Workers on a production line of a South Korean invested company in Quang Châu Industrial Zone, Bắc Giang Province. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính highlighted creating more jobs, improving labourers' skills and giving priority to solving the housing issues of workers as the key tasks of the labour sector during a meeting in Hà Nội on Wednesday.

The PM requested the Việt Nam General Confederation of Labour continue coordinating with authorities and agencies to stabilise and develop the labour market, while paying attention to improving workers' lives.

At the meeting, he said there must also be a supervision team to inspect employers' compliance with regulations of salary and allowance payments. 

He also noted legitimate rights and interests of workers must be guaranteed, including work stability, salary, social welfare benefits, housing, schools, health clinics, and entertainment space.

The PM highlighted the fact that more than 68.43 million workers and over 1.41 million employers received support worth some VNĐ104.5 trillion (US$4.45 billion) to cope with COVID-19 consequences in 2022.

He directed relevant authorities to continue promoting the role of the trade union as the bridge between the Party, State and the working class, as well as promulgating resolutions, laws and policies to address the needs and desires of workers and businesses.

Key tasks

The PM stressed key tasks must be fulfilled to improve workers' material and spiritual lives.

He assigned the Ministry of Planning and Investment, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of Labour, Invalid and Social Affairs under the chair of Deputy PM Trần Lưu Quang to coordinate with the Confederation to push production and business activities while handling the difficulties and creating more jobs for workers.

He called on the ministries of construction, natural resources and environment, and finance, under the management of Deputy PM Lê Minh Khái, to coordinate with the Confederation to solve housing problems.

He said that the relevant ministries must develop a specific and substantive coordination programme and report to the PM in February.

VGCL President Nguyễn Đình Khang reported that in 2022, the Government and the VGCL had coordinated closely, thus protecting the legitimate rights and interests of labourers and contributing to completing socio-economic development tasks.

The PM held a dialogue with workers, which was linked with sites in the 63 cities and provinces nationwide, to listen to their opinions and discuss how to settle the issues of their concern.

The confederation proposed that the Government direct ministries, agencies and localities to promptly materialise projects and policies on workers, he said. — VNS