Vietnam launches labor inspection campaign in woodwork industry
Vietnam launches labor inspection campaign in woodwork industry
A labor inspection campaign was kicked off in Binh Duong Province today, March 27, to promote labor law compliance for the sustainable development of the country’s woodwork industry.
The campaign will involve a mix of inspection activities, training, communication and outreach activities that will engage workers and enterprises and raise their awareness of the importance of labor law compliance in the wood processing industry nationwide, according to the International Labor Organization (ILO).
The 2019 labor inspection campaign, which will run until the end of the year, is being conducted by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) with the support of ILO through the New Industrial Relations Framework project. It is also a collaboration effort with the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other wood processing associations.
The woodwork sector employs some 500,000 workers, of which roughly 40%-45% are seasonal unskilled workers. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the number of laborers working in forest plantations and wood processing factories could be in the range of millions of people in mountainous and rural areas.
However, multiple challenges are clouding labor law compliance in the sector. Inspections in the 2016-2018 period and surveys of wood firms in Dong Nai Province have revealed many violations of labor laws and regulations, particularly in terms of overtime, labor contracts, unemployment benefits, occupational safety and health and social insurance.
“We recognize that most wood processing companies use outdated technology and unskilled workers, resulting in many limitations in labor law compliance,” said MoLISA Chief Inspector Nguyen Tien Tung, adding that these violations adversely affect the safety and health of workers and reduce their productivity and the overall competitiveness of the sector’s exports.
“Decent work is an important condition to ensure that Vietnam is seen as a trusted actor in the global supply chain and the first choice of buyers in a very competitive market,” stated the manager of ILO’s US-funded New Industrial Relations Framework Project, Andrea Prince, adding that strengthening the strategic approach of the labor inspectorate is a key step toward delivering the compliance results that buyers seek and workers need.
The 2019 Labour Inspection Campaign is the fifth of its kind since 2015. Initiated by ILO and MoLISA each year, the campaign focuses on promoting compliance in a specific sector.
