How government is limited

The government is drafting a bill to raise the retirement age by two years for men to 62 and by five years for women to 60. But textile firms firmly oppose this proposal. Bui Duc Thinh, chairman of Song Hong Garment JSC, said at a recent forum that an increase of five years would cause too much stress for female textile workers, who work up to 10 hours a day in a job that requires intense focus. Many women workers in fact want to retire at 45, so the existing retirement age of 55 is already unreasonable, he said. "Some even bribe doctors to have medical grounds for early retirement." A representative of the Vietnam Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association (LEFASO) said women textile workers tend to retire at 35-40 and use their retirement benefits to open their own small business like a garment or barber shop. "Most of them quit before 50." Truong Van Cam, general secretary of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association, said the retirement age should be increased first … [Read more...] about Textile industry unhappy with government plan to raise retirement age

HONG KONG, CHINA - Media OutReach - 12 December 2019 - RICS (Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors) is now accepting nominations for RICS Awards 2020 Hong Kong. Thirteen categories celebrating achievements from different facets of the built industry are open for submission until 13 December 2019. The highest accolade bestowed by a global professional organisation in the management of the built and natural environment, the RICS Awards Hong Kong has been running for the ninth consecutive year recognising achievements and contributions from professionals in land, property, construction and the built environment. Mr Dave Hallam MRICS, RICS Hong Kong Advisory Board Chair, said, "Pioneering better environments in the past 150 years, RICS strives to effect positive change in the built and natural environments. The RICS Awards are designed to showcase and celebrate the outstanding achievements and developments of industry professionals who are creating better places and … [Read more...] about RICS Awards 2020 Hong Kong opens for nominations celebrating outstanding industry achievements

With the price of pork soaring, consumers begin to look for alternatives such as poultry, beef, and seafood (Photo: Le Toan) Since early November, the price of pork has been increasing rapidly. In some provinces, the price of live pigs has hit a record of VND80,000 ($3.45) per kilogramme, an almost 170 per cent increase in just six months. The record tally has already pushed the price of pork in wet markets across the country up to VND170,000 ($7.40) per kilogramme. The price of other foodstuff made from pork, such as Vietnamese sausages, has also hiked up to VND40,000 ($1.70) per kilogramme. In some shops and restaurants in Hanoi, the rise has led to increases of up to VND10,000 ($0.40) per dish. Last week, Duong Thu Ha, a bank officer in the centre of the capital, was surprised at the increased fee of the noodles with pork that she usually has for lunch. “They used to charge me VND35,000 ($1.50), but now a dish can be either VND10,000 more expensive or if it has the same … [Read more...] about Consumers begin to feel pork pinch

The current standing of laws on environmental protection and minerals in Vietnam are being called into question after the collapse of Bong Mieu gold mine, with locals paying the price for the damage left behind. Insufficient restoration cover for such activities, along with the lack of responsibility placed on organisations to implement mining schemes in a proper manner, mean that lessons must be learned in order to efficiently procure high-quality foreign direct investment in the mining sector. After Bong Mieu Gold Mining Co., Ltd. in the south-central province of Quang Nam saw its mining licence for Bong Mieu mine expire three years ago, one of the two largest gold mines in Southeast Asia went officially bankrupt in 2018. The consequences, however, are far from over as the surrounding area has been ploughed and left to deal with dangerous chemicals. This has led to the province being forced to utilise its local budget to close the mine entirely and take up all works of environmental … [Read more...] about Bong Mieu exit causes golden headache for local authorities

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc presents gifts to the two football teams. At the meeting, the two head-coaches, Park Hang-seo and Mai Duc Chung, and the two captains, Do Hung Dung and Huynh Nhu, briefed  the PM on the achievements they gained at the tournament. The men’s U22 team has won the gold medal for the first time since Vietnam started the international integration of its sport sector. Meanwhile, the women’s team topped the region’s women’s football as it has won the gold medal for the sixth time. Both teams worked hard with their high sense of responsibility to bring home glory. The PM highly appreciated the achievements of the two teams and revealed that certificates of merit would be awarded to the teams’ members at a ceremony to review the results of the sport delegation of Vietnam participating in the 30th SEA Games. He believed that the victories are not just limited to the fields of football and sports. They also serve as the encouragement and … [Read more...] about SEA Games 30: PM meets with football teams