(VOVworld) – NA deputies on Wednesday queried Minister of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs Pham Thi Hai Chuyen about salaries in state-owned enterprises, pending debts of social insurance, unemployment, job generation, and vocational training.

Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Pham Thi Hai Chuyen responding to the NA question session in Hanoi.

Chuyen said current wages meet only about 70% of basic needs. The National Assembly has decided to spend 517 million USD to raise the minimum wage for retirees, people who made special contributions to the Vietnamese revolution, and civil servants.

Minister Chuyen said personnel training is important for economic development. In 2011, the Prime Minister adopted a strategy and a masterplan on human resource development. Madam Chuyen said:

“According to the PM’s master-plan, by 2015 55% of Vietnamese workers will be trained. The rate will increase to 70% by 2020. The Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs will provide consultation to the government on promulgating a strategy on vocational training, designing a policy to encourage businesses to participate in vocational training in line with the revised law on vocational training, and creating a masterplan for high-quality schools. The government plans to renovate vocational teaching, buy new equipment, create syllabuses, and train teachers to meet the requirements  of the current period.”

Minister Chuyen said of a project to build iron-clad ships for fishermen that the Ministry has actively worked with several provinces to provide training to use the new equipment.

The Minister said 78,000 foreigners are now working in Vietnam, most of them in the technical area. Madam Chuyen said:

“There are many foreigners working in Vietnam while many businesses are struggling  and the rate of unemployed youths is high. Pursuant to the law on foreign labor management, only foreigners with advanced professional qualifications are recruited. But foreigners without professional qualifications are finding jobs in Vietnam, most of them coming to Vietnam as tourists. The Ministry has worked with the Ministry of Public Security to check on these individuals and expel them if found unqualified.”

Nguyen Ngoc Bao, NA deputy from Vinh Phuc raising questions to Minister Hai Chuyen

Chuyen said this year Vietnam will likely send 90,000 workers to work abroad, exceeding the set quota, adding that the Ministry will boost communications both at home and overseas and recommend increased fines for those who attempt to stay in a host country after their labor contract expires.

In the morning Q&A session, Minister Chuyen answered questions about social insurance debt and policies for those who have rendered great service to the nation.