The British Embassy in Vietnam held a workshop on promoting transparency and labour best practice in supply chains in Ho Chi Minh City on November 6.

At the conference 

The workshop aims to create a momentum for increased market and investment opportunities, and raise awareness of Vietnamese and foreign-invested firms about benefits of transparency in supply chains and labour standard compliance.

According to the British Consulate General in HCM City, Vietnam is one of the fastest-growing economies in the region through investment in transport and foreign direct investment (FDI), focusing on production and export.

Ian Gibbons, British Consul General in HCM City, said in 2008, the UK and Vietnam signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation against human trafficking.

However, the collaboration should not be limited within the bilateral agreement but expanded through the business community, he suggested.

Le Quang Trung, deputy head of the Department of Employment under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, expressed his hope that domestic and foreign enterprises will publicise their recruitment and join supply chains.

About 300 agencies in Vietnam are employing and training labourers for foreign markets, he said, adding that the unemployment rate in Vietnam stands at 2-3 percent.

Vietnam has signed 24 international labour-related treaties. Besides, domestic laws have prescribed employment, labour export and the recruitment of foreigners in Vietnam, the official said.

Participants stressed the need to increase transparency in labour supply chains, and committed to further promoting international practice on fighting human trafficking.