EM – The second Vietnam – European Union (EU) Joint Forum on Trade and Sustainable Development took place on October 20 in Hanoi. The event was organized by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, as the focal point to implement Chapter 13, and the Secretariat of the Vietnam Domestic Advisory Group (DAG).
Co-chairing this forum are Ms. Tran Thi Lan Anh – Secretary General of the Vietnam Confederation of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), Chairwoman of the Vietnam DAG Group and Ms. Ellen Nygren, a member of the EU DAG group. Chairman of the Vietnam Elevator Association (VNEA) Nguyen Hai Duc, a member of the DAG Vietnam group participated and contributed at this important forum.
Ms. Tran Thi Lan Anh – Chairwoman of DAG Vietnam group and Ms. Ellen Nygren, member of DAG EU group co-chaired the forum
Previously, on October 18, 2022, the EU DAG group and the Vietnam DAG group had a meeting in Hanoi for the second time together with the Committee for Trade and Sustainable Development, to implement Chapter 13 of European Union Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). This is a face-to-face meeting for members of the two DAG groups to learn and exchange views, experiences and concerns of each other.
At this Joint Forum on October 20, 2022, the two co-chairs of the forum announced the joint communique of the previous working session. Accordingly, the exchanges included the presentation of global supply chain research in the context of in-depth due diligence, energy transition and COP-27 preparations and ratification discussions. conventions of the International Labor Organization (ILO).
The EU DAG group raised its experience in ensuring workers’ rights, forest protection, emission reduction…
Aware of common concerns in due diligence, the two sides agreed to set up a joint working group to further strengthen discussions on the EU-Vietnam supply chain. This group will discuss online and report at the next DAG meeting within the framework of EVFTA.
The two sides agreed to give each other time and space for dialogue and cooperation. Parties to the EVFTA need to recognize and take advantage of the practical experiences of the two DAG groups to enhance the effective implementation of the EVFTA.
The two DAG groups come together to learn and exchange about each other’s positions, views, experiences, and concerns
Sharing experiences on labor rights, the two DAG groups proposed that a roadmap for environmental and climate protection should be developed. Both groups of DAGs reminded the parties of their commitment to ratify and implement the ILO provisions on occupational health and safety.
President of Vietnam Elevator Association (first from left) at the Forum
Speaking at the forum, VNEA Chairman Nguyen Hai Duc commented on solutions to improve the level and quality of labor in the elevator industry in particular and technical workers in general. According to him, for the elevator industry, when the nature of Vietnam’s economy is in the early stage of transformation from agriculture to industrial production, the skills and consciousness of workers are still weak and lacking, which leads to low labor productivity. To change this, it is necessary to have standards to evaluate and classify workers’ qualifications. When the workforce has better skills, the labor efficiency is better, can reduce unnecessary costs and production time, thereby reducing product prices, creating healthy competition. In that context, the VNEA President suggested that the EU side share its experiences and support the Fund so that it can develop training methods and skills to build training programs for employees, helping cooperation between the two parties./.
