Ending Child Labor Helps Vietnam Integrate into Global Economy

Reducing the rate of child labor to less than 4.9% by 2025

The International Labor Organization (ILO) estimates that child labor is a global problem. In 2020, there were 160 million children involved in labor, of which 79 million are working in dangerous jobs. In particular, in the context of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, this organization warned that the number of child labor worldwide will increase by 8.9 million by 2022.

In Vietnam, according to the results of the national survey on child labor in 2018, child labor from 5 to 17 is 1,031,944 children (accounting for 5.4% of the total number of children in this age group), lower than that of countries in the Asia-Pacific region and globally in 2016.

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The National Program on the Prevention and Reduction of Child Labour for the 2021-2025 period, with a vision towards 2030 has been approved by the Prime Minister under Decision No. 782/QD-TTg dated May 27, 2021.

The program is built on the successes and lessons learned from the implementation of the program on prevention and reduction of child labor in the 2016-2020 period, chaired by the Ministry of Labor-Invalids and Social Affairs and technical assistance from the ILO and UNICEF.

According to Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Nguyen Thi Ha, in recent years, the prevention and reduction of child labor has always been concerned by the Party, the National Assembly and the Government. Vietnam has joined and ratified international treaties to ensure the implementation of children's rights.

The main objective of the program is to reduce the rate of child labor from 5 to 17 years old to less than 4.9% by 2025 and 4.5% by 2030.

To achieve the above goal, Ha said: "Ministries, localities and organizations need to develop plans and practical solutions to prevent and reduce child labor. It is necessary to continue to well implement policies to support workers in difficulty in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Resolutions No. 68, No. 126; integrate the program's goals, tasks and solutions in the implementation of the National Target Programs such as: National target program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas in the period of 2021-2030, National target program for building new countryside in the period of 2021-2025.

Harmful effects of child labor

According to Bharati Pflug, senior specialist of the ILO, child labor is extremely harmful. Child labor not only jeopardizes Vietnam's reputation as an international trading partner, and undermines the capacity of the country's future workforce, it also erodes the rights of children and increases poverty. This program demonstrates the strong political will of Vietnamese leaders to secure a better future for future generations.

“Vietnam has committed to complying with international labor standards, including the abolition of child labor, as required by the new generation of Free Trade Agreements. The implementation of the National Program to prevent and reduce child labor will ensure that this commitment is put into practice, facilitating Vietnam's deeper integration into the global economy. This is very important for the economic recovery of the country after Covid-19," said Bharati Pflug.

Many experts fear Covid-19 will increase the risks of child labor, including economic decline, the impact of underemployment and job loss on households, barriers to education, food insecurity, increased mortality and high medical costs.

Therefore, the implementation of the National Program on the Prevention and Reduction of Child Labour for the 2021-2025 period, with a vision towards 2030, social security programs and policies in accordance with the National Target Program on sustainable poverty reduction for the 2021-2025 period is expected to contribute to the program to prevent and reduce child labor.

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