The programme has two other components: helping the Central Institute of Economic Management, Institute of Labour Studies and Social Affairs and General Statistics Office improve its economic research and analytical capacity and providing support to strengthen the national system of occupational safety and health by improving working conditions, reducing pollution in the workplace, and preventing occupational accidents and diseases.

The US$21.6 million programme will be implemented next year in six provinces in the central and central highland region — Nghe An, Thanh Hoa, Khanh Hoa, Phu Yen, Lam Dong, and Dak Lak — and An Giang province and Can Tho City in the south.

The programme is awaiting approval from the Vietnamese Government. The two countries are expected to sign an agreement in December so that the programme would get under way in January.