Vietnam plans to join Convention 105 (C105) on the abolition of forced labor, one of the core conventions of the International Labor Organization (ILO), the Government Portal cited National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee’s conclusions of its 44th session on April 28.

The Standing Committee agreed on the necessity to join the convention as it has implications on all political, socio-economic and legal aspects of Vietnam.

Minister Dao Ngoc Dung makes a presentation report on acceding to the Convention 105. Photo: Le Son

The country’s adherence to C105 will not change Vietnam’s international obligations as the country has already joined the ILO's Convention No. 29 on Forced Labour since 2007.

Moreover, C105’s standards have been incorporated into Vietnam’s commitments under EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung said Vietnam’s participation in the convention was in accordance with the Party’s guidelines to ensure human and civil rights. I demonstrated Vietnam’s political commitment to implementing obligations as an ILO member state and new generation free trade agreements.

He noted that the country’s participation in C105 will contribute to the implementation of Vietnam’s foreign policy of international integration.

Vietnam should join C105 to fulfill the obligations of an ILO member. According to the 1998 ILO Declaration, ILO member countries, whether they have acceded to the eight fundamental ILO Conventions or not, including C105, are obliged to implement the labor standards provided for in these conventions, the minister stressed.

“The non-use of forced labor in producing goods and services is considered a component of the ‘laissez-passer’, helping Vietnamese goods and services access global markets, especially those of the EU and the US,” Dung said.

Concluding the 44th session, NA Permanent Vice Chairwoman Tong Thi Phong said the NA Standing Committee agreed to apply the convention directly, without reservation of terms, and develop the ratification of the convention in three languages (Vietnamese, English and French).

Phong requested the government to ensure effective implementation of the convention, enhance the workforce training and labor inspection as well as secure the rights of Vietnamese workers.