Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNS/VNA) - The EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) offers manyopportunities to Vietnamese workers and just as many challenges. The country’slabour force must find ways to improve its quality in order to produce productsthat adhere to stricter standards in European markets, said policymakers andlabour experts at a conference in Hanoi on September 17.
President of theVietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) Vu Tien Loc said Vietnam’slabour force quality still left much to be desired. A recent VCCI survey showed85 percent of businesses in the country were facing difficulties findingskilled workers and managers. A lack of skilled workers has discouragedhigh-tech companies to make heavy investments in Vietnam.
In addition, companieswill have to implement a number of changes to their current labour policies tomeet with the EVFTA’s labour standards, such as making commitments to ensureworkers’ rights to collective bargaining, eliminate forced and child labour aswell as workplace discrimination.
The EVFTA is anopportunity for the Vietnamese labour force to grow but they must be equippedwith the right skills to take advantage of such opportunities, said SimonMatthews, Country Manager of Vietnam, Thailand and the Middle East underManpowerGroup, a leading staffing firm based in the US.
The trade deal wasexpected to create between 18,000 to 19,000 jobs each year for the next tenyears, with the majority of jobs in textile, footwear and furnituremanufacturing as tariffs were set to be lifted for Vietnamese products exportedto the EU market.
"Labour forcequality remains an obstacle for Vietnam to overcome. European firms requirefrom employees both technical and language skills and they are hoping to seesuch demands addressed by the Government," said Nguyen Hai Minh, ViceChairman of EuroCham Vietnam.
Minh said most Europeanfirms rely on technologies and therefore place great emphasis on employingskilled workers instead of cheap labour.
Matthews said developinga skilled labour force is a top priority for Vietnam in the country's effort tointegrate into the global economy. He urged firms to start building humanresource strategies to train and retain skilled workers.
Loc said businesses mustwork together with universities and vocational training schools. He called forshortened and more practical courses as well as increased involvement ofthe business sector in education and vocational training./.
President of theVietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) Vu Tien Loc said Vietnam’slabour force quality still left much to be desired. A recent VCCI survey showed85 percent of businesses in the country were facing difficulties findingskilled workers and managers. A lack of skilled workers has discouragedhigh-tech companies to make heavy investments in Vietnam.
In addition, companieswill have to implement a number of changes to their current labour policies tomeet with the EVFTA’s labour standards, such as making commitments to ensureworkers’ rights to collective bargaining, eliminate forced and child labour aswell as workplace discrimination.
The EVFTA is anopportunity for the Vietnamese labour force to grow but they must be equippedwith the right skills to take advantage of such opportunities, said SimonMatthews, Country Manager of Vietnam, Thailand and the Middle East underManpowerGroup, a leading staffing firm based in the US.
The trade deal wasexpected to create between 18,000 to 19,000 jobs each year for the next tenyears, with the majority of jobs in textile, footwear and furnituremanufacturing as tariffs were set to be lifted for Vietnamese products exportedto the EU market.
"Labour forcequality remains an obstacle for Vietnam to overcome. European firms requirefrom employees both technical and language skills and they are hoping to seesuch demands addressed by the Government," said Nguyen Hai Minh, ViceChairman of EuroCham Vietnam.
Minh said most Europeanfirms rely on technologies and therefore place great emphasis on employingskilled workers instead of cheap labour.
Matthews said developinga skilled labour force is a top priority for Vietnam in the country's effort tointegrate into the global economy. He urged firms to start building humanresource strategies to train and retain skilled workers.
Loc said businesses mustwork together with universities and vocational training schools. He called forshortened and more practical courses as well as increased involvement ofthe business sector in education and vocational training./.
VNA
