Decent Work Country Programme
New framework sets ILO-Viet Nam cooperation in employment, social protection and labour market governance
The document was endorsed by representatives of the Government, workers and employers’ organizations and the ILO on 5 December.
The new document sets the framework for the co-operation between the International Labour Organization (ILO) and Viet Nam’s partners in the next five years to make progress towards achieving decent work for all in the country.
The programme was signed by Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung, leaders of social partners (President of the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vu Tien Loc, President of the Viet Nam General Confederation of Labour Bui Van Cuong, Chairman of the Viet Nam Cooperative Alliance Nguyen Ngoc Bao) and ILO Viet Nam Director Chang-Hee Lee.
The ILO and its constituents agreed to set out three country priorities to address in the coming years. They include promoting decent employment and an enabling environment for sustainable entrepreneurship opportunities; reducing poverty by extending social protection for all and reduce unacceptable forms of work, especially for the most vulnerable; and building effective labour market governance compliant with fundamental principles and rights at work.
“In the new phase of cooperation, the Vietnamese Government continues to put the emphasis on employment issues, human resources development and social protection in the context of the ongoing international economic integration, in line with the sustainable development strategy, balance between economic and social goals, and rights safeguarded for workers, businesses and the entire society,” said the Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs at the signing ceremony.
He suggested the ILO and the social partners develop an implementation plan for the programme. In the coming time, priorities should be given to the continued supports for the labour law reforms, and harmonious industrial relations at enterprises.
He also asked for ILO’s supports in developing the national reform on wages and social insurance policies, and ratifying some key ILO’s conventions for deepening the international integration.
This is the third Decent Work Country Programme for Viet Nam (with the previous one covering the 2012-16 period) since Viet Nam rejoined the ILO in 1992. The fist collaboration between ILO and Viet Nam was to assist the country in developing its Labour Code in 1994 when Viet Nam had to form a new legal framework to govern the labour market as part of the Doi Moi.
The 2017-21 programme translates the ILO’s core mandate of advancing opportunities for women and men to obtain decent and productive work in condition of freedom, equity, security and human dignity, into the country’s context. It is aligned with the National Social and Economic Development Plan and the Viet Nam United Nations One Plan for the same period.
“The ILO is committed to working together with tripartite partners for achieving our common goals,” said the ILO Viet Nam Director.
He noted that the 2017-21 programme should be used as a transition period towards a new modality of collaboration and partnership, from resource intensive to knowledge intensive. During this period, support should also be given to tripartite partners – Government, workers and employers organizations – at decentralized levels to equip them with organizational capacity for sustainable changes on the ground.