In 1996, the National Institute of Labour Protection (NILP), at the suggestion of the ILO and in collaboration with the Ministry of Fisheries (MOF), planned a project as part of the Inter-Regional Programme to Support the Design and Implementation of Tripartite National Occupational Safety and Health Policies and Measures. This project specifically aims at improving occupational safety and health (OSH) and working conditions and environment in the fisheries and construction industries in Viet Nam (INT/95/M10/DAN).

In its first phase, the project intends to conduct practical field surveys as a basis for an OSH action programme in order to improve working conditions and environment and OSH services, mainly for female workers, in the fish processing industry. The primary second-phase objective is to support implementation of the OSH action programme – providing OSH training and awareness-raising for the workers – in the fisheries and construction industries.

Based on a desk review of working conditions in Vietnamese fisheries, NILP and MOF taskforce members established a plan and methodology for conducting field surveys focused mainly on fish processing within 196 frozen-fish enterprises, where 80-85 per cent of the work force is female.

Survey content and methods included the following:

• measurement and survey of working environment (microclimate, physical and chemical hazards) in 18 enterprises in North, Central, and South Viet Nam;
• investigation of working conditions and OSH status, applying questionnaire M2TS-ILO/97, in 31 enterprises in North, Central, and South Viet Nam;
• health investigations among 803 female workers in fish-processing enterprises; and
• selection of 50 slides illustrating good and bad OSH practices.

Survey results indicated the following:

• Most of the female workers were young (62 per cent are 20-30 years old).
• They had not been trained in OSH.
• Female workers in fish-processing factories were often exposed to such hazards as high humidity, cold water, a variety of hazardous gases, strain from maintaining the same posture for long periods, and monotonous operations, often at work tables and using imported equipment designed for taller workers. Sometimes they were required to work long hours.
• These factors typically contributed to a rapid decline in health. In consequence, the number of workers aged 40 years or older was very low. Common occupational diseases included rheumatism (31 per cent), throat inflammations (37 per cent), and skin rashes (30 per cent), as well as cumulative trauma disorders in hands (60 per cent), shoulders (51 per cent), back (52 per cent), and legs (52 per cent).
• Under the guidance of the National Project Director (NPD), and in consultation with the ILO International Technical Adviser, a draft action programme on OSH in the fisheries industry for 1998-2005 has been prepared. The project has also incorporated input from the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) and the Ministry of Health (MOH). It has now been accepted and approved by the MOF for development and application within all fisheries enterprises.
• In its second phase, the project is focusing on the formulation of strategies for OSH training and awareness-raising.
• In consultation with the NPD, project taskforce members have identified priority target groups and implementation mechanisms for the 1998-2005 OSH training strategy. They have clarified the target number of trainees, their training needs, and their current understanding of OSH issues. Training materials and different course designs have been developed for managers, supervisors, workers and, more specifically, women workers. The taskforce has also conducted a training of trainers course for 24 people.
• The comprehensive action programme for 1998-2005 specifies the following measures for improving safety and health among women workers in fisheries:
 
• setting of longer-term, developmental objectives to be accomplished by 2005;
• prioritization of shorter-term goals for implementation during the period 1998-2000;
• establishment of an OSH management system;
• promotion of new legislation concerning OSH in fisheries;
• increased investment for the improvement of working conditions and environment;
• formulation and development of programmes on scientific and technical research for OSH; and
• promotion of OSH education, training, and information activities at all levels and in all enterprises.

• In its second phase, the action programme will focus on strategies for raising awareness of OSH issues and training for women workers, who represent 80-85 per cent of all fisheries workers, and who are the main beneficiaries of this programme.
• The NILP, together with appropriate MOF departments and the National Union of Fisheries Workers (NUFW), are responsible for developing a plan to implement the programme. The MOF and its departments, including the MOF OSH Council, will coordinate all programme activities from central government to grassroots levels.
• Corporations, companies, training centres, and enterprises are to implement the action programme. The first stage of the programme is to run from 1998-2000, and the second stage from 2000-2005.

The first phase of the project has involved two stages:

First stage (1997-1998):

• establishment of a joint taskforce team from the NILP, the MOF, and the National Union of Female Workers (NUFW);
• desk review of information and OSH field surveys in 30 fish-processing enterprises; and
• preparation of an OSH action programme within the MOF.

Second stage (1998-1999):

• identifying priority objectives of the action programme;
• preparation of a strategy for OSH awareness-raising and training in fisheries (1998-2005);
• implementation of the awareness-raising strategy though television, leaflets, manuals, and video tapes; and
• implementation of the OSH training strategy through preparation of training packages, programmes and training materials, and organization of training courses for different target groups including managers, foremen, trade union staff, and workers;

Funds for implementing the OSH action programme will be contributed by ILO Project INT/95/M10/DAN in the first stage, and, in the second stage, by the Government of Viet Nam, MOLISA, MOH, MOSTE, the Viet Nam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL), and others.

Programme implementation will involve the following people:

• staff involved in OSH management systems in the fisheries industry, from central government to grassroots levels;
• OSH monitors in 196 fish-processing enterprises; and
• teachers lecturing on OSH at universities and technical schools around the country.

Project INT/95/M10/DAN will be evaluated by ILO experts, the NILP, and the MOF. During the upcoming 2000-2005 stage, results will be evaluated by the MOF OSH Council in consultation with the NILP.

To this point, the following has been achieved:

• The OSH fisheries action programme has been accepted and approved by the MOF.
• Strategy notes for OSH training and awareness raising among fisheries workers have been completed.
• Training of trainers courses and other courses for managers, supervisors, trade union staff, and female workers in fish-processing enterprises have been developed.

1. Nguyen An Luong. OSH issues in fisheries and construction industries (Hanoi, 1997).
2. Nguyen The Cong. Report on survey results of OSH in fisheries industry in Viet Nam (Hanoi, 1998).
3. Action programme on OSH in fisheries industry (Hanoi, 1998).
4. OSH training strategy in fisheries for 1998-2005 (Hanoi, 1998).
5. OSH awareness raising strategy in fisheries for 1998-2005 (Hanoi, 1998).