Illustrative image (Source: laodong.com.vn) International experts shared experience in handling conflicts in employment relationships at a seminar in Ho Chi Minh City on September 10.
Participants underlined the need to complete labour dispute procedures, explaining that employment conflicts are increasing while conciliation, mediation and arbitration mechanisms remain ineffective.
The seminar heard that Vietnam’s employment standards are still low or have failed to meet international levels regarding wage, working conditions and labour hygiene and safety, coupled with fraud in social, unemployment and health insurance.
Bui Sy Loi, Deputy Head of the National Assembly (NA)’s Committee for Social Affairs, made it clear that the steps taken before a dispute reaches to litigation are critical in preventing the conflict from worsening.
Since employees have a disadvantageous position in both finance and power compared with their employers, labour procedure-related legal regulations should be distinct from those on civil procedures, he said.
Echoing Loi’s views, a representative from the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs said employees have limited access to evidence managed by employers during the process of labour dispute procedures.
Given this, many foreign countries have forced employers to present proof of their innocence, the representative said.
Domestic and international experts at the seminar, jointly held by the NA committee and the International Labour Organisation, also discussed building labour dispute procedure regulations in Vietnam’s Civil Procedure Code and the role played by trade unions in protecting labourers’ legitimate rights.-VNA
