Ensuring a safe, healthy and child-labour-free work in production
25/11/2024 09:55 AM
In Viet Nam’s booming coffee and agricultural industries, safe and healthy working conditions and the prevention of child labour are more crucial than ever. A recent training initiative, led by the ILO and the Dak Nong Cooperative Alliance empowered farmers and cooperative leaders in the Central Highlands with practical tools to create safer and more decent workplaces.
From the perspective of human rights, the right to social welfare (also known as the right to social security) is a fundamental human right recognized in international documents and the legal systems of many countries worldwide. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 asserts that everyone has the right to social security and to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of oneself and one’s family, including food, clothing, housing, medical care, and necessary social services. It also includes protection in cases of unemployment, illness, disability, old age, or lack of livelihood due to circumstances beyond one’s control. Thus, the right to social welfare is universal, applying to everyone worldwide, and it is tied to the responsibilities of duty-bearers, primarily and primarily the State.
In essence, the right to social welfare belongs to the group of economic, cultural, and social rights, as acknowledged in the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) of 1966. This right plays a central role in ensuring dignity for all individuals when they face situations where they cannot fully secure their basic human rights on their own. The content of the right to social welfare is linked to the right to access and maintain benefits, either in cash or in kind, without discrimination, to protect individuals in difficult circumstances across various aspects of life.
In the Context of Labor and Employment
In the labor and employment domain, the right to social welfare is closely tied to and particularly significant for workers. In practice, workers, whether in the public or private sectors, face potential risks in life, such as illness, occupational accidents, or unemployment. Among these, job loss is considered one of the most significant risks, as it can render workers highly vulnerable due to the loss of their primary income source and the essential economic foundation needed to stabilize their lives and support dependents (such as children or elderly individuals who are no longer economically active). Job loss also hampers or makes it difficult for workers to afford essential needs such as healthcare, food, and education. Moreover, unemployment can expose workers to mental pressures, or even crises, potentially leading to negative actions that impact not only themselves and their families but also create broader societal consequences.
Therefore, ensuring the right to social welfare for workers, particularly those who lose their jobs, is crucial in achieving social justice. It ensures they receive fair and adequate social benefits when faced with risks, granting them equal opportunities to realize their legitimate rights and interests. Furthermore, this reflects the deeply humane and compassionate policies of our Party and State, affirming the virtuous nature of the socialist regime in our country today.
As the world’s second-largest coffee exporter, Viet Nam has made notable advancements in agricultural practices, boasting other key agricultural products such as rice, pepper, and fruit trees. Nevertheless, while improvements have been made, there remain challenges and room for further progress in ensuring farm worker’s safety and preventing child labour.
To provide support in addressing these issues, the International Labour Organization (ILO)’s Vision Zero Fund and ENHANCE projects in Viet Nam collaborated with the Dak Nong Province Cooperative Alliance to conduct a training course during 30 – 31 October 2024, in Gia Nghia, Dak Nong province. This course aimed to equip provincial cooperative officers and coffee cooperative owners with occupational safety and health (OSH) knowledge and tools to improve workplace safety and health using the ILO’s WIND methodology. Furthermore, the course equips the participants with fundamental concepts, standards, and legal regulations on child labour, along with preventive measures. It emphasises the crucial role and benefits of cooperatives in proactively preventing child labour in their operations. The training also welcomed participants from other sub-agriculture sectors, including rice, pepper, and fruits, as well as those in tourism and biological products.
Illustrative image (internet)
29 participants, among whom half were women, including representatives from the Central Highlands provinces of Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Lam Dong, Gia Lai, and Kon Tum, engaged in practical sessions and a field trip to evaluate OSH practices on coffee farms and processing sites. Using an OSH Action Checklist, they identified risks and potential improvements, with guidance from an ILO-trained OSH trainer. “This practical approach is easy to understand, easy to implement, and cost-effective,” said Vu Thi Huong, Head of the Green Highlands Service Cooperative, highlighting the WIND methodology’s accessibility.
During the training, participants also learned about OSH concepts and principles, as well as measures for eliminating child labour. This knowledge helps them minimize workplace accidents, reduce costs, and increase productivity. Besides, the participants were provided with methods for managing, checking, and monitoring the use of child labour in cooperatives. Concluding the three days, participants were able to develope action plans of child labour prevention and committed to implementing the OSH improvements in their cooperatives. These improvements range from simple organizational changes, such as arranging work tools, to more extensive projects like repairing roads to facilitate the transportation of agricultural products.
Nguyen Van Tien, Deputy Head of Policy and Propaganda Department, Dak Nong Province Cooperative Alliance, remarked, “The Cooperative Alliance holds ILO’s training courses in high regard for their reputation and quality. The professionalism of the course can be seen through in its well-structured programme, knowledgeable lecturers, and carefully crafted training materials.”
As Viet Nam continues to excel in coffee and agricultural production and exports, ensuring the safety and health of all workers and child labour free in the production chain becomes increasingly crucial, especially in the face of challenges like climate change. By striving towards a world of work free from serious injuries and fatalities, meeting the standards of new generation free trade agreements and international standards on child labour, the ILO, through its technical support, stands with Viet Nam on its journey towards sustainable development and decent work for all.
Cooperative members develop child labour action plan that are tailored to their localities and conditions.
Mai Xuan Thong, OSH trained trainer and Nguyen Ngoc Duyen, National Project Coordinator of the VZF Viet Nam introduced to the participants the Action Checklist at the field.
The training welcomed the participation of agri-cooperative owners and officials from the cooperative alliances of Central Highland provinces.
Training materials and the OSH Action Checklist.
Action plan on child labour prevention developed by cooperatives.
PV
Sickness
Work Injury and Occupational Disease
Survivor’s
Old-age
Maternity
Unemployment
Medical (Health Insurance)
Certificate of coverage
VSS - ISSA Guidelines on Social Security
