Only 10.8 per cent of disabled Vietnamese people have access to social security due to low incomes and unstable work. — Photo baophapluat.vn

HÀ NỘI – Only 10.8 per cent of disabled Vietnamese people have access to social security due to low incomes and unstable work.

The figure was released at a workshop yesterday on improving social security access for the disabled.

The workshop was organised by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF), a German political fund in Việt Nam.

The ministry and HSF have researched social protection for labourers with disabilities in Việt Nam to analyse resources, jobs for disabled people, and assess the current social security system to propose ways to ensure the rights of disadvantaged groups.

The research showed the opportunities the diabled have in education are poor, particularly at higher levels of education.

Labourers with serious disabilities face difficulties finding a good and stable job, according to the study.

It also revealed that most of the disabled work in agriculture with low income and tough working conditions.

Dr Nguyễn Thị Lan Hương, representative of the research group, called for better policies to support people with disabilities in education, healthcare services, social and health insurance as well as employment opportunities.

She also called for raising public awareness of diabled people.

At the meeting, participants proposed promoting the role of people with disabilities and disabled organisations, listening to their ideas for legislation and creating conditions to help them join in State agencies and companies’ management boards.

Delegates also said that the study on social protection for workers with disabilities in Việt Nam would be the basis for the State agencies on disability to create new measures and policies and to further amend the law on people with disabilities.

Việt Nam is home to about 6.7 million people with disabilities, accounting for 7.8 per cent of the population. - VNS