Challenges to Rural Poverty Reduction in Viet Nam - Oxfam Blogs
Challenges to Rural Poverty Reduction in Viet Nam - Oxfam Blogs
Challenges to Rural Poverty Reduction in Viet Nam - Oxfam Blogs
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Participa<strong>to</strong>ry poverty moni<strong>to</strong>r<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> rural communities <strong>in</strong> <strong>Viet</strong> <strong>Nam</strong><br />
98<br />
depend on relationships with people from their home village or prov<strong>in</strong>ce when they get<br />
<strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> trouble or have problems with the local authorities and their employers.<br />
Migrants work<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the formal sec<strong>to</strong>r also encounter difficulties. Fall<strong>in</strong>g real<br />
wages mean migrant workers save less and remit less money home. Ris<strong>in</strong>g prices also<br />
cause tension <strong>in</strong> the work place. Many workers <strong>in</strong> small companies and workshops do<br />
not enjoy social benefits. Migrant workers rarely participate <strong>in</strong> activities organised by<br />
local communities or mass organizations. The role of trade unions <strong>in</strong> private and foreign<br />
<strong>in</strong>vested enterprises is limited, and has not been able <strong>to</strong> serve as a representative voice<br />
of workers and <strong>to</strong> protect their benefits.<br />
Parents work<strong>in</strong>g away from home can disrupt their children’s education. In Cau<br />
Ngang - Tra V<strong>in</strong>h, many migrant parents of Kh’mer ethnic groups take their children with<br />
them. Other children from poor households have <strong>to</strong> leave school <strong>to</strong> work <strong>to</strong> help their<br />
parents.<br />
Reports of miss<strong>in</strong>g women from ethnic m<strong>in</strong>ority groups, affects those who<br />
rema<strong>in</strong> beh<strong>in</strong>d. In Luong M<strong>in</strong>h - Nghe An, s<strong>in</strong>ce 2010 five people <strong>in</strong> Xop Mat village<br />
and sixteen <strong>in</strong> Cham Puong village have gone miss<strong>in</strong>g. Some apparently left for Ch<strong>in</strong>a.<br />
5.2. Local casual jobs<br />
Trends<br />
Local casual jobs (for between a day and two weeks) are popular. In 2010, the<br />
percentage of people with local casual jobs (12%) is 1.5 times higher than those work<strong>in</strong>g<br />
away from home (8%). In mounta<strong>in</strong>ous ethnic m<strong>in</strong>ority communes, the number of people<br />
do<strong>in</strong>g local casual jobs is much higher than the number of people work<strong>in</strong>g away from<br />
home.<br />
Local casual employment is unstable, seasonal and depends on the weather and<br />
the progress of construction work. In some areas, the number of casual construction<br />
jobs <strong>in</strong>creased because of programmes <strong>to</strong> replace temporary houses and reclaim land<br />
(Thuan Hoa - Ha Giang, Ban Lien - Lao Cai). In other areas there are fewer jobs as<br />
construction projects are completed (Phuoc Dai - N<strong>in</strong>h Thuan, Phuoc Thanh - N<strong>in</strong>h<br />
Thuan), mechanization reduces the opportunities for the poor (Thuan Hoa - Tra V<strong>in</strong>h) or<br />
less timber is transported (Xy- Quang Tri). In 2011, the Government issued Resolution<br />
11 <strong>to</strong> cut public spend<strong>in</strong>g and many local construction projects have been delayed,<br />
postponed or cancelled.<br />
There are more local casual jobs for men than women. Most local job opportunities<br />
<strong>in</strong>volve heavy labour (masonry, load<strong>in</strong>g and unload<strong>in</strong>g, carry<strong>in</strong>g timber, carpentry).<br />
Where jobs are seasonal (plant<strong>in</strong>g rice, harvest<strong>in</strong>g, weed<strong>in</strong>g, plant<strong>in</strong>g rubber trees) both<br />
men and women can f<strong>in</strong>d work (Table 5.3).