The fifth tripartite regional seminar on industrial relations in the ASEAN region held in Hanoi on February 27 with the participation of government representatives, employers and employees from ASE AN countries.

The two-day seminar, part of ASEAN-International Labour Organisation (ILO)/Japan Project, is themed “Social dialogue and labour law reform on the legal and regulatory framework”.

Addressing the event, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thanh Hoa, said that Vietnam , together with ASEAN members, has done its utmost to build balanced and sound industrial relations, including enhancing supervision of businesses to ensure labour interests.

Vietnam ’s target is to optimise its young and abundant workforce, contributing to socio-economic development. The country attaches special importance to ensuring the legal rights and interests of employees and employers, as shown in the amendment to the Labour Code, approved by the National Assembly in June, 2012, he noted.

In the past years, with assistance from the Japanese Government through the AEAN-ILO/Japan Industrial Relations Projects, ASEAN countries have conducted a number of activities to build harmonious industrial relations at both national and regional levels.

Building better industrial relations in an integrating ASEAN is considered an important theme in their cooperation activities.-VNA