15 November 2019, Hanoi, Viet Nam – The Agriculture Sector Skills Council was established by Decision of Minister of Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA). The Launch out ceremony was organised within the Viet Nam Skilling Up Forum.

It was decided that the Sector Skills Council (SSC)would be composed of 21 members - this number will remain flexible during the pilot period of the SSC, which lasts three years-. The members are representatives coming from tripartite stakeholders. From the business community, the Sector Skills Council in Agriculture gather representatives of business associations in Agriculture including Viet Nam General Association of Agriculture; Viet Nam Association of Food Science and Technology (VAFoST); Viet Nam Association of Small and Medium Enterprises; Businesses in Agriculture. From the Government, there are both members from MOLISA and representatives of DVET who also provide the Secretariat for the period; and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD). Representative of Agriculture schools are the University of Agriculture I, College of Technology and Seafood; and North-Est College of Agriculture and Forestry. The Viet Nam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) is the representative of workers.

The Launching ceremony serve to introduce all the members to the public, as well as to designate specific the roles and responsibilities for the Agriculture SSC. The MOLISA emphasized the importance of Sector Skill Council especially in Agriculture due to the complexity of the Sector and its importance in the Vietnam’s economy and in creating employment for nearly 40% labour force.

Mr Chang-Hee Lee, the ILO Director in Viet Nam recognized the Launch out of the Sector as an important step towards reducing skills gaps “ A famous saying by Ho Chi Minh goes “One tree is only a tree but three trees will be a forest”. The ILO commits together with the DVET to cultivate that “forest” for an ever more prosperous Viet Nam with a skilled labour force. I strongly believe that Sector Skills Council, with its ability to improve coordination at sector level, has the potential to achieve its goals under the full support of DVET. The ILO is happy to be among the actors contributing to your progress in skilling up Viet Nam’s labour force”.

The Ceremony closed with a commitment from DVET General Director in supporting the Agriculture Sector Skills Council as a model to advocate for a legal framework backing up the Sector Skills Council.