ĐẮK LẮK — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has reiterated his viewpoint of not encouraging unplanned internal migration and called for harmonious, flexible and comprehensive measures to address the issue.

While addressing a national conference in the Central Highland Province of Đắk Lắk yesterday, PM Phúc said immigration is a global matter, not just in Việt Nam, citing statistics of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) as saying the number of emigrants worldwide reached 207 million in 2017.

The PM noted the negative consequences of unplanned migration, which range from impacts on national defence, social welfare and security and order.

“The ultimate purpose is how to help migrants have stable lives and production, help their children go to school and make sure that old people receive health check-ups and treatment, with no one left behind”, he said.

The Government leader noted that more than 100,000 internal migrants have yet to register for permanent residence and more than 20,000 households lack a stable residence and livelihood.

PM Phúc asked the local authorities to encourage people to stabilise their lives by improving infrastructure and enabling them to develop production as well as taking land management measures to avoid encroachment.

He set the target of putting an end to unplanned internal migration by 2025, stabilising the lives of disadvantaged households and completing 32 settlement projects.

The Government leader also requested the provinces improve the management of land originating from forestry farms, address the lack of productive land, control free emigration, maintain social order and security and ensure the interests of the people.

He agreed in principle to add about VNĐ2.5 trillion (US$107.2 million) from the central budget reserve in 2019 and 2020 for population stabilisation and settlement projects.

The PM reminded ministries and sectors to restructure and develop agricultural and forestry companies and ensure national defence and security.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, more than 66,700 households have migrated to provinces in the Northwest, Central Highlands and Southwest regions since 2005.

The flow of emigrants has reduced strongly in recent years.

In 2013-17, as many as 17,510 migrated households received assistance to get stable livelihoods. — VNS