Nguyễn Mỹ Quang, chairman of the Bình Định Association for People with Disabilities and Children Protection, presents gifts to typical disabled people with outstanding contributions to the community in the province. — VNA/VNS Photo Nguyên Linh

HÀ NỘI — Social security for people with disabilities has been implemented comprehensively in Việt Nam, and their rights are better guaranteed, Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and deputy chairman of the National Committee for Persons with Disabilities Nguyễn Văn Hồi said.

Despite this, Hồi agreed that people with disabilities still face obstacles.

Traffic infrastructure in big cities and urban areas has improved significantly, but sidewalks and streets are still narrow and unsuitable for disabled people.

Equipment to assist people with disabilities on public transport has not been invested in or properly equipped, while the social allowance for people with disabilities is still low.

The number of disabled people receiving social assistance is not much, and the sponsoring centres lack the necessary equipment to support them.

Many people with disabilities do not receive vocational training, job counselling or support to find jobs and loans to develop production.

Few enterprises participate in training and creating jobs for people with disabilities.

Director of the Department of Social Protection under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) Tô Đức said that this year, the legal document system related to disabled people would be reviewed, focusing on breakthrough policies to improve their access to transport, education, vocational education, job creation, stable and self-reliant livelihoods.

The MoLISA will assume the prime responsibility for and coordinate with concerned ministries and localities in amending the Law on Persons with Disabilities, the Law on Employment and the Law on Social Insurance, in which appropriate policies for disabled people will be concerned.

The ministry will also focus on directing localities to allocate funds from the annual education, training and vocational training budget to implement vocational training policies for people with disabilities based on Prime Minister’s Decision No 46/2015/QĐ-TTg issued on September 28, 2015.

When implementing the national target programme on sustainable poverty reduction for the 2021-23 period, localities should prioritise livelihood diversification projects for people with disabilities who do not have stable livelihoods, said Đức.

The projects should be conducted through effective livelihood models, such as start-ups, vocational training associated with employment at enterprises and community-based rehabilitation.

Statistics from the MoLISA said that by the end of last year, more than three million out of about 6.7 million people with disabilities in the country were issued disability certificates.

Disability certificate shortages create difficulties in accessing health insurance and social security support from the fund across all levels.

Many students with disabilities also do not have disability certificates, preventing them from receiving policies on social protection and educational support regulated by the Ministry of Education and Training, the MoLISA and the Ministry of Finance.

Therefore, Hồi said provincial and municipal people's committees must issue certificates for people with disabilities, creating favourable conditions for them to enjoy supportive policies. — VNS