The figures were released yesterday during a teleconference reviewing the national employment and social policies implemented by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.

Department of Planning and Finance director Chu Quang Cuong said the impacts of the global economic downturn, coupled with natural disasters and diseases, had seriously affected ministry targets.

"About 18 per cent of those who lost their jobs worked in enterprises and 31 per cent were women," Cuong said.

The Government’s decision to raise the minimum salary had helped workers overcome temporary financial difficulties. Despite the difficulties, the number of people joining the social insurance scheme increased significantly.

"By June 31, more than 9 million people were in the compulsory social insurance scheme and nearly 13,000 in a voluntary scheme, double the figure of the last half of 2008," Cuong said. A ministry report said during the period under review, labour relations improved with fewer disputes and strikes. The number of accidents fell 15 per cent and fatalities, by a fifth.

About 1.6 million people improved their skills at vocational training, double a target set by the National Assembly.

In the first six months,` nearly 1.5 million social beneficiaries, including war veterans and immediate relatives of war martyrs, received special allowances.

Cuong said the national programme for poverty reduction made notable progress. Nearly half a million from poor households got access to credit, 14 million poor received free health insurance cards and 2.5 million poor students were granted scholarships.

By June 10, the country’s 62 poorest districts had completed proposals for assistance from the Government and other organisations.

Meanwhile, 37 corporations and companies have committed more than VND60 billion ($3.2 million) to help the majority of poor districts during 2009-10. — VNS