(VOVworld) – The International Convention on Civil and Political Rights and the International Law on Human Rights state that employees deserve a safe, equable work environment that has no discrimination or forced work, and offers a salary and vacation. That was a topic at the 14th informal ASEM seminar in Hanoi on human rights and business.
During globalization and international integration, people have thought more about human rights, particularly labor rights, and countries have paid more attention to human rights protection.
The State plays an important role in ensuring human rights
Guaranteeing human rights and labor rights is a major policy of the Vietnamese State, as stated in several legal documents. Dang Dung Chi, Director of the Institute for Human Rights said: "Since the formation of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the Vietnamese Constitution has mentioned these rights. The 2013 Constitution states that every citizen has the right to work and choose a job and work place. Employees have the right to work safely and fairly, and receive a salary and vacation. Discrimination and forced work are strictly forbidden. Vietnam’s laws are consistent with the international convention on the human rights of employees.”
The 2013 revised Labor Code and the Social Insurance Law specify several issues relating to dialogue at work, collective bargaining, and collective labor agreements. Vu Quang Tho, Director of the Institute of Worker and Trade Unions of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, said: “Vietnamese laws relating to labor rights support employees in terms of salary, insurance, and working conditions. Regulations on human rights also favor workers.”
Protecting labor rights through business social responsibility
Vietnamese enterprises actively engage in activities to demonstrate their responsibility. They have adopted a new view of social responsibility. Social responsibility is not just participating in charity work for vulnerable groups like the poor, people with disabilities, orphans, and ethnic minority people. It includes abiding by the basic principles of the International Labor Organization: no discrimination, no forced labor, no child labor, and freedom of collaboration and collective bargaining.
Mr. Tho said the Trade Union is responsible for monitoring and improving business social responsibility. "The Trade Union guides negotiations between employers and employees to reach agreements and implement labor rights. When employees are satisfied with their working conditions, there will be no labor disputes."
Vietnam, a member of the International Labor Organization, has ratified 21 Conventions of the ILO and reflected the content in its laws.
Vietnam’s hosting of the seminar on human rights and business demonstrates its responsibility to ASEM. As a member of the UN Human Rights Council, Vietnam wants to convey a message that Vietnam always respects universal human values. Protecting labor rights is one of Vietnam’s top priorities in economic reform to improve national competitiveness toward sustainable development.