Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, neighboring provinces and other localities will be eligible to receive support from the Better Work Vietnam program in the 2023-2027 period. 

The Better Work Vietnam will be launched in new locations and other industries. Photo: ILO Vietnam

To concretize the program’s implementation, a Memorandum of Understanding signing ceremonies were held on November 22 between the International Labor Organization (ILO), the International Finance Corporation (IFC) the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor.

Under the agreement, the Better Work Vietnam will be launched in new locations and other industries.

Since 2009, the program has supported more than 440 participating garment and footwear factories which employ 750,000 workers in 29 provinces and cities through its assessment, advisory and training services. 

The phase of the program will prioritize issues, including social dialogue, gender equality, inclusive development, occupational health and safety, data and information, as well as enhancing labor standards related to climate change, productivity, and business performance, according to the Director of ILO Vietnam Ingrid Christensen.

The director of ILO Vietnam said the program has helped to improve social dialogue and raise awareness about gender equality in the workplace, which are key to improve conditions and raise income for hundreds of thousands of workers in the garment and footwear industry.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Deputy Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Ha said after 14 years of operation in the country, the Better Work Program has met national labor management targets and actively supported the process of labor law enforcement in Vietnam. 

Coordination among stakeholders has helped to enhance the effectiveness of the program, thus improving the relationship between regulators, employers and workers so that together they can build a harmonious and stable working environment.

"It also helps Vietnam become a responsible supplier and comply with the code of ethics in the garment and footwear industries," she stressed.