Project Tackles Economic Exclusion, Employment Crisis Amongst Youth Post Covid

At the launching event on October 27 at Hanoi. Photo: Plan International Vietnam

The Hanoi Industrial Vocational College (HNIVC) as the main host, in coordination with Plan International Vietnam, has officially organized a launching event of the project “Ready for Work – Covid-19 recovery and digital economy,” supported by Standard Chartered Foundation (SCF).

According to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA), in 2021, around 18 million people work in the informal sector – hit hardest by the pandemic – with 60% of these being classed as youth (aged 15-24). There will also likely be a ‘crisis cohort’ with young people facing higher unemployment, lower pay, and worse job prospects for up to a decade.

The “Ready for Work – Covid-19 recovery and digital economy” project, supported by SCF, is aimed at addressing youth economic exclusion and unemployment caused and exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. The project is co-implemented by PIV and HNIVC with three main specific objectives.

First, disadvantaged young people are equipped with market-relevant, new and in-demand skills for, during and beyond Covid-19 and the digital economy.

Second, private sector and government institutions engage in offering relevant support to young job seekers.

Finally, families, TVET providers and employers support positive norms and practices supporting the inclusion of disadvantaged young people.

Following the success of the project “Bridges to the Future” funded by Google through PIV, HNIVC is received funding from Standard Chartered Foundation and PIV to implement the project “Ready for Work – Covid-19 recovery and digital economy” and expand and increase the number of beneficiaries.

The “Ready for Work – Covid-19 recovery and digital economy” project aims to support vocational skills training for disadvantaged youth, particularly women, while also equipping them with soft skills and providing job opportunities that meet the needs of the digital economy. The college is committed to implementing and completing the project objectives successfully, said Pham Thi Huong, HNIVC principal.

Presenting scholarships to disadvantaged youth. Photo: Plan International Vietnam

According to MOLISA Deputy Minister Le Tan Dung, HNIVC has been approved to implement the project “Bridges to the Future” in the period 2020 – 2022 with a budget of over VND 7.3 billion (USD 293.900) for market-oriented short-term vocational training and soft skills to reduce youth unemployment in Vietnam after the pandemic and the economic crisis.

The project has been very successful, with over 4,800 young people (nearly 40% female) being trained and supported in vocational skills, soft skills, gender equality knowledge, and giving referrals to job opportunities tailored to needs in the post-Covid-19 era, thanks to the project’s support and HNIVC’s determination.

This assistance has resulted in some young people receiving gold and silver medals at the most recent 2022 National Vocational Skills Competition. The project has also assisted the school with facilities, developing and editing programs and textbooks, training teachers on online teaching and gender equality, fostering business connections, and holding recruitment events to create job opportunities for students, Dung added.

With these achievements, Dung looks forward to see the parties collaborate to implement the project “Ready for Work – Covid-19 Recovery and Digital Economy” in 2022 – 2023 period, with the goal of continuing to support disadvantaged youth, particularly women, in order to equip them with vocational and soft skills, and provide job opportunities that match the needs during and after the pandemic and the digital economy.