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
Study leave policy
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
Gender inequality put in the spotlight
The door shuts with a bang that makes everyone in the theatre jump. A woman walks away, leaving her husband and three little children in the home. Where will she go? What will she do? How will she live alone?The story is the plot of A Doll’s House, the most prominent play by Norwegian playwright Henrik Johan Ibsen, which came to the stage of Tuoi Tre Theatre in Ha Noi last week.It was written more than 100 years ago, but it is still relevant today, particularly in Viet Nam, where gender inequality still exists at all levels of society.A recent survey of eight cities and provinces in Viet Nam showed in 2.3 per cent of families husbands beat their wives, in 25 per cent of families they abused alcohol and in 30 per cent of families there was sexual abuse.Society’s debtIn the play, Nora gets married and loves and worships her husband.He gets a serious illness, however, and Nora decides to earn money any way she can to rescue him from the jaws of death, even forging her … [Read more...] about Gender inequality put in the spotlight
Vietnamese talents: Leave or stay? Info Alert Alert Chia sẻ bài viết qua e-mail
Editor’s note: Giang Pham is currently studying in the Erasmus Mundus program for Master of Journalism, Media and Globalization in Denmark and Germany. He has also worked as a freelance photojournalist and writer for several media since 2013. Farewell, my friends!It was a Wednesday evening, October 12th 2016. At Tan Son Nhat International Airport, the main airport of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Viet Nguyen was bidding his farewell to his family and his friends before leaving for Germany on a 2-year Master Program in European Studies, European University of Flensburg. They gathered for a group photo, broadly smiled and gave Viet best wishes for his upcoming trip. Viet and his friends are a group of close friends, studying for a bachelor’s degree together in International Relations. Two months earlier, the group also stood here, saying goodbye to another classmate, Ha Phan. Ha left Vietnam in August for studying in the United States. However, she chose another path, she … [Read more...] about Vietnamese talents: Leave or stay? Info Alert Alert Chia sẻ bài viết qua e-mail
Once taboo, China listens to US contingencies on N.Korea
It was the kind of sitdown that China had long resisted: Top U.S. officials telling Chinese counterparts how American troops would enter North Korea if the hermit regime collapsed. U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's recent revelation that such a discussion took place would, if true, suggest a major shift in Chinese policy as Beijing comes under pressure to rein in its Korean War ally. For years Beijing had refused U.S. entreaties to discuss the possible collapse of its neighbor, but top U.S. and Chinese military officials have finally met to discuss the once-taboo topic, Tillerson said last week. Some stark topics were broached, Tillerson said: Refugees flooding across the Chinese-North Korean border, U.S. troops entering the hermit country, and leaving again once they had prevented nuclear weapons from falling into the wrong hands. The little-noticed disclosure was overshadowed by Tillerson's remarks that Washington was willing to talk with … [Read more...] about Once taboo, China listens to US contingencies on N.Korea
Social News 15/12
Vietnam zeroes in on hunger eliminationPoverty alleviation and hunger eradication has been a consistent priority for Vietnam and the country is committed to achieving these goals in cooperation with the international community, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung said in Hanoi on December 13.Dung was speaking at the first meeting of the National Steering Committee for the ten year (2016-2025) Zero Hunger Action Programme.The programme was established by the Prime Minister in 2014 in response to the “Zero Hunger Challenge” of the United Nations, a major initiative to eradicate hunger worldwide.Vietnam’s action programme targets ensuring enough food and nutrition for all citizens towards improved physical and intellectual health; and towards fulfilling sustainable development goals (SDGs) of food security and sustainable agricultural development.There are five specifics targets under the action programme, including ensuring food and nutrition for people all year … [Read more...] about Social News 15/12
Social News 11/12
"Danish Week - Sustainable City Solutions" about to beginA series of events on sustainable city solutions will be held in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from December 12 to 17 within an initiative of the Embassy of Denmark in Vietnam and co-organized by the National University of Civil Engineering in Hanoi (NUCE) and the University of Architecture Ho Chi Minh City (UAH), with support from local authorities, organizations, and enterprises from Vietnam and Denmark.“Denmark is among the world leaders in green technology, and Green Growth is an important area of Vietnam and Denmark’s Comprehensive Partnership Agreement,” said Danish Ambassador H.E. Charlotte Laursen. “With this campaign we hope to create opportunities to exchange inspiration and knowledge with Vietnam on how to build green and sustainable cities.”With the theme “Danish Week - Sustainable City Solutions”, the campaign includes exhibitions, seminars, film screenings, masterclasses, and a … [Read more...] about Social News 11/12