Vietnam’s primary concern is always job creation, said Deputy Minister of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs Doan Mau Diep at the 101st International Labour Conference in Switzerland on June 7.

The conference, scheduled for May 30 - June 13, has attracted more than 5,000 delegates from 185 countries to discuss issues related to the youth employment crisis, consequences of the economic crisis, fundamental principles and rights at work and social protection floor.

Like other countries, Diep said the global economic crisis is worsening unemployment in Vietnam.

To deal with the situation, the Vietnamese Government has approved a youth employment programme with the aim of building young human resources with high qualifications to meet socio-economic requirements. Creating jobs, improving the quality of education and working skills, reducing unemployment rates, upgrading consultancy networks and introducing jobs for youth are fundamental targets of the programme.

Vietnam’s signing with social organizations and International Labour Organisation (ILO) of a National Cooperation Framework on Promoting Decent Work – 2012-2016 aims to improve the quality and sustainability of growth through high qualified labour forces, enhance equal and comprehensive growth through social welfare and job creation for vulnerable subjects and strengthen institutional and labour market management capacities.

In recent years, Diep said Vietnam has made great strides towards expanding the social welfare services. Despite the impact of the global economic downturn, Vietnam has not cut any social welfare spending.

During their stay in Switzerland, the Vietnamese delegation worked with newly-appointed ILO Director General Guy Ryder and held bilateral meetings with head delegates from ASEAN and other countries./.