Rising from the abyss
“Due to a serious accident caused by careless driving, I had to serve a 12-month suspended sentence. I thought my life was at a dead end, but thanks to the guidance of the Employment Service Center (TTDVVL) of Dong Thap province, I rose from the abyss, got a job, and saved money...” is the confession of Mr. Nguyen Thanh Nam (An Binh commune, Cao Lanh district, Dong Thap) at the Job Transaction Session (GDVL) for well-behaved prisoners in 2024 at Cao Lanh Prison on October 18.
Mr. Nam said that in 2017, when he returned to society, he was encouraged and advised by the staff of Dong Thap Service Center to work abroad under a contract in Japan. His life turned a new page. After deducting expenses, he sent his family an average of 20 million VND per month. After 4 years of working, when he returned home, Mr. Nam bought 2,000 square meters of land to establish a specialized mango garden.
Participating in the GDVL session, Mr. Nguyen Cong Dinh - Chairman of the Board of Directors of Hung Thinh International Human Resources Joint Stock Company (Ho Chi Minh City) - shared that Mr. Nam's success is not only the pride of the company, but also the belief and premise for the company to boldly and confidently accept this subject in the future.
“We are ready to extend our hands to support those who have made mistakes to rebuild their lives. This will be a spreading force, relieving the heavy psychological burden for prisoners as well as developing a direction for job development so that they do not feel inferior,” said Mr. Dinh.
Listening to the sharing of his predecessor, Mr. Nguyen Huu Loi (Team 10, Sub-camp No. 1, Cao Lanh Prison) seemed to relieve his worries about his future job position: "After attending the GDVL session, I felt more confident about my job opportunities and will not repeat the mistakes... After my term ends, I will return home and apply for a job at one of the companies present today, then improve my knowledge and foreign languages to work abroad like Mr. Nam".
Keep spreading
From 2022 to present, Cao Lanh Prison has coordinated with agencies, departments and branches in Dong Thap province to open 16 classes on education, legal knowledge counseling, employment... with more than 1,900 prisoners participating. The coordinating units mainly provide training in construction, electric welding, and industrial electricity.
Every year, Cao Lanh Prison also proactively organizes vocational training for prisoners through production activities such as farming, animal husbandry, small-scale industry, etc.
However, vocational training and skill improvement are still limited. Some occupations are not suitable for the economic development situation of each locality and do not meet the labor needs of society, so the problem of finding jobs when prisoners finish serving their prison sentences and return to their localities is still low.
Lieutenant Colonel Cao Quang Thong - Deputy Warden of Cao Lanh Prison (under Department C10, Ministry of Public Security) informed that coordinating with the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs of Dong Thap province to organize vocational training sessions for prisoners is a practical way to help advise on vocational training and employment standards, helping them flexibly develop themselves as soon as they return to society.
"As the saying goes, 'Idle hands are the devil', I believe that in the coming time, when serving their prison sentences and having a positive mindset, they will choose the right path and succeed," Lieutenant Colonel Thong hopes.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Tuyet - Deputy Director of the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs of Dong Thap - said: "For this program, in the coming time, the department will continue to expand the scale so that all workers have the right to work, no one is left behind".
