Each province will conduct labor inspections on at least 10 construction sites.

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs will conduct a nationwide labor inspection campaign, focusing on the construction industry, which has claimed many lives in workplace accidents in Vietnam.

This was the content of the launch event for the 2016 Labor Inspection Campaign, organized by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, the International Labour Organization (ILO), and the Dutch Embassy on March 21st in Hung Yen.

With the slogan "Compliance with labor laws for safe construction projects," this year's campaign aims to promote better compliance with labor standards and regulations to address common violations in the construction industry and thereby improve working conditions for workers.

With the support of the International Labour Organization and the Dutch Government, the campaign was organized by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs in coordination with the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

According to the 2015 report on occupational accidents by the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, among the reported fatal occupational accidents, construction topped the list in both the number of incidents and the number of fatalities. This sector accounted for 38% of the total number of fatalities while working and 35% of the total reported fatal occupational accidents. Meanwhile, the second-ranked sector, mechanical engineering, accounted for only 8% of the incidents and 7% of the fatalities.

Construction workers were not provided with personal protective equipment. (Photo by MQ)

Of the six most serious workplace accidents with the highest number of fatalities in 2015, four occurred on construction sites. Meanwhile, many more workplace accidents, injuries, and occupational diseases in this industry may have gone unreported.

Speaking at the campaign launch ceremony, Deputy Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Pham Minh Huan said: "Besides the responsibilities of employers and employees, the cause of the above situation also stems from the limited dissemination and promotion of labor laws, and the ineffective involvement of various sectors and levels."

According to Deputy Minister Pham Minh Huan, the labor inspection campaign is a new approach that requires the participation of the entire society, including labor inspectors, trade unions, organizations representing employers, and the involvement of the mass media.

The campaign will focus on raising awareness among employers, workers, and society as a whole about labor laws and occupational safety and health standards in the construction sector. Specifically, the campaign will increase the number of inspected businesses and construction projects to at least 630 nationwide between March and November. Each province and city will conduct labor inspections of at least 10 businesses and construction projects.

Key inspection areas will include working hours and overtime; wages; establishment of regulations and training on occupational safety and hygiene; personal protective equipment; site organization; use of vehicles, machinery, scaffolding, supports, electricity and electrical equipment; formwork, reinforcement and concrete work; welding and finishing work.

Emphasizing the urgent need for effective action to address and prevent human losses in the construction industry, ILO Vietnam Director, Dr. Chang-Hee Lee, stressed: “As everywhere in the world, the responsibility for ensuring the health and safety of workers rests primarily with the employer. Therefore, labor inspectors also have an advisory role to help employers, along with workers, better understand their rights and obligations under the law and to provide advice on the best ways to comply with the law.”

According to Dr. Chang-Hee Lee, the campaign is an opportunity for labor inspectors in Vietnam to strengthen this advisory role and collaborate with representatives of employers and workers to achieve compliance with the law and ensure safe working conditions for workers at construction sites.

According to Vietnam+