HANOI (ILO News) – A Code of Conduct on Sexual Harassment in the Workplace for Viet Nam has been signed by senior officials of the Government, employers’ organization and trade union in Hanoi today (12 May) to mark the tripartite commitment to preventing and addressing this issue in the world of work.

Vice Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Pham Minh Huan, Vice Chairman of Viet Nam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) Mai Duc Chinh and Vice President of Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) Hoang Quang Phong inked the national voluntary document that deals with this important but sensitive issue.

Sexual harassment at the workplace is outlawed by the 2012 Labour Code. However, the laws are not specific enough, making the implementation a difficult task in reality, according to Vice Minister Huan.

“This Code of Conduct aims to help employers and workers to develop their own policy or regulation, or integrate this content into their existing policies and regulations, which serves as a ground for preventing and addressing sexual harassment, in order to promote healthy, safe, quality and productive workplaces,” he said.

The development of the Code was supported technically and financially by the International Labour Organization (ILO).

Addressing the signing ceremony, ILO Viet Nam Director Gyorgy Sziraczki promised that the ILO will continue to support the Government, VGCL and VCCI to implement the Code, raise the awareness of employers, workers and the public on workplace sexual harassment and stand side by side with Viet Nam in the process of including specific definitions of sexual harassment and regulations on penalties against violations in the national laws.

The Code will be officially launched in Hanoi on 25 May 2015.