At the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Trong Dam said that Vietnam has approximately 5.3 million disabled people, making up 6.34 percent of the country’s total population.   

He said over the past years, the Party, State and localities have made every effort to take care of the lone elderly, disabled and orphans, and created favourable conditions for disabled children to attend schools and vocational training courses.

Since its promulgation in 1998, the Ordinance on People with Disabilities has changed public attitude toward the disabled. Many disabled people have since received assistance and support from the State and businesses to integrate into the community. Millions of them have also received State allowance to improve their living conditions.

The State encourages domestic and foreign individuals and organisations to assist the disabled, said Mr Dam.

However, a number of policies for the disabled have neither been brought to life nor fully implemented. Although the ordinance was issued more than 10 years ago, degrees of disability have not been identified. Many disabled people do not have full access to infrastructure, information technology, public transport and suitable jobs in businesses. Therefore, a law for disabled people should be completed to ensure their interests and equal participation in society.  

Mr Dam said that such a draft law was debated at the recent 6th session of the National Assembly. The draft law put forward specific regulations to safeguard the rights of disabled people in line with the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which Vietnam had previously signed.

US Ambassador to Vietnam Michael W. Michalak praised Vietnam’s cooperation efforts with international partners, including the US, to promote assistance programmes to ensure the disabled have equal opportunities to take part in all aspects of social life.

He called on businesses to join hands with the administration to offer suitable employment opportunities for the disabled to help them improve their quality of life.

A cultural exchange, a trade fair and a job bazaar for the disabled were held alongside the meeting.