Vietnam needs reform to narrow gap in social service access for migrants
17/6/16
Vietnam can improve migrants’ access to
public services and employment by reducing the time and number of requirements
needed for residents to obtain permanent residency, according to a new report
issued in Hanoi on June 16th by the World Bank and the Vietnam Academy of
Social Sciences.
The report also suggests reducing differences in service and
employment access between those with permanent and temporary registration
status.
By drawing on data from the 2015 Household Registration Survey and
qualitative research, the reports points out at least 5.6 million people in the
five surveyed provinces in Vietnam lack permanent residency, including 18% in
Hanoi and 36% in Ho Chi Minh city. The majority of them work in the private
sector, especially in manufacturing and for foreign firms. They have limited
access to public schools, buying health insurance or even registering
motorcycles.
“This study shows that permanent residency system has created
inequality of opportunity for Vietnamese citizens. Further reforms could ensure
that migrants have the same access to schools, health care, and employment in
the public sector as everyone else. That will encourage people to move to
cities and support Vietnam’s economic growth and structural transformation,”
said Mr Achim Fock, the World Bank’s Acting Country Director for Vietnam.
The permanent residency system began 50 years ago as an instrument
of public security, economic planning, and control of migration. Citizens have
mixed views of the existing permanent residency system, and a large majority
says the system should be relaxed, because it limits the rights of migrants and
induces corruption.
According to Mr Dang Nguyen Anh, Vice President of the Vietnam
Academy of Social Sciences, the permanent residency registration is no longer
relevant for managing and controlling the Vietnamese society, which has been
undergoing drastic changes toward Doi Moi and international integration.
“The system should be replaced by a more scientific and modern
tool to make people's lives easier and inclusive”, he said./.
All comments [ 10 ]
Facilitators and barriers to accessing reproductive health care for migrant beer promoters in Vietnam.
In Vietnam, the total population is characterized by increasing proportions of migrants.
The Government should provide useful information for planning health and social services and for policymaking for national economic development for all kinds of migrants..
In Vietnam, the transformation from a centrally planned economy with public ownership of production to a market economy that encouraged individual entrepreneurship and foreign investment (renovation, or Doi Moi in Vietnamese) began in 1986 and has led to significant economic growth and poverty reduction.
the benefits of Doi Moi have been unequally distributed among regions
To have better supports to the lives of internal migrants – especially rural-to-urban migrants – in Viet Nam it is necessary to understand trends and characteristics of the migrants and factors promoting rural-to-urban migration.
National policy needs to identify rural-to-urban migrants as an important human resource for development of national industrial zones.
Cities/Provinces with large industrial zones or national projects need to improve their basic infrastructure such as accommodation with good living conditions, local health system, and schools for migrants’ children before opening for migrants.
National programs (e.g. health programs) related to migrants need to focus on young migrants, especially female migrants. These programs need to recognize female migrants as priority targets due to predominant proportion of this group.
Provinces with large industrial zones or national projects need to have specific policies for supporting migrants. These policies need to aim ensuring the rights of migrants in accessing social welfare and health insurance.
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