Vietnam proactively promotes migrant workers' rights

(Chinhphu.vn) - Vietnam is making efforts to protect and promote the rights of migrant workers, while improving human resource development policies, improving skills training, and strengthening regional and international cooperation.

Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Cao Huy delivered the opening speech at the workshop - Photo: VGP/Thu Giang

On August 25, in Hanoi , as the focal point for ASEAN cooperation in the field of labor and a member of the ASEAN Committee on the Implementation of the ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers (ACMW), the Ministry of Home Affairs chaired the National Workshop to prepare for the 18th ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labor (AFML).

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Cao Huy emphasized that Vietnam is a country with an abundant labor force and is considered to be hard-working and diligent. In 2024, the labor force aged 15 and over will reach 53 million people, including nearly 24.7 million female workers.

There are currently more than half a million Vietnamese workers working in 43 countries and territories under contract, with market share in high-income markets such as Japan, South Korea, Taiwan (China)... increasing rapidly, while expanding to potential markets such as Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Canada, and Finland.

However, Deputy Minister Cao Huy also pointed out that in the context of fierce competition in the global labor market, Vietnamese workers are still limited in skills, foreign languages ​​and professional style.

Therefore, along with implementing domestic policies and strategies to protect and promote workers' rights, Vietnam continues to focus on developing human resources, improving training quality, and strengthening regional and international cooperation, especially within the framework of ACMW.

In recent times, Vietnam has implemented many initiatives that have been recognized regionally and internationally, such as: Research and evaluation of migrant labor management policies in ASEAN; issuance of ASEAN Guidelines on gender mainstreaming in labor and employment policies; and promotion of research on supporting migrant workers to reintegrate after returning home.

These efforts not only contribute to protecting workers but also help improve competitiveness and increase the resilience of ASEAN's labor market to global fluctuations.

National workshop to prepare for the 18th ASEAN Migrant Labor Forum - Photo: VGP/Thu Giang

Linking labor migration to sustainable development goals

This national workshop is an important preparatory step for the 18th ASEAN Migrant Labour Forum, scheduled to take place in Malaysia in September 2025, with the theme "Accelerating action towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on safe migration and decent work for migrant workers in ASEAN".

Deputy Minister Cao Huy expressed his hope that delegates would review Vietnam's efforts in implementing recommendations from previous Forums, and have in-depth discussions on the SDGs, especially Goal 8 (creating decent work for all, including migrant workers) and Goal 10 (facilitating orderly, safe, regular and responsible migration).

At the workshop, Mr. Felix Weidenkaff, representative of the International Labor Organization (ILO), highly appreciated Vietnam's strong commitment to the AFML process and Vietnam's role in connecting stakeholders, from the Government , workers, employers, as well as private recruitment agencies, civil society organizations and other key stakeholders to discuss urgent issues of labor migration.

According to Mr. Felix Weidenkaff, labor migration was not mentioned in the Millennium Development Goals (2000–2015), but has been integrated into the 2030 Agenda with 17 Sustainable Development Goals. The SDGs recognize that labor migration, if well managed, will contribute to promoting economic growth, reducing inequality, promoting cultural diversity, while also noting the challenges that need to be addressed to ensure the rights of workers and host communities.

Within the framework of the Workshop, delegates shared national results in implementing the recommendations of the 17th ASEAN Migrant Labour Forum (2024), and focused on discussing two key contents for the upcoming Forum, specifically: Safe working environment and protection from forced labour; reducing recruitment costs and remittances

Based on the discussion, delegates agreed to develop a common recommendation from Vietnam to submit to the 18th ASEAN Migrant Labour Forum for consideration. This will be an important contribution, helping ASEAN countries promote the common goal of safe migration and decent work for migrant workers, towards realizing the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.

The ASEAN Forum on Migrant Labour (AFML) is an annual event organized by the host country ASEAN within the framework of ACMW. The recommendations and solutions provided at the Forum will become an important basis for the development and implementation of national and regional policies to protect and promote the rights of migrant workers in ASEAN.

Thu Giang

Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/viet-nam-chu-dong-thuc-day-quyen-cua-lao-dong-di-cu-10225082510322036.htm