Pham Minh Huan, Head of the Department of Labour and Salary Affairs of the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA), affirmed the policy at a symposium on the issue in Hanoi on March 17, which saw the attendance of representatives from Japanese businesses in Vietnam and the Japan Research Institute of Training and Labour Policies.

Relevant Vietnamese agencies are currently focusing on strengthening a tripartite mechanism for governing labour relations among the State, employers and employees as well as encouraging business to collaborate with government in improving labour relations, Huan said.

MOLISA recently set up a National Committee for Labour Relations and a centre in support of the development of labour relations to provide assistance to employers and employees in establishing and maintaining healthy ties.

Sakai Sumio from the Japan Research Institute of Training and Labour Policies presented his view that to achieve a stable labour relationship, all problems arising between employers and employees should be solved through bilateral discussions and negotiations without government intervention.

The role of trade unions was highlighted in developing and maintaining sound labour relations, but it was reported that many employers have refused to support the establishment of trade unions in their businesses.

At present, only 22,000 out of the total 230,000 Vietnamese businesses have established their own trade unions.

Regarding the issue, Dang Quang Dieu, a representative from the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour, argued that for businesses employing 500 or more workers, there should be a full-time trade union president whose salary and other benefits are covered by the union’s budget so that his/her work will not come under pressure from the employers.

The symposium, co-organised by MOLISA and the Association of Japanese Businesses in Vietnam, was part of an action plan of the Vietnam-Japan Joint Initiative launched in 2004.

According to MOLISA, 650 labour strikes occurred nationwide in 2008, representing a 31 percent rise over 2007 and 62 labour strikes hit Japanese businesses in Vietnam during that time.

Japan currently ranks third among 84 countries and territories investing in Vietnam with 1,064 investment projects. The East Asian country is currently Vietnam’s biggest ODA provider, with its annual funding accounting for around 30 percent of the total ODA committed by international donors.