Quyết định 71/2009/QD-TTg

DECISION

APPROVING THE PROJECT ON SUPPORTING POOR DISTRICTS IN PROMOTING THE SENDING OF WORKERS ABROAD FOR SUSTAINABLE POVERTY REDUCTION IN THE PERIOD OF 2009-2020

THE PRIME MINISTER

Pursuant to the Law on Organization of the Government of December 25, 2001;

Pursuant to the Law on Vietnamese workers working abroad under contract on November 29, 2006;

Pursuant to Resolution No. 30a/2008/NQ-CP of December 27, 2008, on the supporting program for sustainable poverty reduction in the 61 poor districts;

At the proposal of the Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs,

DECIDES:

Article 1. - To approve the Project on supporting the poor districts in promoting the sending of workers abroad for sustainable poverty reduction in the 2009-2020 period with the following main contents:

I. GOAL, TARGETS

1. Goal

To improve the quality and quantity of workers from the poor districts to participate in the program of sending workers for overseas employment, contributing to employment generation, income improvement and sustainable poverty reduction.

2. Targets

- In the 2009 – 2010 period: Implement a pilot project to send 10,000 workers from the poor districts to work abroad (5,000 workers annually on average), among which: approximately 80% from poor, ethnic minority households; about 70% vocationally trained; reducing the number of poor households by 8,000 (2.8% of the number of poor households in the 61 poor districts).

- In the 2011 – 2015 period: Send 50,000 workers from the poor districts to work abroad (10,000 workers annually on average), among which: approximately 90% from poor, ethnic minority households; about 80% vocationally trained; reducing the number of poor households by 45,000 (15.6% of the number of poor households in the 61 poor districts).

- In the 2016 – 2020 period: Increase the number of workers sent by 15% compared to the period of 2011-2015, among which approximately 95% from poor, ethnic minority households; reducing the number of poor households by 19% of the total number in the 61 poor districts

II. BENEFICIARIES OF THE PROJECT

Workers who are long-term residents in the 61 poor districts, organizations and enterprises operating under the Law on Vietnamese workers working abroad under contracts, vocational training institutions for potential workers on overseas employment.

III. MAIN PROJECT POLICIES AND ACTIVITIES

1. Policies for workers

a) Support workers in improving educational qualification to participate in the program of sending workers abroad

- Beneficiaries: Workers from poor, ethnic minority households who are at primary school education or higher education level. These workers have been selected to participate in the program of sending workers abroad but do not meet the educational requirements and need improvement in general knowledge education.

- Duration of training is up to 12 months.

- Policy contents:

+ Provide full tuition fee, learning materials, textbooks and notebooks;

+ Provide food and accommodation during training, travel and initial expenses as supported to boarding ethnic minority school.

- Implementing agency: People’s Committee of Provinces which have poor districts under the Resolution No. 30a/2008/NQ-CP of December 27, 2008.

- Coordinating agencies: Ministry of Education and Training, Ministry of Finance, Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union.

- Implementation mechanism: Provincial People’s Committees shall approve plans on recruiting workers subject to the Project, provided that the workers are of suitable education level for working abroad; decide the quantity and the list of workers who will be provided with training according to the proposals by People’s Committee at district level; assign the Chairmen of People’s Committee of poor districts to preside over and coordinate with concerned departments and branches to provide general knowledge education to workers as prescribed by law.

- Financial resource: State budget.

- Financial mechanism: State budget shall be provided to localities for specific goals; this money shall be administrated, used and balanced the accounts as prescribed by current law and regulations.

b) Support workers in vocational training, foreign languages and pre-departure orientation under the Law on Vietnamese workers working abroad under contracts; support fees in health-checks, passport, visa and criminal clearance certificates to participate in the program of sending workers abroad.

- Beneficiaries: workers selected to be provided with vocational training, foreign languages, and pre-departure-orientation under the Law on Vietnamese workers working abroad under contracts to participate in program of sending workers abroad.

- Duration of training: Base on the requirements of the receiving markets, Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social affairs shall consider and decide the specific duration of training which shall not exceed 12 months. After all training courses, workers will be granted with certificates in skill recognition and pre-departure orientation attendance according to current laws and regulations.

- Policy content:

+ Support 100% tuition fee in vocational training, foreign language training and pre-departure orientation for workers from poor, ethnic minority households.

+ Support 50% tuition fee in vocational training, foreign language training and pre-departure orientation for other workers from poor districts;

+ Workers from poor or ethnic minority households shall be supported additionally with:

. Boarding and stipend during training course: VND 40,000/person/day;

. Lodging: VND 200,000/person/month;

. Initial expenses on personal necessity (uniform, blankets, shoes…): VND 400,000/person;

.Travel expense (return ticket) from residence to training site and vice versa; according to the price of popular transport at time of payment;

. Preparation expenses prior to departure: Fees on health-check, passport, visa and criminal clearance certificate.

- Implementing agency: Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social affairs

- Coordinating agencies: Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Planning and Investment, People’s Committee of Provinces which have poor districts under the Resolution No. 30a/2008/NQ-CP of December 27, 2008, Central Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union.

- Implementation mechanism: The implementing agency shall select competent and experienced enterprises and non-profit state-owned entities to participate in the Project; an order made training mechanism is applied.

- Financial resource: State budget and other legal financial resources.

- Financial mechanism: State budget shall be provided to annual financial plan of Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs; this sum of money shall be administrated, used and balance the accounts as prescribed by current law and regulations.

c) Support against risks

- Beneficiaries: Project supported workers who are impacted by risks.

- Support contents:

+ Being supported against risks as stipulated in Point 3 Item 3 Article 3 Decision No. 144/2007/QD-TTg dated August 31, 2007 of the Prime Minister on the Establishment, Management and Use of Overseas Employment Support Fund;

+ In the case that a worker has worked abroad for less than 12 months prior to his/her return, he/she will be provided with one-way air ticket if (i) he/she is not physically fit to the job, (ii) employers’ difficulties in their production and business resulting to the worker’ loss of job, (iii) employer unilaterally terminates the employment contract.

- Implementing agency: Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social affairs

- Coordinating agency: Ministry of Finance,

- Financial resource: Fund for Overseas Employment Support

- Implementation mechanism: Pursuant to the mechanism of the Fund for Overseas Employment Support.

2. Preferential credit policy

a) Preferential credit policy towards workers

- Beneficiaries: selected workers from poor districts who are in need of capital to cover expenses for overseas employment

- Credit volume: subject to workers’ need, up to the total expenses that workers shall have to pay in each destination market.

- Interest rate:

+ Workers from poor, ethnic minority households pay the interest equivalent to 50% of the interest applied by Bank of Social Policy on socially targeted borrowers for overseas employment purpose;

+ Other workers from poor districts will be applied with the interest equivalent to the interest applied by the Bank of Social Policy on socially targeted borrowers for overseas employment purpose

- Implementing agency: The Bank of Social Policy.

- Financial resource: The State Bank shall transfer to The Bank of Social Policy according to provincial sending workers abroad plans.

- Implementation mechanism: The Bank of Social Policy and Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social affairs shall stipulate the ceiling amount of credit in each destination market; licensed enterprises shall confirm the total sum of contribution by workers; the longest duration of credit is equivalent to the contract duration; the Bank of Social Policy shall consider the confirmation of licensed enterprises and workers’ proposal on credit to decide on the amount, duration of credit and other conditions as stipulated by current laws and regulations.

b) Preferential credit to vocational training institutions for overseas employment

- Beneficiaries: vocational training institutions, licensed enterprises participating in the Project (selected by Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs).

- Content: Credit to further investment to enhance the capacity of studying rooms, boarding facilities, teaching facilities and materials for training in labor dispatch.

- Credit volume, interest, conditions, procedure shall be applied accordingly to the preferential credit mechanism stipulated by current laws and regulations.

- Implementing agency: The Vietnam Development Bank.

- Financial resource: The Vietnam Development Bank.

- Implementation mechanism: according to State preferential credit mechanism through The Bank of Vietnam Development

3. Activities

a) Information dissemination and improvement of knowledge and awareness on the sending of workers abroad

- Goal: Improve the local staff’s awareness and knowledge on the sending of workers abroad; improve the awareness, update information to local authorities and people on the mechanism, policies, and effectiveness of the sending of workers abroad.

- Content:

+ Training and improving professional knowledge of the sending of workers abroad to local staff and grass-root propagators;

+ Organize researches on demand for overseas employment and post-migration employment;

+ Information dissemination, provide full and adequate information on policies, rights and interests, working and living conditions and income of workers in different destination markets on the mass media in the Central and local areas; coordinate with the Central Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union to establish the program “Youth and participation in the sending of workers abroad” in Kinh and ethnic minority languages to be broadcasted in central and local radio and television channels. Information dissemination of exemplary workers and good experiences in implementing the Project; praise, honor and reward typical individuals and collectives in the sending of workers abroad on public media and website of Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs.

- Implementing agency: Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs;

- Coordinating agencies: Ministry of Information and Communication, Ministry of National Defense, Central Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, Provincial People’s Committees.

b) Consultancy and employment introduction in post-migration

- Goals: Support the returnees to find jobs or be self-employed; give guidance to workers and their families to make use of saving from overseas employment

- Content:

+ To establish a database of workers for overseas employment in poor districts to administrate and support the workers during the project’s implementation;

+ To provide consultancy and orientation to workers on employment opportunities which are suitable to their overseas experience and skills;

+ To provide consultancy and give guidance to workers and their families to make use of the savings from overseas employment to invest in household economy, farming economy; provide training in business start-up.

- Implementing agency: Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs.

- Coordinating agencies: Central Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, People’s Committee of Provinces which have poor districts under the Resolution No. 30a/2008/NQ-CP of December 27, 2008.

c) Monitoring and evaluating activities

- Goal: To assure the right goals, targets and beneficiaries of the Project.

- Content: To monitor and evaluate the implementation of Project policies and activities:

+ Agencies involved in the Project shall perform self-supervision, evaluation and periodically report to the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs;

+ To sign contracts on supervision with independent consulting organizations.

- Implementing agency: Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs.

- Coordinating agencies: Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Planning and Investment, Central Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, People’s Committee of Provinces which have poor districts under the Resolution No. 30a/2008/NQ-CP of December 27, 2008.

d) Budget and financial mechanism for activities

- Financial resource: State budget.

- Financial mechanism:

+ Activities at the Central level: State budget shall be provided to annual financial plan of Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs; this sum of money shall be administrated, used and balanced the accounts as prescribed by current regulations.

+ Activities at local level: State budget shall be provided to localities for specific goals, basing on the annual financial plan of provinces; this sum of money shall be administrated, used and balanced the account as prescribed by current regulations

IV. PROJECT BUDGET

Total Project Budget is VND 4,715 billion, of which VND 1,542 billion is for supporting workers and VND 3,173 billion is for preferential credit.

V. IMPLEMENTATION PERIOD: From 2009 to 2020

- In the 2009 – 2010 period: To pilot Project policies and activities; acquiring lessons and perfecting policies, models, procedures and mechanism of the supporting policies towards workers from poor districts to participate in the sending of workers abroad.

- In the 2011 – 2015 period: To adjust, supplement and perfect to fully implement the Project policies and activities; to enhance the scope, increase the number of workers from poor districts to participate in the sending of workers abroad.

- In the 2016 – 2020 period: To improve the quality of workers, increase the proportion of workers from poor districts sent for overseas employment in high-income markets.

VI. IMPLEMENTATION

1. Responsibilities of the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs:

- Being the standing body of the Project, the Minister of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs shall decide the establishment of a Project Steering Committee, provide guidance on the establishment and professional operation to the steering committees at district level.

- To coordinate in the implementation of the project policies and activities; to establish an annual plan for the project implementation which includes: plan on duties, goals, financial needs and to propose measures for the implementation to the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Ministry of Finance to synthesize and report to the Government for State budget planning and estimation; to coordinate with concerned Ministries and industries to provide guidance on implementation of Project policies and activities.

- To establish the criteria and select overseas employment service enterprises, non-profit state-owned entities under such criteria to participate to the Project; to select suitable contracts and receiving markets in terms of working conditions and income; to verify and monitor contract implementation under the Project; to timely solve difficulties and risks against workers.

- To coordinate with Ministry of Planning and Investment, Ministry of Finance and concerned bodies to monitor and supervise the Project implementation.

2. Responsibilities of the Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Planning and Investment:

- To arrange budget for Project implementation from 2009 under the Law on State Budget.

- To coordinate with the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs to provide guidance on financial management and investment of Project’s policies and activities; to evaluate the cost of public service-providing contracts; to coordinate in monitoring and supervising the Project implementation.

3. Responsibilities of the Ministry of Education and Training:

- To compile programs and materials in providing supplementary educational knowledge which are suitable for the poor and the ethnic minority groups. To direct local education authorities to organize courses of supplement educational knowledge for potential workers prior to participating in the program of sending workers abroad.

4. Responsibilities of Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, governmental agencies:

To providing guidance on concerned mechanism and polices; to establish plans and direct the implementation of the Project according to their functions and authorities.

5. Responsibilities of Vietnam Development Bank and the Social Policy Bank:

- To apply preferential credit policy to Project-involved vocational training institutions; to apply the Project’s supportive policies and preferential credit policy to workers under current procedures and regulations.

- To coordinate with relevant authorities to monitor and supervise the Project’s implementation in localities.

6. Responsibilities of People’s Committee of Provinces which have poor districts under the Resolution No. 30a/2008/NQ-CP of December 27, 2008:

- To establish and direct the activities of Sub Steering committees to implement the Project at district level.

- To establish and implement plans in their localities pursuant to the Project and its guiding documents issued by Ministries, related State agencies; to regularly report to the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs.

- To study, publish and implement supplementary supporting policies and mechanism to local workers.

7. Recommend the Central Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, socio-political organizations to direct their subordinates to coordinate with concerned branches and industries to implement the Project at local level.

Article 2. This Decision takes effect on the date of its signing.

Article 3. The Ministers, the Heads of the ministerial-level agencies, the Heads of agencies affiliated to the Government and the Chairmen of the People’s Committees of the provinces which have the poor districts under the Resolution No. 30a/2008/NQ-CP of December 27, 2008 shall be responsible to implement this Decision.