This is the first international seminar of this kind which opened in Hanoi on May 6 to deal with concepts and methods of statistical measurement as well as policies and measures to develop the sector.

Speaking at the seminar, deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, Nguyen Thanh Hoa said the sector is playing an important role in Vietnam’s transition from planned economy to market economy. The sector has not yet recorded any big achievements but has an important effect, nonetheless on Vietnam economic growth. It has helped Vietnam overcome the difficult period in the 90s when economic partners and traditional markets in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe fell into crisis. The sector has helped to absorb redundant workers after State-owned enterprises were restructured.

Recognising the sector’s important role in generating informal jobs and improving people’s income, Vietnam has created laws and policies to support the sector and protect the rights of those doing informal jobs.

The seminar was co-organised by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, the General Statistics Office of Vietnam, the Institute of Social Science and some international organization.