Madam Chihoko Asada-Miyakawa highly appreciated effective cooperation programs between ILO and VCCI, noting that VCCI's efforts in facilitating the implementation of international commitments in recent years have underscored priority in labor issues and social policies.

In the coming time, the two sides will need to further foster cooperation in developing skills for workers in enterprises in the post-COVID-19 period, she said. Vietnam signed FTAs with many regions and major economies, she added, noting that this will be a good opportunity for Vietnam to improve labor quality in business activities and thus participate more actively in global supply chains.

Sharing the same views with the ILO Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, VCCI President Pham Tan Cong said that ILO's support and advice on policy, capacity building and technical cooperation is significant not only to VCCI members but also to the business community in further ensuring compliance with labor laws, enhancing skills development and boosting dialogue between levels, industries and businesses.

Some cooperation projects between VCCI and ILO on soft skills training for employees such as the “Better Work” and “In Business Soft Skill” in recent years have been delivered to many businesses and highly appreciated for supporting capacity building for enterprises.

VCCI President Pham Tan Cong proposed that ILO continue to support VCCI in carrying out private support programs, promoting decent work, practicing responsible labor in global supply chains, and improving employer capacity in social dialogues to build a harmonious, stable and progressive labor relationship in business in the coming time.

VCCI is currently gathering business opinions in developing the amended Law on Social Insurance and VCCI President Cong hoped that ILO would support this process.

Currently, four provinces and cities, namely Hung Yen, Hai Duong, Hai Phong and Quang Ninh in the Red River Delta economic region with the most developed transport and logistics infrastructure system in Vietnam are linked to the Eastern highway axis and have top-class international airports and convenient seaports in Vietnam, VCCI President Cong said. Therefore, this region has many prospects to become an economic growth pole in northern Vietnam. Along with abundant human resources, these provinces and cities will attract domestic and foreign investors in the coming time.

The VCCI President suggested that ILO cooperate with VCCI to focus on building support programs on vocational skills improvement, social dialogues and other labor issues to enhance labor capacity in enterprises and fostering VCCI's initiatives to connect these four provinces and cities.