The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids, and Social Affairs has submitted new standards on poverty to the Prime Minister.

Poverty fight begs for varied planning

Poverty fight starts to work

More to qualify for aid with redefinition of poverty line

Accordingly, the urban people are considered to be poor if they earn below 500,000 dong ($26) a month and 400,000 dong a month for rural people.

Based on the new standards, Vietnam will have around 3.3 million needy families, including 6 percent of households in the urban areas and 17 percent in the countryside.

According to MoLISA, the northwestern region will have the highest number of poor households, accounting for 35.36 percent. The lowest percentage will belong to the southeastern region, with 3.05 percent. The Red River Delta will account for 8.72 percent, the northeastern region 25.95 percent, the Mekong Delta 13.4 percent, and the Central Highlands 19.64 percent.

Though the living standards in Vietnam have improved, poverty standards have not been adjusted. However, nine provinces and cities have applied the poverty standards, which are higher than the country’s standards, including HCM City, Hanoi, Binh Duong, Da Nang, Dong Nai, Khanh Hoa, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Binh Phuoc and Long An.

PV