The National Programme on Occupational Safety, Occupational Health During 2011–2015 of Viet Nam

This is intended to improve working conditions, reduce pollution in the working environment, prevent occupational accidents and occupational diseases, provide health care for workers, raise awareness, ensure compliance with Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) laws; and to protect physical safety and the life of workers, assets of the State, of business and of the organization; all of which will contribute to the sustainable development of the country. The draft SocioEconomic Development Strategy (SEDS) for period 2011–2020 states that " to ensure the harmonious industrial relations; to improve working environment and conditions " ; " to develop strongly and diversely insurance systems including social insurance, unemployment insurance, insurance for occupational accidents and occupational diseases... ". The draft political report submitted to the XI Party Congress clearly proposes that " to pay special attention to labour protection, improvement of working conditions and prevention of occupational accidents " ; and " to study, supplement and improve policies on labour protection, social insurance, maternity leave and other benefits for female workers ". Under the support of the Programme in the period 2006–2010, Viet Nam has made positive progress and significant achievements in improving work conditions and ensuring safety, life and health for workers, developing the production, creating favourable conditions for international cooperation and integration. However, we have been facing with a lot of difficulties and shortcomings in OSH which must be addressed, particularly in the enforcement of regulations on prevention of occupational accidents and occupational diseases. The frequency rate of occupational accidents, the new incidence of occupational diseases have been reduced but not settled down. The number of serious and fatal occupational accidents, number of new cases with occupational diseases and environment pollution keeps growing and seems to be difficult to control, especially in agricultural production, craft villages, cooperative , private households, non-state owned SMEs. This causes the great loss to the economy. The expenses paid by insurance agencies for workers with occupational accidents and occupational diseases is more than 150 billion VND per year. Viet Nam has ratified the ILO Convention No. 155 on OSH and working environment (1981). The Convention stipulates that the ratified countries are responsible for developing and implementing policies and national programmes on OSH, ensuring the improved working conditions with an aim to prevent accidents and injuries at workplaces. Convention recommended that member countries should develop national policies and programmes on OSH. In the Action Plan of 2010–2016 adopted …