The poverty eradication project, under Government Resolution 30a adopted last December, also aims to reduce the number of poor households in the area by more than 10 percent.

The standard of living in the districts will be on par with the provincial and regional averages by 2020, according to the plan, and 60 percent of the localities’ workers would be trained and employed by businesses in the localities or by labor export programs.

In line with the plan, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs’ Department for Overseas Labor Management has announced an initiative to help the workers find work abroad, describing it as an effective way to further improve living conditions.

The agency has set a target of sending around 10,000 workers from disadvantaged districts to work abroad during the 2009-2010 period and expects the figure to increase to as many as 50,000-60,000 workers by the end of 2015.

The plan, which is awaiting governmental approval, includes vocational training for workers from the impoverished areas to help them meet the requirements of working abroad.

The department said it viewed the provision of financial support as an essential measure to help the disadvantaged workers secure labor contracts.

In addition, the agency has formulated policies to encourage businesses and vocational training schools to take part in training workers from these districts, alongside providing preferential credits for the guest workers.

Source: TN, VNA