In his remarks, MOLISA Deputy Minister Le Van Thanh said the forum takes place in the context that Vietnam and 186 other ILO member countries are celebrating the centennial anniversary of the organisation.

The Labour Code (amended) which has been passed by the National Assembly is an important milestone on the route of completing the labour law system of Vietnam towards modernization, economic integration. The Labour Code has integrated nearly fullfil the principle of the international labour Conventions, especially the basis Conventions of ILO.

The Labour Code (amended) adjusts a number of importance issues to adapt with the reality requirement of labour relationship in Vietnam as well as the international labour standard. The Labour Code (amended) has many important adjustments relating to the right of labourers and adjustment the retirement age of both male and female.

The ILO has publicised its global report on the future of work with impacting factors like population aging, climate change, new technology development and digital transformation, he added.

Vietnam is one of the countries hardest hit by climate change, Thanh stressed, pointing out drought and salt-water intrusion in the Mekong Delta that are threatening the livelihood of tens of millions of locals.

The situation requires both urgent and long-term solutions to help people transform farming models and adapt to the changes, he said.

According to the official, Vietnam has rolled out policies and guidelines in response to the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Therefore, the forum offers an opportunity for delegates to look into urgent issues regarding labour, social welfare and human resources development, along with challenges to Vietnam in the time ahead.

According to Mr. Chang-Hee Lee, Director of ILO Vietnam, today, the world of jobs is witnessing the huge change with the increasingly speed, which impact to the livelihood of millions people both women and men, employers, employees. The main changing factors includes technology progress, typically, the 4.0 Revolution, global commercial system with the huge connection,…

He also said that Vietnam has been a successful story, with the high and sustainable growth for the past years. This is the result of the strategic choice of Vietnam when decides economic development through global inclusive integration together with the domestic innovation.

Vu Minh Tien, head of the Institute for Workers and Trade Unions under the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour, touched upon opportunities and challenges to labour and social welfare as Vietnam is striving to reach the upper-middle-income status.

Delegates shared the view that Vietnam is benefiting from its young population, with a total of 56 million workers.

Pointing  out the low rate of trained labourers (23 percent) and bottlenecks in vocational training, they suggested the Government revamp relevant policies in order to encourage businesses to take a more active part in this regard and promote the role of vocational training centres.