Vietnam supports ILO efforts to address future work challenges

Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dung was speaking on June 8 at the 110th session of the International Labour Conference which is taking place in Geneva (Switzerland) from May 27 to June 11.

He welcomed the theme of the plenary session that is ‘decent work and the social and solidarity economy’ and voiced his strong support for the ILO’s initiatives and plans of actions aimed at realizing the theme.

“These initiatives and action plans make an important contribution to the world’s continued progress towards the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development goals as well as the ILO’s mission of promoting social justice and decent work for all,” said Dung.

According to the minister, promoting social justice and decent work for all is also a priority goal that the government of Vietnam strives to pursue and achieve. Amidst the impact of COVID-19 pandemic, he said along with pandemic control measures introduced, the National Assembly and Government have issued and implemented many social security policies, helping the economy weather the crisis and gather steam.

In the first quarter of 2022, he said Vietnam secured GDP growth of 5.03%, while the labour market recovered, with the unemployment rate in working age at only 2.46%.

“The collective economy in Vietnam has significantly contributed to economic growth and economic restructuring, especially the agricultural economy, while adapting to climate change and aiming for green and sustainable development,” he stated.

To support the common effort towards decent work for all, the Prime Minister issued plans to implement the ILO’s Convention 98 on Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining and Convention 105 on Abolition of Forced Labour. The government is making efforts to conduct research towards ratifying Convention 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise.

The Government and relevant organizations are also considering amending bills on social insurance, employment, Trade Unions, and cooperatives, while simultaneously formulating guiding documents for the implementation of the 2019 Labor Code as well as carrying out activities to strengthen and apply international labor standards in Vietnam.

The consistent position of the Government of Vietnam is to achieve comprehensive, inclusive and sustainable development for people, putting people at the center, regardless of their gender, age, ethnicity, religion, and social status, Minister Dung stressed.

He voiced Vietnam’s commitment to working alongside other ILO member countries to address future employment challenges, and expected the country would receive additional support and assistance from the ILO and other ILO member countries in this regard.