HANOI, Viet Nam (ILO news) - Ms Chihoko Asada-Miyakawa, International Labour Organization (ILO)’s Assistant Director-General and Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific visited Viet Nam from 20 to 24 February 2023, to strengthen collaboration in employment, labour and social protection. This is the ILO Regional Director’s first official visit to Viet Nam since being appointed in 2020.

Beginning her five-day visit, Ms Asada-Miyakawa met with the Vietnamese Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) to discuss the continued cooperation to promote and implement the Decent Work Country Programme 2022–26. The Regional Director shared the ILO’s appreciation for Viet Nam’s high commitment to social protection and labour law reform, including the adoption of the Labour Code 2019, the Vietnamese Guest Workers law, as well as the ongoing revision of other laws on employment, social insurance, and trade unions. "The ILO stands ready to provide technical support to Viet Nam and MOLISA in these important," said Ms Asada-Miyakawa.

The ILO Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific also took this opportunity to extend to Minister Dao Ngoc Dung an invitation to consider Viet Nam as a pathfinder country for the UN Secretary-General’s Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions. "Viet Nam is seen as a country with a high potential to lead the accelerator to success and as inspiration to other countries, given the Viet Nam’s priorities on productive job creation, social protection, and environmental sustainability," shared Ms Asada-Miyakawa.

During her time in Hanoi, the ILO Regional Director also discussed cooperation on labour and social protection in meetings with leaders from the Vietnamese Communist Party Central Economic Commission and the National Assembly’s Social Affairs Committee, as well as the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI). Meeting with representatives of the Viet Nam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) and the Viet Nam Cooperatives Association (VCA), the Regional Director spoke about fostering sustainable employment, improving industrial relations and social welfare for workers. She also met with UN Resident Coordinator, Ms Pauline Tamesis, to discuss the UN’s Global Accelerator for Jobs and Social Protection initiative.

On Wednesday, 23 February, the Regional Director made a site visit to the Viet Nam Diamond and Zebra Electric company – one among 15 companies in the ILO and VCCI’s Advisory Programme for the Electronics Sector in Viet Nam. Through speaking directly with workers and visiting the facilities, Ms Asada-Miyakawa had the opportunity to understand how the Advisory Programme has helped the company to enhance operational efficiency, working conditions, social dialogue as well as address issues such as gender equality.

The Regional Director highlighted: "ILO is committed to walking side by side the national tripartite stakeholders at all levels, including at workplace levels, towards consensus-building and decent workplaces with shared benefits for all women and men and to leave no one behind."

For further information please contact: 

Duong Tran Thuy
National Communication and Public Information Officer
ILO Country Office for Viet Nam
Email: duongt@ilo.org