At the event (Photo: VNA) The signing ceremony was held online in Hanoi on September 15 by the Ho ChiMinh Communist Youth Union in collaboration with UNFPA Vietnam, the Ministry ofHome Affairs, and the Provincial Youth Unions of Nghe An, Ha Tinh and QuangTri.
Supporting young returning migrant workers is one of the most importantcomponents of the Project "Mitigating the negative impacts of COVID-19 onvulnerable population groups - Ensuring National Progress to Achieve SDGs inVietnam", which is funded by the Government of Japan.
The project focuses on four main issues: gender-based violence; guality carefor older people; sexual and reproductive health; and support to youngreturning international migrant workers in 14 provinces suffering from negativeimpacts of the COVID-19 pandemic; namely Thai Nguyen, Dien Bien, Lao Cai, ThanhHoa, Nghe An and Ha Tinh in the north; Da Nang, Quang Tri, Quang Nam, and DakLak in the central region; and An Giang, Can Tho, Vinh Long and Ho Chi Minhcity in the south.
Vietnam is one of those countries which have been suffering from severesocio-economic impacts due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Young people are among thevulnerable population groups. Young international migrant workers from thethree provinces of Quang Tri, Nghe An and Ha Tinh are facing harder impactsbecause of the sudden changes in working conditions. Some of them were forcedto return to Vietnam, and when they are in their homeland, they again sufferfrom the local socio – economic difficulties. The situation becomes worst as itis not easy for them to reintegrate into their families, their communities, andthe local labour market.
In order to support these young returning migrant workers, the Ho Chi MinhCommunist Youth Union has assigned the Centre for Youth and Adolescents tocollaborate with the provincial Youth Unions of Nghe An, Ha Tinh and Quang Trito implement 29 youth-led initiatives. With a total fund of over 2 billion VND,these initiatives will help provide these young returning migrant workers withjob replacement, income generation, sexual and reproductive health and lifeskills from now until the end of March 2022.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Ngo Van Cuong, Secretary of the Ho Chi MinhCommunist Youth Union, emphasised the importance of the initiatives to supportyoung international migrant workers who returned home due to the COVID-19. Hesaid: “The Secretariat of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union will instructthe Vietnam Youth Union’s relevant departments to closely collaborate with theprovincial Youth Unions of Nghe An, Ha Tinh and Quang Tri to facilitate theimplementation of the initiatives on job replacement and income generation,thus helping the returning migrant workers to settle down. For the initiatives’ beneficiaries, I encourage youto worker harder, to learn more and to apply advanced technologies in implementing the initiatives’ activities inorder to utilise the financial resources in the most effective, reasonable andsustainable manner. I hope that you will soon overcome your difficulties and atthe same time inspire your peers to follow suit.”
In her opening remarks, Naomi Kitahara, UNFPA Representative for Vietnam highlyappreciated the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union’s efforts to contribute to mitigatingthe negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Naomi Kitahara affirmed: “The risk of COVID-19 to youth and adolescent is oftenunder-estimated. Yes, young people may have a stronger immune system, but itdoes not necessarily mean that they are not affected by the impact of COVID-19.It is important to recognise that young people have been confronted withmultiple shocks including a disruption to education and employment; incomeloss; and greater difficulties in finding a job, and accessing health and otherpublic services. Young international migrant workers are one of the hardest hits.Therefore, UNFPA commits to closely working with the Ho Chi Minh CommunistYouth Union in the project: “Mitigating the negative impacts of COVID-19 onvulnerable population groups – Ensuring National Progress to Achieve SDGs inVietnam”, funded by the Government of Japan.”
Attending the signing ceremony virtually, Daisuke Okabe, Minister of theEmbassy of Japan in Vietnam, said: “The Government of Japan is honoured to beable to support these initiatives which contribute to the realisation of theSustainable Development Goals’ philosophy of ‘leave no one behind’.”/.
VNA
