A workshop was held in Hanoi on April 20 by the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS), focusing on recommendations for Vietnam’s policymaking regarding employee rights.

According to VASS Vice President Professor Dr Nguyen Quang Thuan, the European Union supported Vietnam to implement the project “Strengthening the rights of workers and representatives of trade unions” since October 2012.

The project aims to enhance the capacity of Vietnamese trade unions to supervise and understand worker circumstances as well as support employees in legal issues and raise awareness of their legitimate rights.

Speaking at the workshop, Project Coordinator Dr Michela Cerimele from Italy’s Naples ‘L’ Orientale’ University stressed that empowering employees is a key target in development strategies towards reducing poverty.

The scholar underlined the need to respect the basic rights of labourers including ensuring appropriate incomes and social welfare.

Project partners conducted research studies and provided legal consultancy services for labourers working at industrial parks in Hanoi, northern Hai Duong province and Vinh Phuc province.

Training courses were arranged for members of labour unions in legal advice centres in the localities, offering insight into scientific study methods, international labour standards as well as experience in the legal consulting activities of other countries.-VNA