Legislators press buttons to vote on the the revised Labour Code on November 20 (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) – The InternationalLabour Organisation (ILO) has praised Vietnam’s adoption of the revised LabourCode on November 20, saying that the code will held everyone gain fair benefitsof economic growth.
The ILO described the adoption as the latestmove to bring the country’s legal framework closer to international standards.
“This is significant progress as it willsubstantially improve Vietnam’s employment and industrial relations and createa solid foundation for fair international integration and trade,” said ILOVietnam Director Chang-Hee Lee.
The organisation noted the fifth edition of theLabour Code (following its 1994, 2002, 2006 and 2012 versions) creates animproved legal framework for employment relations, working conditions, and therepresentation of employers and workers. It also places greater emphasis on theuse of voluntary collective negotiations, which are required for a modernsocialist-oriented market economy in the process of deeper global integration.
The most important change in the revised LabourCode, comprising 17 chapters with 220 articles, is the ability of workers inenterprises to exercise their rights to form or join a representativeorganisation of their own choosing.
“Freedom of association is a fundamental rightunder the ILO’s 1998 Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work.It helps improve the collective bargaining process that enables workers to geta fairer share of the profits and enterprises to negotiate the productivityimprovements necessary for them,” Lee said.
The progress can be seen in new definitions fordiscrimination and harassment and new freedoms given to workers to leave theirjob upon condition of giving appropriate notice. The code also provides clearerguidance relating to forced labour and minor workers, which make it easier foremployers to understand what is and is not permitted and should enhance theability of labour inspectors to advise and enforce in these areas.
Another big improvement is the expansion of thescope of the Labour Code to protect workers who are employed but have not beenprovided with written employment contracts.
Respecting ILO fundamental conventions is acentral requirement of the new generation of free trade agreements, includingthe Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership(CPTPP) and the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) as well as pivotal tocorporate social responsibility policies of many multi-national corporations.
“The revised Labour Code, which paves the wayfor the move towards the full realisation of the 1998 ILO Declaration, is soimportant because it provides a better legal framework for employment andindustrial relations, and for equitable and sustainable growth, as Vietnammakes concerted efforts to become an upper middle income country. It willgreatly contribute to the progressive realisation of decent work for allworking women and men,” Lee added./.
