Coordinating board of ASEAN occupational safety network meets

The annual event is attended by more than 50 delegates from the 10 ASEAN nations, and representatives from the bloc’s partner countries (the Republic of Korea, China and Japan) and international organisations. 

Opening the meeting, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Doan Mau Diep said as they will face new arising challenges amidst global economic integration, the ASEAN-OSHNET Coordinating Board needs to devise stronger measures to enhance occupational safety and health. 

It should promote national programmes on occupational safety and health in the region and strengthen cooperation with international partners in the work. 

He stressed that Vietnam will play an active and responsible role to enhance occupational safety and health in ASEAN. 

At the meeting, the Coordinating Board approved an action plan on promoting occupational safety and health for the 2016 – 2020 period. 

Activities within the event, running until April 28, include a ceremony to honour businesses with outstanding performances in ensuring occupational health and safety, a ceremony in response to the World Day for Health and Safety at Work (April 28), and the third ASEAN-OSHNET Conference. 

ASEAN has a population of about 630 million with some 300 million people in the workforce. It is considered a dynamic and potential region in the world. 

However, there exists development gaps among the regional countries, and labourers in some nations lack necessary knowledge and skills. That fact requires more attention to occupational health and safety to boost the sustainable development of the recently-established ASEAN Community.