The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and Better WorkVietnam held a workshop in Hanoi on May 20 to promote the implementationof international standards on labour hygiene and safety.
Participants said Vietnam has promulgated legal documents in thefield, helping to create an important legal framework to protect thehealth, rights and interests of workers.
Meanwhile,the National Week on Occupational Health and Safety – Fire and ExplosionPrevention has drawn more attention from workers.
Vietnam has built its law on occupational safety and hygiene (OSH) andgained experience from other countries worldwide to draft regulations inline with international practices and conventions.
The country has joined the International Labour Organisation (ILO)’sConvention 155 on occupational health and safety; Convention 187 onnational labour safety; Convention 184 on labour safety in agriculture;and, most recently, Convention 187 on the promotion framework ofoccupational safety and health.
However, someshortcomings still lie ahead; for example, the technical documents onlabour hygiene and safety have yet to be updated, while the insurancepolicy for labour accidents and occupational diseases addresses theconsequences without suggesting means of prevention.
Ministries and sector leaders now plan to map out a roadmap to helpVietnam effectively implement its commitments to the joined conventionsto protect the legitimate rights of employers and employees.
According to the National Steering Committee for Occupational Healthand Safety – Fire and Explosion Prevention, more than 6,700 labouraccidents occurred nationwide in 2014, killing 630 and injuring 1,544workers.
The same year, the country reported 2,370fires, claiming 90 lives, leaving 143 injured, causing an economic lossof over 1.3 trillion VND (62 million USD), and destroying over 1,300hectares of forest.-VNA
