The national conference on the “Future of Industrial Relations and the Revision of the Labour Code and the Trade Union Law’ is held in Hanoi on the 1 and 2 April 2010 by the ILO Office for Viet Nam in cooperation with Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA).

The conference is chaired by key leaders of the MOLISA, ILO and representative organisations of the employers and workers in Viet Nam, namely: Mr Kari Tapiola, Executive Director of the ILO in charge of Standards & Fundamental Principles and Right at Work of the ILO, Mr Nguyen Thanh Hoa and Mr Pham Minh Huan, Vice Ministers of MOLISA; Mr John Hendra, Resident Coordinator of the UN in Viet Nam; Mr Hoang Van Dung, Vice President of Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) representing employers’ organisations and associations; and Mr Mai Duc Chinh, Vice President of the VGCL. Participants in the conference are representatives of the tripartite partners at decentralised levels, legislative bodies, State administration bodies at central and provincial levels, organisations involved in industrial relations, business associations, and members of academia. Representatives from international organisations and Embassies of Viet Nam's major trading partners are also present.

The Conference looks at three important factors in the revision of the Labour Code and Trade Union Law: the broader context of challenges facing Viet Nam in its efforts to deepen integration into the global economy and develop an effective industrial relations system appropriate for the market-oriented economy; the major changes proposed in the draft revisions from the perspectives of each of the actors—the government, trade union, and employers’ organization; and finally, the revisions to the Labour Code regarding the key issues of employment practice, labour standards and working conditions and their implications for industrial relations in Viet Nam. The conference will also look at the draft revisions from the viewpoint of international labour standards and Viet Nam’s efforts to deepen international integration.

The Conference takes place at an important and timely stage as the draft revisions of the Labour Code and Trade Union law are being finalised for submission and deliberation by the relevant committees of the National Assembly that are assigned to appraise the draft for final enactment following wide-ranging discussions and consultations with constituents and stakeholders.

Executive Director of the ILO in charge of Standards and Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, Mr Kari Tapiola, makes a keynote speech and moderates several discussions. Mr Tapiola underlined that ‘harmonious industrial relations are a key feature of successful transitional economies, and Viet Nam is moving towards building its own model of industrial relations. There is one fundamental common principle for all effective industrial relations—the organizations of workers and employers need to be capable of truly representing their constituents. At the heart of building a viable industrial relations system is ensuring and promoting genuinely representative and independent organizations of workers and employers.’

The Conference provides an opportunity to review the draft revisions of the two laws against the industrial relations problems that have arisen in the last few years—such as, wildcat strikes, and the shortcomings of trade unions in effectively representing workers. Vice Minister of MOLISA, Mr Nguyen Thanh Hoa, noted that ‘the establishment of a better framework of laws for workers and employers to meet and negotiate, and the strengthening of the capacities of both sides in a changing economic environment, highlights our commitment to better resolving labour disputes.’

John Hendra, UN Resident Coordinator put this in broader perspective: ‘Viet Nam’s economy has been an extraordinary success story, but if this is going to be successfully matched on the social side then these revisions need to be grounded in the core principles of harmonious industrial relations, social dialogue and tripartism.’

The Conference is followed by a signing ceremony for a new ‘Viet Nam-ILO Industrial Relations Project’ running until 2011—funded by One UN, and implemented by the ILO and MOLISA in coordination with social partners and relevant bodies and organisations. The 2 million USD project will provide support to all the tripartite constituents in the revision of the Labour Code and the Trade Union law, cooperating with tripartite partners in their efforts to build capacity to become effective partners in industrial relations. In particular, the project will support VGCL to strengthen the representative capacity of grassroots and upper level trade unions, to strengthen employers to build a stronger representative employers’ organization, and the government to establish effective institutions to promote sound industrial relations.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) is the tripartite UN agency that brings together governments, employers and workers of its member states in common action to promote decent work throughout the world.

Mr Kari Tapiola is an Executive Director at the ILO Headquarters in Geneva, in charge of Standards and Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. He heads the ILO's labour standards activities, concentrating on issues of industrial relations and the social problems of countries in transition.

For further information please contact:

Ms Le Thi Huong Lien
Communication Officer
ILO Country Office for Viet Nam
Tel: +84 7340902 Ext. 206
Email