Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang stated that Vietnam is aware of the information and is making efforts to verify it, during a press conference today [November 18].

“First-hand information from the Vietnamese embassy in Serbia showed there was no assault or beating whatsoever”, Hang said.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs asked the embassy to keep track and contact relevant Serbian authorities to verify the case as well as protect Vietnamese citizens’ rights, interests and safety, according to the Spokesperson.

Meanwhile, a report by UN experts in early November touched on Vietnamese women and child laborers suffering abuse and beatings while working in Saudi Arabia.

Hang said that upon receiving the information, the Vietnamese embassy in Saudi Arabia got in touch with the employer to solve conflicts between laborers and employers, with the aim of protecting the safety and rights of Vietnamese citizens. 

The spokesperson also affirmed that fostering gender equality is always among Vietnam’s top priorities. 

“Vietnam facilitates chance for both men and women to benefit equally from all social achievements, contributing to the sustainable development of the country”, Hang stressed.

So far, the country has adopted numerous legal documents and related policies to achieve the goal, Hang said, adding that Vietnam joined 25 conventions of the International Labour Organization, including seven out of eight fundamental ones. 

Vietnam is also the first nation in Asia and the second in the world to ratify the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, she stated.

In that spirit, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs always instructs Vietnam’s diplomatic representations to keep in touch with Vietnamese guest workers and be prepared to protect their legitimate rights and interests,, especially women and children if necessary.