Vietnam/ Supporting vocational training and employment for the elderly

This year, Vietnam has over 16 million elderly people. According to forecasts by the General Statistics Office, by 2036 Vietnam will officially enter a period of population aging, with over 21 million elderly people, or 19.48% of the total population.

According to many experts, over the next ten years, tens of millions of older people will want to set up a business, take vocational training and find a new job. This will pose a huge problem for society. If properly promoted, the elderly will constitute an important workforce contributing to economic growth.

Phan Van Hung, Vice-Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnamese Association of the Elderly, said that, according to data collected from localities, byPhan Van Hung, Vice-Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnamese Association of the Elderly, said that, according to data collected from localities, by 2023 Vietnam would have more than seven million elderly people working and directly involved in production and trade activities. There are currently 221,000 elderly people nationwide who own production and trading establishments.

Many elderly people have achieved success in business. One example is the "Hero of Labor" Nguyên Quang Mâu (73) who, after retiring, used his knowledge and experience to found the Gôm Dât Viêt joint-stock company. His company is currently one of Vietnam's leading manufacturers of high-quality clay bricks and tiles, employing over 1,500 workers with an average monthly income of over 10 million dôngs.

However, according to the 2020 Forum report on livelihoods and entrepreneurship for the elderly, the quality of employment for the elderly remains low, with 58.8% of them in basic jobs.

According to Phan Van Hung, the Party and State have issued numerous regulations and policies on entrepreneurship, vocational training and employment for the elderly. However, there is a lack of documents to put them into practice.

The need to transform livelihoods for the elderly, particularly in the post-COVID-19 context and as Vietnam enters a period of population ageing, is an obvious and urgent task. This will ensure not only their right to work and contribute to society, but also to benefit from their experience and intelligence.

The National Action Program for the Elderly for the period 2021-2030, sets several targets. For example, during the period 2022-2025, at least 50% of them with the need and ability to work will have a job. And at least 20,000 will benefit from entrepreneurship support and vocational retraining.

The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs is currently preparing a draft amendment to the Labor Act, which will be submitted to the government for consideration at the ^8th session of the National Assembly (^15th legislature). In this draft, the Ministry proposes the addition of regulations to support retraining and employment assistance for the elderly.

According to Pham Vu Quôc Binh, Deputy Director General of the Department of Vocational Education and Training (Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs), there is a need to raise awareness of vocational training, job creation and training for the elderly. vocational training, job creation, retraining and entrepreneurial support for the elderly, to build an open and flexible support system ready to meet their diverse needs.

Source: lecourrier.vn/