(VOVWORLD) -Employment is a basic human need. The Vietnamese government has adopted people-centered policies to develop the labor market and generate jobs with the consistent view of comprehensive, inclusive, and sustainable development for the people. Vietnam affirmed its orientation at the 61st annual meeting of the UN Commission for Social Development (CSocD61) in New York last week.
 Minister Counsellor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen, Deputy Head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the UN (Photo: VOV) |
Clause 1 and 2, Article 35 of the 2013 Constitution of Vietnam affirms that citizens have the right to work, and choose a career, employment, and workplace. Employees are guaranteed fair and safe working conditions with a salary and rest periods.
Vietnam advocates sustainable jobs
The theme of the UN Commission’s meeting was “Creating full and productive employment and decent work for all as a way of overcoming inequalities to accelerate recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”.
Minister Counsellor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen, Deputy Head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the UN, said Vietnam supports the UN’s policy on promoting decent work and developing the socio-economy and solidarity, considering them important factors for achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Nguyen said the Vietnamese government puts the people at the center of development policies, supports vulnerable groups, reforms education, and encourages personal skills, self-study, and adaptability of workers to meet new requirements.
 Minister of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung (Photo: qdnd.vn) |
Last year Vietnam’s unemployment rate was kept below 2.3%. The General Statistics Office reported that Vietnam's labor market creates an average of 1.6 million jobs annually. In the 2016-2020 period, the employment growth rate was higher than the labor force growth rate. The unemployment rate remained between 2% and 2.3% and the urban unemployment rate stayed below 3.5%. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam's labor market has recovered, said Minister of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung.
“In late 2021 and in 2022 challenges caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis affected industrial parks, the foundation of the economy. At that time, what we were most worried about was the disruption of the labor supply chain. Through government policies and the efforts of people and businesses, we have quickly restored the labor supply chain and stabilized the labor market,” said Mr. Dung.
Promoting the right to a decent job
Employment, income, and poverty reduction are pillars of social security. At the UN Sustainable Development Summit in September 2015, a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was approved by world leaders. The 8th goal is to promote long-term, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.
In 2020 the Vietnamese government promulgated Resolution 136 on sustainable development with 17 goals by 2030 and 115 specific goals matched to national conditions and priorities. Vietnam ratified 7 of 8 fundamental Conventions of the International Labor Organization (ILO) and made law revisions to create better opportunities for people to access decent work.
Vietnam is revising the Law on Employment, which will be submitted to the National Assembly in August, 2024. Director of the Employment Department of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs Vu Trong Binh, said: “The draft revised Employment Law continues to pay attention to the disadvantaged, those who work in creative jobs, jobs that promote economic restructuring, and jobs for informal workers.”
The effort of the Vietnamese government to create decent jobs can be seen in the National Cooperation Program on Decent Work (DWCP). In the next five years, the program will focus on expanding the scope and adequacy of social security, and managing the labor market better by promoting fundamental labor rights and principles and social dialogue.
It’s the responsibility of the government, enterprises, and the whole society to create jobs and ensure that all people with working capacity have opportunities to work. Promoting the right to decent work contributes to poverty reduction and economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic, and will be one of Vietnam's top priorities during its term as a member of the UN Human Rights Council from 2023 to 2026.