To establish a forum for exchange, sharing, evaluation, and proposal of initiatives to promote the enforcement of labor commitments within Vietnam's new-generation FTAs, on the morning of April 26, 2023, the Ho Chi Minh City University of Law organized an international workshop titled Labor Commitments in the New-Generation Free Trade Agreements and International Labor Standards of the ILO for Vietnam at Conference Hall A.1002.
The conference was held with the presence of many domestic and foreign experts
Guest speakers at the workshop included Mr. Alain Pelce, Senior Expert on Labor Law and International Labor Standards at the ILO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, Thailand; Dr. Nguyen Van Binh, Director of the Legal Affairs Department at the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, who served as the chair; Ms. Nguyen Thi Van, Principal Specialist in International Labor Standards Monitoring at the Legal Affairs Department of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs; Mr. Vu Huu Tuyen, Principal Specialist at the Department of Labor Relations and Wages at the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, along with representatives from various management agencies, trade unions in industrial zones, and lecturers from over 20 other universities.
Representatives from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Law included Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Hoang Hai, Acting President, who chaired the event; Dr. Nguyen Van Tien, Vice Dean of the Civil Law Department; Dr. Le Thi Thuy Huong, Head of the Research Management & International Cooperation Office, who also served as the chair; Dr. Nguyen Thi Bich, Head of the Labor Department, Civil Law Department, along with all interested faculty members and students.
In his opening remarks, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Hoang Hai, Acting President of the University, stated that the new-generation free trade agreements could pose challenges and difficulties for Vietnam. However, they also serve as a motivation for Vietnamese enterprises to strive and develop in accordance with the current global situation. The international workshop serves as an academic forum for researchers, scientists, and those with specific interests to engage in in-depth professional discussions.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Hoang Hai, Acting President of Ho Chi Minh City University of Law stating that new-generation FTAs are not purely about trade. They also encompass a wide range of other issues
In his speech at the workshop, Dr. Nguyen Van Binh, Director of the Legal Affairs Department at the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, emphasized that the enforcement of labor commitments not only directly relates to labor regulations but also extends to various other legal domains in Vietnam. Exchange on international labor standards is no longer limited to central state agencies but has expanded to include social organizations and academic researchers at numerous educational institutions. However, such coordination faces several obstacles. Therefore, the workshop provides a platform for scientific researchers to discuss and study the challenges and deficiencies in implementing current international commitments, aiming to draw lessons and experiences for Vietnam.
Dr. Nguyen Van Binh, Director of the Legal Department of the Ministry of Labor, War invalids and Social Affairs, shared that we only commit to content when that content responds to a certain benefit of Vietnam.
At the first session on the topic "Overview of labor commitments in the new-generation FTAs," the panel discussed the following presentations:
- "Experiences of some countries in implementing and enforcing labor standards in new-generation Free Trade Agreements" by Dr. Phan Hoai Nam, Ms. Tran Ngoc Ha, and Ms. Tran Thi Ngoc Ha;
- "Enforcement of new-generation Free Trade Agreements in Vietnam - Challenges in the labor sector" by Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong and Ms. Nguyen Ngoc Tu Anh;
- "Impact of enforcing labor standards in new-generation Free Trade Agreements on migrant workers" by Ms. Hoang Thi Minh Tam.
According to Ms. Tran Thi Ngoc Ha, it is necessary to be aware of the shortcomings that still exist in the agreements and to make clearer agreements so that the implementation process can be smoot.
In the second discussion session on the topic "Enforcement of ILO's international labor standards," the presentations included:
- "Basic international labor standards and mechanisms for enforcement" by Associate Professor Dr. Tran Thi Thuy Lam;
- "Issues in domesticating core international labor standards of the ILO into Vietnam's legal system" by Ms. Xa Kieu Oanh and Mr. Nguyen Van Duong;
- "Labor management system and key tasks of state labor management agencies in implementing labor commitments under the CPTPP and EVFTA agreements" by Ms. Doan Cong Yen.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Tran Thi Thuy Lam made recommendations for the implementation of ILO core labor standards in Vietnam by continueing to interalize as well as integrate and coordinate monitoring of the implementation work.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong presents a discour entitled "Executing new-generation Free Trade Agreements in Vietnam - challenges in labor domaine"
Ms. Xa Kieu Oanh represent her group of authors presenting discour about problems arising from the process of internalizing the core labor standards of ILO into Vietnamese legal system.
Ms. Doan Cong Yen believes that regulations related to inspection need to be completed soon, at the same time coordinating to improve the creativity and proactiveness of local authorities under CPTPP and EVFTA agreements.
The conference was held with the purpose to establish a forum for exchange, sharing, evaluation, and proposal of initiatives to promote the enforcement of labor commitments within Vietnam's new-generation FTAs
After the presentations were delivered, scholars and experts engaged in discussions, exchanges, and contributed opinions related to the enforcement of international labor standards set by the ILO. The purpose was to collectively explore and develop improvements to the legal framework in accordance with ILO international labor standards in Vietnam.
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Hội thảo khoa học đã đóng góp những giá trị vô cùng thiết thực cho chủ đề “Các Hiệp định thương mại tự do thế hệ mới”
The conference has contributed enormous practical value for the subject "New-Generation Free Trade Agreements"
Content: Quynh Như, Anh Thy
Picture: Khanh Linh, Thanh Hoa
Communications Department of Ulaw