Workers can refuse to work in conditions that do not meet safety standards, according to the Ministry of Construction's new regulations.

Specifically, if workers report unsafe conditions and do not receive responses, they can choose to stop working. The regulations also stipulate that they can resist work if not provided with adequate protective equipment.

Construction workers are barred from assignments that involve work they are not trained to do. Contractors must keep workers safe at all costs, including taking injured workers to hospitals and reporting accidents to relevant authorities for investigation.

According to Truong Anh Tu, a construction supervisor of the private Hanoi-based Acore 3D, workers are already refusing unsafe jobs. In fact, contractors already try to maintain safe construction sites.

He said if accidents occur, "construction will be stopped and our prestige will be damaged. So, any safety suggestions raised by workers will be seriously considered to make necessary changes."

However, he also said that it was nearly impossible to give assignments in line with workers' trained skills given that a majority of country's construction workers are freelance seasonal workers with little or no training at all.

At smaller firms, workers are usually required to do multiple jobs.

The regulations will come into effect as of January 16 next year./.