Building capacity to drive SME productivity and decent work in Viet Nam

HA NOI (ILO News) - From March to June 2026, the cooperation between the ILO’s Productivity Ecosystems for Decent Work project and Business Assistance Centre under the Agency for Private Enterprise Development (APED) of the Ministry of Finance has strengthened the capacity of government agencies, sectoral organizations, and enterprises to design, deliver, and scale effective SME support programmes, contributing to Viet Nam’s digital and green transformation agenda while promoting productivity and decent work.

267 representatives (more than 56% women) from SME support organizations, government agencies, business associations, and enterprises strengthened their ability to support SMEs in adopting digital and green transformation practices. Equipped with enhanced knowledge of productivity improvement approaches and practical programme design tools, participants are better positioned to design and implement initiatives that help enterprises improve competitiveness while advancing decent work.

The cooperation has also expanded the national pool of qualified enterprise advisors capable of supporting SMEs through transformation processes. A total of 58 members of APED’s national network of enterprise consultants received 5 days advanced training that integrated digital and green transformation approaches with the ILO SCORE Training methodology, which emphasizes worker engagement and improved working conditions as drivers of sustainable enterprise performance. From this group, 26 high-performing consultants (65% women) were selected to provide tailored advisory services to 30 enterprises, helping businesses identify and implement productivity-enhancing, dual transformation measures that contribute to both competitiveness and decent work.

Positive improvements has been observed in enterprise productivity, operational efficiency, and resource utilization. Through the adoption of automated monitoring systems, resource planning, production execution software, and green productivity solutions, participating enterprises have strengthened production management, streamlined operations, and made more effective use of energy and materials. At the same time, enhanced implementation of 5S and occupational safety measures has improved workplace conditions, contributing to safer, more organized, and more sustainable working environments for employees.

Beyond capacity development, the initiative has strengthened dialogue and collaboration among key stakeholders in the SME support ecosystem. More than 200 participants took part in best-practice sharing workshops in May and Jun 2026 that facilitated knowledge exchange and fostered dialogue and linkage between government agencies, sectoral associations, and enterprises. These exchanges have contributed to a more coordinated approach to SME support, while providing a platform for enterprises to engage directly with policymakers on opportunities and challenges related to digital and green transformation.