Korean Government funds workshop to improve safety and health for Viet Nam coal miners

A workshop funded by the Korean Government and organized by the ILO and the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) is taking place in Viet Nam taking important steps towards creating safer working conditions for Viet Nam’s coal miners.

Press release | 24 August 2004

An important step towards creating safer working conditions for Vietnam ’s coal miners will be taken later this week, with a workshop to help miners improve their safety, health and working conditions.

The training is being organised by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA). It is being funded by the Korean government.

ILO specialists in mining and safety from Geneva and Bangkok are travelling to Vietnam for the two-day national workshop. Two experts from the Peoples’ Republic of China will also speak. 50-60 delegates from Vietnam are expected to attend, including representatives of coal workers, officials from MoLISA, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Industry. Trade Union representatives and relevant provincial agencies have also been invited.

Among the topics covered will be safety and health in pit and surface mining, in coal sorting, Silicosis prevention, and legislative and other measures to improve working conditions.

The workshop will be held from 26-27 August at the Nui Beo Coal Company, Ha Long City, Quang Ninh. It has been organised with the cooperation of MOLISA, the Ministry of Industry, the Coalmine Corporation and the Quang Ninh province Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs. Coal mining is one of the most important industries in Vietnam , employing more than 80,000 people. More than 15 million tons of coal were produced in 2003. However safety standards are poor; 17 deaths were recorded last year. The exact number of accidents is unknown.

For more information please contact:
Yuka Ujita
ILO Technical Officer in Occupational Safety and Health
Tel: +66 7806 3736
Email


Mr Vu Nhu Van
Vice Director, Dept of Occupational Safety, MOLISA
Tel: +84 4 864 4891
Email


Sophy Fisher
ILO Regional Information Officer
Tel: + 66 2288 2482
Email