A just transition

National Evaluation Workshop on Green Jobs and Just Transition in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industry (Viet Nam)

This workshop will present the experiences and lessons learnt under the ILO project on Just Transition, evaluate the project results, and strategize the future courses of action by the partner unions in Viet Nam (VGCL/VUIT in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry).

Working in the green chemical industry, Viet Nam. © Shutterstock

Background

The chemical and pharmaceutical industry in Viet Nam is an important economic sector. The share in national output amounts to 11 per cent in Viet Nam and the industry employs 2 per cent of the workforce. The share of women employed in the chemical industry has decreased from 33 per cent to 30.2 per cent between 2010 to 2015. The share of women employed in the pharmaceutical industry is higher than in chemicals. The chemical and pharmaceutical industry has a relatively high environmental footprint, with its use of natural resources, the emission of greenhouse gases and the generation of contaminants, in particular through wastewater.

In order to build the capacity of trade unions in the industries, ILO has launched a project, “Making Just Transition Work through stronger Workers’ Organizations in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industries” in Viet Nam (and Malaysia)” and implemented it with the partnership of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) during the period of February 2022 – May 2023. The project aims at:
  • Enhancing the knowledge of trade unionists in the industries concerning “ILO Guidelines for a just transition towards environmentally sustainable economies and societies for all”
  • Promoting social dialogue at the enterprise level to adopt the Guidelines and pilot it
  • Establishing a cooperation mechanism at community level involving representatives from trade unions, employers, government officials, academia, community and environmental action groups

Objectives

  • To evaluate the project results (including activities, products, pilot exercise and communication tools, etc.)
  • To present the lessons learned and get feedback from the partner unions (VUIT and affiliates) about their experiences
  • To discuss strategies for future courses of action and cooperation between VGCL/VUIT and ILO to continue union engagement and campaign to promote ILO Just Transition Guidelines and to ensure safe, secure and sustainable environment, society and workplaces.

Modality

Working language: English/Vietnamese
Interpretation/translation: English-Vietnamese simultaneous interpretation

For further information please contact:

Pong-Sul Ahn
Regional Specialist in Workers' Education
ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Email: ahn@ilo.org

Eric Roeder
ILO Technical Specialist on Green Jobs, Climate Action and Resilience through Just Transition - Asia Pacific Region
Email: roeder@ilo.org