Labour Inspection Campaign in the Garment Sector

Raising awareness about compliance at the work place for employees and employers

On 16 October 2015, Ministry of Labour, Invalid and Social Affairs (MOLISA) Inspectorate together with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) conducted the Final Review Workshop on Labour Inspection Campaign in the Garment Sector.

News | 16 October 2015
HANOI (ILO News) - On 16 October , 2015, Ministry of Labour, Invalid and Social Affairs (MOLISA) Inspectorate together with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) conducted the Final Review Workshop on Labour Inspection Campaign in the Garment Sector.

Party Central Committee member and Vice Minister of MOLISA, Mr. Huynh Van Ti, Director of ILO for Viet Nam, Mr. Chang-Hee Lee, and donor representatives and tripartite partners in the Campaign attended the event.

The Labour Inspection Campaign in 2015 was implemented by MOLISA Inspectorate in cooperation with tripartite partners Vietnam General Confederation of Labour, Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) with ILO support. The purpose of the Labour Inspection Campaign is to raise awareness about labour laws in the garment sector and to contribute to creating harmonious labour-relations and the sustainable development of business and society.

Under the framework of the Campaign, central and local labour inspection has focused to guide businesses to improve compliance in eight high non-compliance risk areas, which include: working time, rest, wage, employees’ protection equipment, safety, etc. Through participation in the campaign, the perception of employees and employers about compliance and working condition has been improved. The Campaign has placed its emphasis on communications, dissemination of information and guidance to businesses for better compliance and for prevention, rather than just imposing sanction after violations took place.

Speaking at the Workshop, Vice Minister Huynh Van Ti highly valued the ILO’s support and the close cooperation of VCCI and tripartite partners involved in the campaign process.

Mr. Chang-Hee Lee, Director of the ILO Country Office for Viet Nam said, “The campaign helped employers and workers in enterprises understand better positive roles of labour inspectors. The modern labour inspection approach emphasize prevention by providing advisory services. The Campaign helps enterprises to set up self-compliance systems based on information and guidance offered by labour inspectors.”

They will contribute to the country’s economic and social development in the context of deeper global integration through various free trade agreements, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement and Viet Nam-EU FTA, added Mr. Lee.

The campaign also shows the MOLISA and the provincial Departments of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs apply a new approach to improve compliance at the work place. In its 2016 plan, MOLISA will replicate the Labour Inspection Campaign in the construction sector. The ILO appreciates MOLISA’s commitment and encourages the Government to upscale the campaign, in close consultation and collaboration with social partners.