Society

If the world's richest 1 per cent just paid 0.5 per cent extra tax on their wealth for 10 years, it would equal the investment needed to create 117 million new jobs in elderly and child care, education and health, Oxfam said.  … [Read more...] about Billionaires richer than 60 percent of the world’s population: Oxfam

Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked for greater efforts from ministries, sectors, localities and enterprises to well prepare for the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet) and take care of local residents in mountainous, remote and disaster-affected areas. Speaking at a meeting of the government’s standing members on January 20, PM Phuc applauded ministries, sectors and localities for their efforts and responsibility to carefully prepare for Tet. He stressed the need to ensure production plans, supply of clean water in the Mekong Delta region, traffic safety, as well as social order and security during the Tet festival. The government leader requested the National Steering Committee for Combating Smuggling, Trade Frauds and Counterfeits, border guards and market surveillance forces to take strong measures against trade frauds and smuggling. Meanwhile, the banking sector was asked to ensure safe and convenient transactions for people. PM Phuc also … [Read more...] about PM asks for attention to remote, disaster-affected areas during Tet

HCM City (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City’s Food Safety Management Board has inspected Thu Duc agriculture wholesale market for food safety. The inspection, part of efforts to ensure food safety during Tet (the Lunar New Year), was led by head of the board Pham Khanh Phong Lan, and officials took random samples of fresh vegetables and fruits sold at the market for testing. As the city’s largest agricultural market with a throughput of 4,000 tonnes per day, Thu Duc faces a high risk of getting low-quality products with untraceable origins. Lan said: “Vegetables and fruits are highly impacted by the overuse of chemical fertilisers and pesticides. The board has to step up sampling and testing activities to evaluate the potential health risk associated with the contamination. Each trader is asked to keep records on product origins. If a violation is found based on laboratory test results, the records will be used to remove products known to be … [Read more...] about HCM City steps up food inspection to ensure safe Tet

Phnom Penh (VNA) – Three families of Vietnamese-Cambodians, whose houses were burnt down in a blaze in Phnom Penh’s Russey Keo district last year have received new houses. The houses were built with the support of local authorities and financial assistance worth 150 million VND (about 6,400 USD) from donors. Speaking at the handover ceremony on January 20, President of the Khmer-Vietnamese Association Sim Chy called on local authorities to promptly re-issue documents for victims of the fire after their belongings and papers were destroyed. For his part, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Vu Quang Minh voiced his hope that the families will soon overcome difficulties and stabilise their lives, thus contributing to the locality’s development. A fire broke out at dawn of July 10 last year, destroying 59 houses completely and causing heavy damage to 67 households, including 57 Vietnamese-Cambodian families./. … [Read more...] about Vietnamese-Cambodians receive new houses after blaze last year

HCM City (VNA) – More than 2,700 workers in industrial zones of Ho Chi Minh City will receive free transport to return home to celebrate the upcoming traditional Lunar New Year (Tet), the country’s largest yearly festival. It is part of a programme launched by the municipal labour federation and trade union of the city’s industrial zones. This year, the programme will arrange nearly 50 coach and 450 train tickets for the workers. The first 38 coaches of the programme bringing nearly 2,000 labourers home departed on January 20, the 26th day of the last lunar year. At a see-off ceremony on the day, Chairwoman of the city labour federation Tran Thi Dieu Thuy voiced her hope that after the holidays, the workers will come back to ensure local businesses’ stable production in the new year, contributing to HCM City’s development. According to the HCM City’s labour federation, trade unions in the city to date have presented over 27,500 transport tickets … [Read more...] about Free tickets offered to HCM City workers