U.S. backs enhancement of industrial ties in Vietnam
By Thanh Trung - The Saigon Times Daily
HANOI – Vietnam last week launched a new initiative with labor and corporate leaders to help strengthen industrial relations in the country with the support of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), says the U.S. embassy.
The activity will support a common vision for industrial relations among the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs, the General Confederation of Labor, and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The project, “Supporting Implementation of Labor Laws and Promotion of Sound Industrial Relations in Vietnam,” will extend to September 2011.
“This new activity comes at an opportune time as Vietnam addresses labor and trade union law reform,” U.S. ambassador Michael W. Michalak said at a memorandum of understanding signing ceremony for launching the activity last Thursday.
“We are encouraged to see that the Government of Vietnam is also expressing increased interest in creating a sound industrial relations system that will serve the country well as it continues to target economic growth and attract investment.”
The project will help develop a national strategy on industrial relations promotion and will work with the labor ministry to train labor inspectors and improve data collection.
Support to the labor confederation will help create a greater awareness of workers’ rights. An information campaign on laws and regulations will target workers, employers, the public, and the three key stakeholders – the labor ministry, the labor confederation and VCCI.