Momentum builds for roadmap accelerating decent work and social protection for just transitions in Viet Nam

HA NOI (ILO News) – The consultation meeting, organized on 17 October, helped align priorities and build consensus on how Viet Nam can accelerate progress toward decent work and inclusive social protection in a changing world of work.

This effort comes at a time of economic transformation in Viet Nam and in the context of persisting challenges and gender inequalities in expanding decent and productive employment and reducing informal employment, while establishing a more accessible, inclusive, coherent, rights-based and gender- and shock-responsive social protection system that caters for the specific needs of all, across their life cycle.

Opening the meeting, UN Resident Coordinator in Viet Nam, Pauline Tamesis underlined key areas where the Global Accelerator can make a meaningful contribution to Viet Nam’s national ambitions, from promoting productive employment and skills development, to supporting the country’s Net Zero commitment and strengthening resilience to demographic and climate challenges.

She further highlighted that the Global Accelerator, launched by the UN Secretary-General in 2021, offers a unique platform to link employment policies and social protection systems in support of the Sustainable Development Goals.

“The Global Accelerator is not another project, it is a country-led platform - a coalition of partners and a mechanism to align public and multilateral investments around a shared mission: decent jobs and social protection for just transitions,” she said.

The Global Accelerator is not another project, it is a country-led platform - a coalition of partners and a mechanism to align public and multilateral investments around a shared mission: decent jobs and social protection for just transition

Pauline Tamesis, UN Resident Coordinator in Viet Nam

© ILO/Nguyen Duc Hieu

© ILO/Nguyen Duc Hieu

The consultation was held as part of the UN Joint Programme on Operationalizing the Global Accelerator in Viet Nam, implemented by ILO, UNDP, and UN Women in collaboration with FAO, IOM, and UNICEF, under the overall coordination of the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office. The Institute of State Organizational and Labour Sciences (ISOL) under the Ministry of Home Affairs is the national counterpart leading the development of the roadmap.

The meeting featured presentations by the ILO team on the current progress of the Global Accelerator in Viet Nam and by the ISOL team on the technical assessment and draft roadmap, followed by discussions on key priorities. Participants explored how the roadmap could address emerging employment trends, strengthen protection for informal workers, promote skills development for just transitions, and enhance coordination across sectors.

Stakeholders from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health, Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), Viet Nam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL), and the Viet Nam Academy of Social Sciences (VASS) and other key stakeholders contributed insights on financing, social protection for vulnerable groups, private-sector engagement, workers’ rights and gender equality and social inclusion.

Felix Weidenkaff, Officer-in-Charge, Employment and Labour Market Policy Specialist of the ILO Office in Viet Nam reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to national ownership:

“The Global Accelerator offers a concrete opportunity to connect decent jobs, social protection, and sustainable growth. Through the implementation of this roadmap, we can contribute that the green and digital transitions in Viet Nam create new opportunities while protecting workers, enterprises and communities.”

© ILO/Nguyen Duc Hieu

© ILO/Nguyen Duc Hieu

The roadmap, once finalized, will guide collaborative action by the Government, social partners, other stakeholders and the UN in advancing decent work, social protection and just transitions, helping Viet Nam accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals.