Meeting with the Delegation of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front at the ESLC

On July 31, at the main conference hall of the ESLC, the Economic, Social and Labor Council met with Chairman Do Van Chien and a delegation from the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) to discuss social dialogue between Korea and Vietnam and schemes for cooperation to promote sustainable economic and social development in both countries.

* Vietnam Fatherland Front (hereinafter, “VFF”)

The VFF is composed of five core socio-political organizations — the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, the Vietnam Women’s Union, the Vietnam Farmers’ Union, and the Veterans’ Association of Vietnam. It participates broadly in national policy-making by gathering public opinion and disseminating policies, submitting legislative proposals to the National Assembly, nominating candidates for office, and overseeing state institutions.

In his remarks, VFF Chairman Do Van Chien stated, “Vietnam is currently pursuing sweeping reforms with a target of more than 8% annual economic growth. We expect that establishing a close cooperative framework with Korea’s ESLC, which has accumulated long-standing experience in social dialogue in Asia, will greatly contribute to Vietnam’s development.”

Chairperson Kwon Gi-seob said, “Korea and Vietnam are economic partners that currently maintain a very close cooperative relationship within global supply chains. In the field of social dialogue as well, practical and productive cooperation is needed to address common challenges.” He went on to propose “regularizing the ‘Korea-Vietnam Labor Policy Forum,’ operating joint training programs to strengthen capacities for social dialogue, and jointly seeking alternatives to resolve labor-market issues in both countries.”

In the subsequent meeting, both parties discussed the timing and content of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalize future cooperation and agreed, where possible, to conclude the MOU by the end of the year. The two organizations also held in-depth discussions on the challenges faced by the labor market in this era of transition — such as artificial intelligence and climate change — along with corresponding responses and avenues for collaboration.

Meanwhile, Chairman Do Van Chien proposed the following to the Economic, Social and Labor Council of the Republic of Korea.

First, the VFF requested cooperation so that it can provide policy advice to the Vietnamese Government, with a particular request to share Korea’s experience in social integration between labor and management and in conflict mitigation.

Second, the VFF expressed its desire to pursue cooperation between the ESLC and the VFF on social dialogue, including information exchange, joint research, and researcher exchanges on agendas and challenges of mutual interest.

Third, within the framework of the International Association of Economic and Social Councils and Similar Institutions (AICESIS), the two countries will support each other and strive to further activate and advance social dialogue across the Asian continent.

Exchanges between the ESLC and the VFF began at the General Assembly of AICESIS held in Paris in August 2018, when the VFF asked the ESLC to share its social dialogue experiences. In particular, in September 2019, Chairman Tran Thanh Man of the VFF (current Chairman of the National Assembly) and his delegation paid a courtesy call on the ESLC to share views on the economic situation and the state of labor-management relations in both countries, and to discuss paths for advancement.

Since then, through cooperative activities such as online conferences on themes including “The Role of Social Dialogue Responding to COVID-19,” both parties have worked to devise practical cooperation measures based on shared areas of interest. Having agreed to conclude an MOU within this year, the two organizations will hold working-level consultations in the near future to finalize the draft of the MOU, including the scope of cooperation.

Vietnam is currently undertaking a comprehensive overhaul of its governmental system to create a turning point for a new leap forward across multiple sectors, including the economy and society, and the authority and role of the VFF are expected to expand further.