Attending the seminar, on behalf of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU Hanoi, were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dao Thanh Truong - Vice Rector of the university, leaders of functional departments, the Faculty of International Studies, and other faculties/institutes of the university.
Representing the Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) of Germany was Mr. Michael Siegner, Head Representative of the Foundation in Vietnam;
Representing the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs was Dr. Trinh Thu Nga – Deputy Director of the Institute of Labour Science and Social Affairs (ILSSA), Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs.
The seminar welcomed experts to participate in the discussion, including Professor Javier Revilla Diez from the University of Cologne, Germany; Dr. Darjusch Tafreschi from the Vocational Education Reform Program in Vietnam (GIZ Vietnam); and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dang Hoang Linh - Head of the Department of International Economics, Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam.
The seminar attracted many scientists and experts from research institutes, universities, domestic and international organizations, and students from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.
The National Report incorporates the research findings of numerous scientists and policymakers.In his opening remarks at the seminar, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dao Thanh Truong – Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, stated that this is the sixth National Report on Vietnam, following previous reports on the environment, population aging, digitalization, the consequences of war, and women's labor. The report was produced through a tripartite collaboration between the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Justus Liebig Giessen University (Germany), and the Hanns Seidel Foundation (Germany) in Vietnam.
Following the success of previous reports, issue 6 of 2023 features contributions from leading scientists in this field from prestigious institutions both domestically and internationally, such as the Institute of Labour and Social Sciences (Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs); the University of Law (Vietnam National University, Hanoi); the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics; the University of Cologne (Germany); Justus Liebig Giessen University (Germany); the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam… and units belonging to the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.
Associate Professor Dr. Dao Thanh Truong – Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, highly appreciated the cooperation of Hanns Seidel Vietnam in publishing the National Report.
Mr. Michael Siegner - Chief Representative of the Hanns Seidel Foundation in Vietnam Associate Professor Dr. Dao Thanh Truong hopes to continue receiving cooperation from scientists to build the National Report into a brand of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, clearly demonstrating the position and role of VNU-USSH as a research university and a reputable policy advisory body nationwide.
Mr. Michael Siegner, Head of the Hanns Seidel Foundation in Vietnam, stated that the 2023 Country Report No. 6 once again affirms the efforts of the Hanns Seidel Foundation in collaborating with partners in academia and government. For over 15 years, HSF has collaborated with numerous stakeholders with the goal of providing policy recommendations to enhance inclusion and social welfare in Vietnam.
An overall picture of the prominent issues in the Vietnamese labor market.By providing independent annual reporting on the political, economic, and social issues of a nation in transition, the National Report receives valuable research input from scientists, experts, and policymakers.
Along with Vietnam's reform process over the past nearly 40 years, the country has increasingly recognized that its labor force is a valuable asset and a crucial driving force for the impressive socio-economic development of the nation. With its historical heritage, both within the general context and possessing unique characteristics, one of the fundamental issues in the transition from a centrally planned economy to a socialist-oriented market economy in Vietnam is the formation of a labor market based on supply and demand, managed and regulated by the state. Along with the formation and development of the labor market, issues related to the quality of human resources, labor productivity, and labor relations management have also arisen, requiring a comprehensive assessment and appropriate solutions to maximize the potential of this valuable resource.
According to Associate Professor Dr. Dao Thanh Truong, the national report on the theme "Labor Market in Vietnam" is VNU-USSH's answer to the aforementioned issues, as one of the leading research units in social sciences and humanities.
Professor Nguyen Anh Tuan, PhD - Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, chaired the presentation and discussion session.
The seminar yielded many valuable research results in prominent areas of interest to government agencies, organizations, research institutes, and universities, with the published work being:
National Report No. 6, 2023, “The Labor Market in Vietnam”300 pages, bilingual Vietnamese-English.
The first part of the publication provides basic information about the labor market in Vietnam (by Dang Hoang Linh) and introduces the domestic and international legal framework (by Ngo Minh Huong).
The second part discusses in more detail the formal (by Le Thi Thanh Ha) and informal (by Trinh Thu Nga) labor markets in the country, employment in rural areas and labor migration to cities and industrial centers (by Nguyen Thi Phuong Mai), and women and the opportunities and challenges in the world of labor (by Vu Thi Minh Thang and Nguyen Thi Thuy Hang).
The third section focuses on the country's new challenges, including necessary reforms in vocational education and training within enterprises (by Phung Le Khanh) and the need for educational innovation at the country's universities (by Lai Quoc Khanh).
Two other articles examine the balance between labor migration, brain drain, Vietnamese entrepreneurs returning home, and the important role of remittances from overseas workers (by Nguyen Tuan Anh), in relation to the role and awareness of the workforce.
Foreigners in Vietnam (Detlef Briesen).
The fourth part of the publication provides more general information (by authors Nguyen Thi Thuy Trang and Luu Thi Thuy Huong) on the Vietnamese labor market in relation to labor laws, policies, and research. Additionally, author Luong Thi Han summarizes (concepts and terminology) the most important terms along with some explanations in her article.
Numerous policy implications in the field of the labor market in Vietnam.At the seminar, scientists discussed and offered numerous policy implications for various aspects of the Vietnamese labor market.
According to Dr. Trinh Thu Nga, the Institute of Labour and Social Sciences is developing comprehensive recommendations to improve the situation of informal labor in Vietnam. In her report on "Informal Employment and Gender Aspects in Vietnam," Dr. Trinh Thu Nga proposed several important recommendations, such as strengthening communication, dissemination, and raising awareness about the importance of formalizing informal employment, labor laws, and promoting gender equality in labor and employment; enhancing access to decent work for both men and women in informal employment, especially female workers; and strengthening social security for informal workers. To overcome the disadvantages and reduce the vulnerability of workers in the informal sector, the State needs specific support policies and solutions to extend protection to this group, thereby empowering them in socio-economic development.
Dr. Trinh Thu Nga, Institute of Labour and Social Sciences, Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs
According to Associate Professor Dr. Dang Hoang Linh – Head of the Department of International Economics, Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, to meet market demands, vocational education focuses on technical and vocational training. Since 2018, the number of colleges, universities, and vocational schools in Vietnam has increased significantly. In addition, the Government has issued new decisions related to the labor market for the construction and development of labor market elements, supporting the effective mobilization and allocation of resources. This will allow Vietnam's workforce to share and contribute equally to the market in each socio-economic region. Last but not least, the Government's approach to achieving sustainable development is to raise the retirement age starting in 2022 to address the issue of population aging.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dang Hoang Linh – Head of the Department of International Economics, Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam
In the report on "Formal Sector Labor in Vietnam Today," Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Thi Thanh Ha - Institute of Philosophy, Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics proposed solutions: (1) there is a need for policies to improve the quality of labor in the formal sector and restructure labor to suit the economic structure; (2) revise the wage policy, the policy of remuneration and the use of talent in the formal sector according to the Party's guiding principles.
The seminar also received high praise from scientists and policymakers for the scientific content of the research results and the valuable policy implications, contributing to the success of the 6th National Report on the Labor Market. Professor Dr. Nguyen Tuan Anh – the chairman of the seminar – summarized the speakers' contributions and thanked them for their feedback and discussions, emphasizing the importance of selecting appropriate topics and research in the current context. On behalf of the authors, Dr. Detlef shared: “The goal of this report is not to provide an immediate solution to the problems of the labor market in Vietnam, but to create a basis for more in-depth discussions on this topic.”
Speaking about this year's National Report, Michael Siegner, Head of the Hanns Seidel Stiftung in Vietnam, stated: “This report explores the unique blend of tradition and modernity characteristic of the Vietnamese labor market, while providing valuable insights for policymakers, businesses, and researchers.”
Prior to this, since 2021, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, in collaboration with the Hanns Seidel Stiftung in Vietnam, has published five National Reports in various fields and received high praise from many agencies, organizations, and scientists.
