Lai Chau: Poverty reduction, creating momentum for inclusive development

Job creation - the key factor for people to escape poverty

As a mountainous border province in the Northwest, Lai Chau has one of the highest rates of poor and near-poor households in the country. Over the years, the province has always identified poverty reduction as a top priority task, associated with economic development and ensuring social security.

Implementing Resolution No. 10-NQ/TU dated July 5, 2022 of the Provincial Party Committee on strengthening leadership over national target programs for the 2021 - 2025 period; The Provincial Party Committee, People's Council and People's Committee have focused on directing resolutely, mobilizing maximum resources and organizing synchronous implementation. All levels and sectors have enhanced their responsibility in leadership and management; focused on disbursing budget capital, especially public service capital, to promptly serve and ensure the legitimate and urgent rights of the people.

Fish breeding model of Ms. Ha Thi Ninh, Co Phay village, Muong Cang commune, Lai Chau province. Source: Baolaichau.vn

Along with that, the province promotes investment in building rural infrastructure, supporting production, encouraging the application of science and technology in agriculture and forestry, organizing vocational training and expanding access to preferential credit; the goal is to reduce multidimensional poverty, inclusively and sustainably, limit re-poverty and the emergence of new poor households.

In fact, employment is a key factor for people to escape poverty sustainably. In the period of 2021 - 2024, the whole province has 37,613 poor workers supported to solve employment, of which from 2022 - 2024, 1,482 workers successfully connected with enterprises in the province, 1,168 workers went to work abroad for a limited period under contract. The province also supported 2,819 poor households with housing, of which 1,992 households were newly built, 827 households were repaired, with the disbursement rate reaching 93.08% of the capital plan.

Regarding domestic water and sanitation, up to now, 92.28% of poor households have access to clean water; 55% of households have hygienic toilets, contributing to improving community health. These policies not only help many households escape poverty, but also create conditions for them to become well-off, gradually increase their income, and reduce their dependence on social assistance.

Promoting sustainable employment

Implementing Sub-project 3 on Supporting Sustainable Employment, the Lai Chau Provincial Department of Home Affairs has focused on investing in building infrastructure and information technology equipment to modernize the labor market information system, forming an online job exchange, and at the same time, building a synchronous job database to serve the connection between labor supply and demand in the area.

Thanks to that, the work of consulting, introducing jobs, connecting businesses with workers has become more and more effective. Up to now, Lai Chau has supported job creation for 37,613 workers, contributing to reducing unemployment rate and improving people's lives.

In parallel with domestic connection work, the provincial home affairs sector also effectively implemented Sub-project 2: supporting workers to work abroad under contracts, which was implemented by Lai Chau province as an important direction to create jobs, increase income and transfer skills to workers in disadvantaged areas. From the central budget support, the province organized vocational training, foreign languages, fostered necessary knowledge and supported exit procedures for 612 workers.

In 2025, the province will support 160 more workers to work abroad, focusing on stable markets such as Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan (China). Propaganda, consultation, selection, vocational training and foreign language training will continue to be promoted, especially in poor areas and especially disadvantaged communes.

The implementation of this sub-project has profound social significance, not only helping people have jobs and stable income, but also solving the shortage of jobs, opening up opportunities for comprehensive development for rural youth. Many workers after completing their contracts and returning home have become the core of cooperatives, cooperatives or small businesses, contributing to the development of the local economy.

In 2025 - the final year of the 5-year socio-economic development plan 2021 - 2025, Lai Chau aims to reduce the overall poverty rate to 3.68%, create new jobs for more than 9,000 workers, and provide vocational training for 8,000 people. The province promotes vocational training and job counseling, connecting rural workers with domestic and foreign market needs; supports housing, clean water, health care, education and information to ensure people have full access to basic social services, meeting multidimensional poverty standards.

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/lai-chau-giam-ngheo-tao-dong-luc-phat-trien-bao-trum-10393571.html