Hanoi (VNA) - ꦕ Migrants in the Red River and the Mekong River Deltas have to struggle with poor living conditions, low income, and a lack of family support, according to a study.

The study was unveiled at a seminar themed “Internal Migration in the Red River and Mekong River Deltas: Current Issues and Policy Implications” co-organised by the Institute for Sustainable Development under the National Economics University and the United Nations Development Programme in Vietnam (UNDP) in Hanoi on September 24.

It was conducted in nine provinces and cities, including four in the Red River Delta (Hanoi, Bac Ninh, Hai Duong, and Nam Dinh), four in the Mekong River Delta (Can Tho, Long An, An Giang, and Soc Trang), and Binh Duong in the southeast. The study found that while migration management is closely followed in the Mekong River Delta, it is overburdened in the Red River Delta. Additionally, the coordination between residency management and labour management agencies is insufficient. It revealed that although most migrants comply with temporary residence declaration and lodging notifications, they often fail to distinguish between the two procedures. Besides, most migrants in the sample cannot access basic social welfare benefits. On top of that, unskilled migrants are often employed in low-skilled jobs or as freelancers in seasonal employment, leaving them without health insurance, social insurance or any form of social security.

It also found that the majority of migrant workers reside in substandard housing, characterised by overcrowding, damp and a lack of basic amenities, especially fire safety measures. The disruption of their family lives and mental well-being has caused a range of social problems that require immediate attention. The study showed that migrant families often struggle to enroll their children in public schools due to overcrowding. As a result, many migrant children are forced to attend costly private preschools. Additionally, it found that female migrants face a disproportionate burden of challenges, including psychological, social, and community integration difficulties, compared to their male counterparts. The study outlined a series of solutions and policy implications to ensure migrants' rights are safeguarded in their new communities. This includes government allocation of land for affordable housing, regardless of residency status, as well as the diversification of housing options to meet their specific needs.

In regions like the Mekong River Delta, promoting 'pendulum migration' by creating agricultural jobs and improving transportation infrastructure can help retain the workforce and reduce housing pressures. Sabina Stein, Assistant Resident Representative and Head of the Governance and Participation Unit at UNDP Vietnam, stressed that safeguarding migrants' rights is essential not only for justice but also for promoting sustainable development. She underlined the need to foster the integration of migrants into local communities and build social cohesion to harness the full potential of migration. She argued that providing equal access to education for migrant children in their new communities will significantly facilitate their integration. Streamlining administrative procedures for migrants in host provinces is also essential to support their settlement. National Economics University's Vice President Nguyen Thanh Hieu remarked that the study findings will contribute to enhancing the quality of life of migrants in the Red River and Mekong River Deltas by facilitating their access to public services and influencing policy development./. "Thực thi quyền của người di cư là điều kiện để thúc đẩy phát triển bền vững"