen victim to forced marriage in China, offering a rare look at an issue that grips the conflict-hit borderlands. Based on interviews with scores of people who escaped and returned to Myanmar, and others still inside China, the study found that the majority of those trafficked were also forced to carry a child for their husband. Women leave Myanmar because of "conflict, displacement and poverty" said report author W. Courtland Robinson, while "the male-female sex imbalance in China, especially in rural areas" means demand for a wife is high. One woman … [Read more...] about Thousands of Myanmar women forced into marriage in China: study
Policy must not leave out locals
Policy must not leave out locals, photo: shutterstock Policy must not leave out locals As an expert with years of experience in FDI study, what is your view on the effect of FDI on the Vietnamese economy? We’ve indeed conducted lots of studies on this matter. The results show that Vietnam has benefited from FDI inflows, but the level of impact is still low. Specifically, in a recent study, only 4.5 per cent of the 4,162 surveyed companies said that they have transferred their own technology to foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) – which is very low. Only 5 per cent of domestic companies have received technology transfers from FIEs. The “ripple productivity effect” of FDI means that FDI inflows have impacted the receiving countries in terms of interactions between domestic businesses and FIEs. This includes transfers of technology, know-how, and expertise, improving the productivity and efficiency of domestic companies. It is notable that the ability … [Read more...] about Policy must not leave out locals
Vietnam bolsters agricultural exports amid growing protectionism
Vietnam bolsters agricultural exports amid growing protectionism. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) - Vietnam is working to accelerate agricultural exports as growing global protectionism has impacted international trade and export of Vietnamese staples. Rough seas for Vietnamese agricultural products To protect its domestic catfish industry, the US Department of Commerce decided to levy duties of 3.87 USD per kilogramme for Vietnamese tra fish. This is the highest tax rate ever applied for Vietnamese frozen catfish fillets, making it difficult for local exporters to access the US market. According to Truong Dinh Hoe, General Secretary of Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Vietnamese shrimp and fish have been taxed at an unfair anti-dumping rate since 2003 when Vietnam’s seafood exports only reached 1-2 billion USD a year. Other seafood products like tra fish and tuna have been subjected to rigorous scrutiny before they are allowed to reach US consumers. … [Read more...] about Vietnam bolsters agricultural exports amid growing protectionism
Calls to reform social security policy
Members of the 12th-tenure Communist Party of Việt Nam Central Committee (CPVCC) yesterday agreed a need to reform the social security policy.— VNA/VNS Photo Trí Dũng HÀ NỘI — Members of the 12th-tenure Communist Party of Việt Nam Central Committee (CPVCC) yesterday agreed a need to reform the social security policy. This is part of measures to fulfill the country’s determination of achieving universal social protection at their working session yesterday. Discussing the master plan, they stressed that the insurance was considered as one of the main pillars of the system, contributing an important part to implementing progress and equality. They agreed with the goals, tasks and solutions set by the plan. Under the reform plan, the country aims to have 35 per cent of people in the labour age group participating in social insurance by 2021. The figure is expected to increase to 45 per cent by 2020 and … [Read more...] about Calls to reform social security policy
Standard Chartered Vietnam named Banking Employer of the Year in Vietnam 2017
(VEN) - Standard Chartered Bank Vietnam has been named the “Banking Employer of the Year in Vietnam 2017” by the London-based Finance Digest. The Bank has also been ranked in the top five best places to work in Vietnam’s banking industry and top 100 best places to work in Vietnam in the “Top 100 Vietnam Best Places to Work 2017” survey, jointly conducted by the career networking platform Anphabe and the research firm Intage Vietnam. Standard Chartered Bank Vietnam is also a leader in training and development. The Bank organises training courses in-country and abroad to help employees improve their knowledge and skills, including new leadership training programmes focusing on building high performing teams, and more training options for staff to improve their technical knowledge. It also offers educational sponsorships for staff to pursue further study. Staff are encouraged to rotate internally between departments and explore opportunities with the … [Read more...] about Standard Chartered Vietnam named Banking Employer of the Year in Vietnam 2017
People’s voice and access to justice key to resolving environmental disputes
As environmental disputes, especially between citizens and businesses, are on the rise it’s important to ensure better environmental justice as well as people’s access to information and participation in decision-making in environmental matters that affect them. This was the core premise of a discussion on “Environmental Disputes, Social Changes, and Distributive Justice: Case Studies, Comparative Analysis, and Policy Implications for Vietnam” held on January 25.Waste water treatment plant in a industrial zone (Photo from khucongnghiep.com.vn)The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Vietnam and the National Economics University (NEU) held the discussion to present and debate the findings of their latest thematic research, which provides insights into the causes and effects of past and ongoing environmental disputes. Utilizing environmental justice and social construction frameworks, the research presents policy options for Vietnam to consider in its … [Read more...] about People’s voice and access to justice key to resolving environmental disputes
There’s a better way to unite Europe
The European political year, grinding back into gear for 2018, is full of doubt, even woe. In the continent’s major countries politics are stuck, or likely to stick, in cul-de-sacs from which exit is difficult. Only in France, under the banner not so much of the tricolor as the injunction En Marche! (Let’s Go!), is there official optimism and vigor. Germany, Europe’s leading economy, has yet to agree on a government. Talks between the governing Christian Democrats and the opposition Social Democrats on the formation of a third coalition are due to start on Jan. 7. A coalition agreement may take a long time – and even if successful, the marriage will be even more loveless, and thus more fragile, than the two preceding. Yet Germany remains strong in its economy and forecasts are bullish for this year, its businesses apparently insouciant about the politicians’ dilemmas. By contrast, Italy’s growth, up a little from the stagnation of recent years, … [Read more...] about There’s a better way to unite Europe