Deputy Prime Minister: Covid-19 has 2.7 billion workers worldwide

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam spoke at the ASEAN ministerial-level online conference on “Human Resource Development for the Changing World of Work” on the afternoon of September 16, the program chaired and coordinated by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs. with the Ministry of Education and Training.

The program takes place at Hanoi Bridge Point with more than 70 bridges in countries in the region and with partners.

Many big changes

Speaking at the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam said that the world has undergone great changes, including digital transformation. More production industries, more modes of production will be replaced. In fact, workers will be eliminated. New professions, ways and jobs will be born.

The Deputy Prime Minister shared: “Many studies have shown that in the next 10-15 years, about a third of today’s jobs will be replaced by machines, artificial intelligence. About 40% of global workers will have to add new skills to meet job requirements. This rate in the ASEAN region is even higher ”.

In particular, from the beginning of 2020 until now, the Covid-19 pandemic has affected 2.7 billion workers, representing about 81% of the workforce worldwide. Particularly an incomplete study, in the second quarter of 2020 480 million jobs were lost, this figure in the ASEAN region exceeded 42 million.

Before the Covid-19 epidemic appeared, in the world, in Asia-Pacific and Asean, there were many forums at all levels to discuss the development of human resources during the industrial revolution 4.0. .

“No matter the level or the level, we all affirm that we must strengthen educational innovation so that all people, from an early age, must be motivated, awaken creativity, train in adaptive skills. with change … “- emphasized the deputy prime minister.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, it is extremely important for Asian countries to encourage innovative thinking, encourage new things, “not just be obedient”, but continue to maintain traditional rules.

In addition to school education, special attention should be paid to adult education, lifelong learning and dissemination of knowledge to people so that all people, all classes and all ages, can quickly access, participate in Revolution 4.0 in the most active way.

Not just education and training, but all social security policies, creating safety nets, eradicating hunger and alleviating poverty … must also change. In addition to the traditional mechanisms, there should be new mechanisms so that all employees have the opportunity and are aware of the obligation to update their knowledge, be equipped with new professional skills, even prepared. to change careers.

The role of the private sector

Sharing his comments, the Deputy Prime Minister said: “The Covid-19 pandemic also establishes a requirement to re-recognize work and consumption habits in order to have more appropriate reorganization mechanisms and policies. In countries where people have a hoarding habit and high community support, adaptability seems to be better with long-term social distance solutions.

With the development of science and technology, as well as the constant threat of non-traditional security factors, the inevitable process is the strong promotion of multilateral and multidimensional cooperation, the establishment of networks, Very flexible connection mechanism between governments, organizations , companies and among all people.

Furthermore, the role of the private sector should be more focused.

The deputy prime minister emphasized: “Many years ago, when we mentioned the private sector, we often immediately associate it with profits, with competition. In recent years, we see more and more clearly the growing social responsibility of the business community, not only limited to social enterprises ”.

In human resource development, companies not only participate in human resource development for themselves, but also participate in the formation of the entire community. Not just education and training. Many private companies also make broad-based investments in human care.

Even in the recent fight against the Covid-19 epidemic, despite suffering considerable losses from the epidemic, the business community has come together to make practical contributions to the prevention and control of the epidemic in many countries, including Vietnam. .

“We encourage and create the most favorable conditions for the private sector to invest in the development of human resources is an important solution in sustainable development in the future” – noted the deputy prime minister.

Hoang manh