A workshop on social work with sustainable development was jointly heldby Plan International in Vietnam and the Vocational Training and SocialActivities Association in Hanoi on December 15-16.

Addressing theevent, Nguyen Thi Hang, Chairwoman of the Chairperson of the VocationalTraining and Social Activities Association, highlighted the Party andState’s special attention to social work by issuing numerous legaldocuments in social security, such as the Labour Code, the laws onsocial insurance, education, protection and care of children, peoplewith disabilities and HIV/AIDS fight.

According to a report fromMinistry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, Vietnam’s social workis facing numerous challenges with a large number of people in need ofsocial support. There are over 9 million elders, 6.7 million people withdisabilities, 2.7 million social assistance beneficiaries, and 1.5million children in difficult circumstances.

Hang, who is alsoformer Minister of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs, said shebelieves that the workshop will serve as a forum for local and foreigndelegates to share experience in the role of social work for sustainabledevelopment, human resources and training.

Luu Quang Dai, actingprogramme director of Plan International, described social work as anoccupation and a science, requiring the competent and professional humanresources.

According to Dai, social work covers researches onpolicy development, community development and direct interventiontargeting people affected by poverty, diseases and others.

Duringthe two-day workshop, participants focus their discussions on topicsrelating to general issues on social work, human resources and training,and social work practice./.