The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) on January 31 held a get-together for journalists on the occasion of the Lunar New Year festival and announced some criteria and tasks of the sector for 2008.

Nguyen Thanh Hoa, deputy minister of MoLISA thanked journalists for their active contribution to disseminating the state’s policies and guidelines to workers. She expressed hope that journalists will continue to provide information on the sector’s activities in future.

In 2008, the sector sets a target of generating 1.7 million jobs for workers (including 1.62 million local workers and 80,000 guest workers), reducing labour accidents and disputes.

The sector aims to reduce poverty rate to below 12 percent, offer health check-ups to 3000 beneficiaries, and provide vocational training and jobs for 2,000 prostitutes, rehabilitate 50,000 drug addicts, and generate jobs for 6,000 post-rehabilitated addicts.

The MoLISA has issued a decision to set up the department of protecting and taking care of children. The department is established with the aim of giving care to 90 percent of underprivileged children by 2010, creating a safe and healthy environment for the comprehensive development of children, and preventing the risk of child abuse.

Source: VOV