VIETNAM COUNTRY REPORT By Duong Xuan Hieu Vietnam General Confederation of Labour

Literacy rate for population aged 15 years & over 93.5% Overview of Viet Nam Area 331,951.4 km2 Population 91 million (2014) Men 44.99 million 49.3% Women 45.98 million 50.4% Rural 63.60 million 69.8% Literacy rate for population aged 15 years & over 93.5%

Working population 47.8 million, 52.0% of population (2016) Overview of Viet Nam Working population 47.8 million, 52.0% of population (2016) Men 55% Women 45% Wage earners: 16 million (in FDI enterprises more than 3 million) (women: 48%) Foreign migrants: 100,000 (2013)

3% in urban areas , 1.9% in rural areas, 6.5% among youth (15-29) Overview of Viet Nam Unemployed rate 2,2% (2016) 3% in urban areas , 1.9% in rural areas, 6.5% among youth (15-29) Underemployment: 2,63% ( urban area 1.33%, rural area 3.2%)

Vietnamese Trade Unions Established 28 July 1929 Membership: 8.95 million (2016) State sector 4.1 million (46%) Non-state sector 4.9 million (54%) Women members: over 50% Number of Workplace Unions: 121,590

Trade Union Structure Schema Vietnam General Confederation of Labour National Sector Unions City/ Province FOL Corp. Unions Corp. Unions Corp. Unions District FOL Local Sector Unions Workplace Unions Workplace Unions Workplace Unions Workplace Unions Workplace Unions Workplace Unions Workplace Unions Note: Direct guidance; Co-guidance (same level) Coordination in guidance

Main labour-related legislations Labour Code (2012) Trade Union Law (2012) Law on Occupational Safety and Health (2015) Law on Employment (2015) Law on Social Insurance (2016) Law on Gender Equality (2006)

Main issues during revising laws in 2012 Labour Code 2012: extension of maternity leave, retirement age difference between men and women, total overtime work hours per year Trade Union Law 2012: Contribution to Trade Union fund, protection of trade union officials

Main gaps between VN laws and ILS Gender Equality, Equal Treatment: difference in retirement age between men and women; list of restricted employment or work assigned for women workers Forced Labour: work assigned to drug addicts in drug centers FoA: Workplace unions must be recognized by IZs unions or district FOLs under VGCL

Tripartite bodies (national level) National Wage Council National Labour Protection Council National Industrial Relations Committee

4 Action programmes (2013–2018) Programme “ Membership Development, period 2013 - 2018” Programme “Improving qualification and performance of union reps” Programme “Improving CB and CBA practices”. Programme “Improving professional skills for workers and union members”

4 Action programmes (2013–2018) Programme “ Membership Development, period 2013 - 2018” Programme “Improving qualification and performance of union reps” Programme “Improving CB and CBA practices”. Programme “Improving professional skills for workers and union members”

International cooperation Areas of support & cooperation Representation and protection of lawful rights and interests of TU members and workers Formulation of policies, labor laws and regulations: Labor Code, Law on Trade Union, Law on Social Insurance, Law on Gender Equality, policies on wage and social security Country Decent Work Program/International Labor Standards/ International Conventions Industrial Relations/Social Dialogue/Tripartite mechanism OHS Settlement of labor disputes

International cooperation Areas of support & cooperation Representation and protection of lawful rights and interests of TU members and workers Legal advice and counseling Female workers/Young workers/Child labor Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) WTO, globalisation TU and membership development; improvement of capacity and skills of TU cadres TU and membership development Improvement of capacity and skills: Social dialogue, negotiation, CBA, OHS: Training of Trainers; Renovation of training curriculum and methods

International cooperation Forms of support & cooperation Study, survey Conference, seminar Training workshop Training of Trainers Compilation of training curriculum Publications Participation in international conference/seminar Provision of office and training equipment

International cooperation Efficiency gained Capturing practical situation Raising knowledge and awareness of TU cadres Increasing skills Training/education Negotiation/social dialogue Settlement of labor disputes Legal advice and consultancy services TU and membership development Changing in knowledge and action Improving capacity of TU