Shabait.com (Asmara)
1 January 2009
Asmara — The Minister of Labor and Human Welfare, Ms. Askalu Menkerios, said that the Eritrean government is working diligently to ensure social justice and equality.
Stressing the significance of equitable allocation of national resources towards ensuring social justice, she explained that concerted action needs to be taken to promote the provision of education, health and social services. The Minister further indicated that encouraging achievements have been registered in organizing communities, ensuring the rights of children, assisting families of fallen heroes, as well as orphans and the elderly, among others.
In this connection, Ms. Askalu pointed out that over 1.5 billion Nakfa has been paid in benefit scheme to martyrs' families over the past four years alone, and that socio-economic studies are underway to ultimately enable them become self-supporting. Moreover, in line with the initiatives taken by Eritrean nationals in the Diaspora to support to families of martyrs, over 80 million Nakfa has been extended to more than 7,000 families in the past 4 years, she elaborated.
The Minister further stated that more than 68,000 child orphans have been rehabilitated through cattle and business ventures at an expenditure of over Nfa. 21 million and made to lead their lives with their relatives, while those who could not do so have been assisted to live in group homes.
Ms. Askalu went on to explain that community-based disabled rehabilitation program has been introduced in all the administrative regions and that more than 68,000 disabled persons have become beneficiaries of the scheme. An interest-free loan amounting to about 114 million Nakfa has also been extended to over 5,000 demobilized war-disabled veterans, a move that is showing satisfactory outcome in improving their standard of living.
The Minister further outlined the efforts being exerted to provide possible support to needy elderly nationals. Also as part of endeavors to rehabilitee displaced citizens and repatriated refugees, some 210 million Nakfa has been disbursed, she added.
As regards efforts to promote healthy labor relationship, Ms. Askalu pointed out that the necessary initiatives have been taken to boost production through developing manpower capacity, as well as issuing rules and regulations in accordance with the country's Labor Law. She went on to say that labor branch offices have opened in all regions so as to effectively tackle disputes between employers and employees.
Ms. Askalu concluded saying that visas have been provided to more than 11,000 nationals who seek employment abroad, while work permits have been given to over 16,000 foreign citizens wishing to work here in Eritrea.
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