That is the view of the Chairman of the Vietnam Elevator Association (VNEA) at the conference on Impact Assessment of the European Union – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) on labor-employment issues has just been held by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs on November 23 in Hanoi.

Experts discussed the implementation of labor commitments and the impact of the European – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) to a number of labor-employment targets, discussing solutions to remove difficulties and obstacles in the implementation of international agreements.

Delegates listened to an update report on Vietnam’s implementation of its labor commitments in the EVFTA, including the implementation of ILO conventions to which Vietnam has acceded, and the issuance of guiding documents which implement the 2019 Labor Code, child labor issues, etc.

The representative of the Multilateral Trade Policy Department – Ministry of Industry and Trade also presented the results of the Second Meeting of the Committee and the Joint Forum on Trade and Sustainable Development in the EVFTA. Notable content in it is the new approach of the EU when raising its point of view: Strengthening the participation of independent third parties such as DAG, deepening participation, expanding the scope of supervision for the entire Agreement instead of just the Trade and Sustainable Development Chapter…

Deputy Director General of International Cooperation Department – Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Ha Thi Minh Duc said that management agencies and business community need to have a deeper understanding of labor and employment to see the overall picture; clearly understand the commitments in the Agreements to make policy, anticipate the benefits of Vietnam when participating in the large international competition and many competition and challenges.

Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation – Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs: The opportunity is to know how to take advantage of the advantages in free trade, otherwise you will lose in your own competition.

Contributing at the conference, Chairman of the Vietnam Elevator Association (VNEA) Nguyen Hai Duc emphasized the lack of and weakness in the macro-vision, overall due to lack of information and specific research. Therefore, management agencies should actively analyze and dissect agreements, find timely and specific opportunities for sectors and localities to act quickly, exploit effectively, as well as avoid the risks of implementing agreements.

VNEA President Nguyen Hai Duc emphasized, it is necessary to analyze and dissect opportunities and threats from the agreements to orient each industry and each group of industries for effective implementation.

VNEA President also mentioned that imports will reduce opportunities for domestic jobs. But if we look more broadly, we can see other opportunities. For example, Vietnam’s elevator industry has not yet created much added value from production, deeply participating in the global supply chain. So, do we lose our jobs? VNEA, on the other hand, sees an opportunity if it is well trained, methodical and has a roadmap approaching the international level, it can completely export high-quality human resources. In fact, the Vietnam Elevator Association is doing these things. Recently, VNEA has coordinated with the Korea Elevator Safety Agency, vocational colleges, international elevator associations to unify the standardization of technical training programs and provide labour for local enterprises. This creates income, jobs and acquires technology for development./.