Fair and ethical recruitment training in Viet Nam: Promoting responsible recruitment of migrant workers

7.10.2024

Ha Tinh, 30 September – 01 October 2024 – The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), in cooperation with Department of Labour – Invalids and Social Affairs (DOLISA) Ha Tinh province, the International Labour Organisation (ILO), and UNU-MERIT, Maastricht University, successfully organised a two-day training on “Fair and Ethical Recruitment”.

Ms. Ingrid Christensen – Director for the ILO Country Office in Viet Nam, Mr. Dinh Huu Cong – Deputy Director of Ha Tinh Provincial DOLISA, and Ms. Beate Dippmar – Cluster Coordinator TVET, Labour Market and Labour Migration, GIZ in Viet Nam

Recruitment of migrant workers has become a major issue in the context of global labour migration, where workers might face exploitive practices. Therefore, it is essential to address these challenges, and the topic has been underlined in several international legal instrument such as the Agenda 2030, its Sustainable Development Goals, and the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM). As part of Viet Nam’s commitment to implementing GCM, the government places a strong emphasis on ensuring safe and regular migration in general and implement the Objective 6 of the GCM ‘facilitate fair and ethical recruitment and safeguard conditions that ensure decent work’.

Contributing to this effort, in April 2024, the Programme “Shaping development-oriented migration” (MEG-GIZ) in cooperation with UNU-MERIT, Maastricht University successfully organized a “Spring School” on fair and ethical recruitment for representatives from Vietnamese state management agencies, Vietnam Association of Manpower Supply (VAMAS), CSOs in Germany. Building on the success of this course, the training in Ha Tinh reached out to Department of Oversea Labour (DOLAB) – Ministry of Labour – Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA), DOLISAs, MRCs/ESCs from 10 provinces nationwide Viet Nam, VAMAS and CSOs who did not participate in the “Spring school”, continue to deepen the discussion on the importance of fair recruitment within the global migration framework. Using a Problem-Based Learning (PBL) approach, trainers engaged participants through group work, practical case studies, and interactive lectures, with contents tailored to the Vietnamese context. The training attracts in total of 64 participants, including those joining online.

Group discussion – Representatives of each group presenting their group’s discussion results

“This training is a valuable chance for us to meet and discuss with each other. The content of the training is useful and practical, especially the content related to return and reintegration. We gain a lot of knowledge and see so many good practices which can be applied for our work. We really need capacity building measures like this training”, shared Mr. Nguyen Xuan Thai, Head of Labour and Employment division of DOLISA Ha Tinh.

After the training, participants have equipped with a deeper understanding of the meaning and importance of fair and ethical recruitment. Participants also gained insights into global norms and best practices, roles and challenges different stakeholders might face, and the support mechanism available for migrant workers during whole migration circle. With sharing from Vietnamese government agencies and society organizations, as well as experts on this topic, the training explores and promotes collaboration among stakeholders to better monitor fair recruitment and handle complaints from migrant workers.

All participants of the training

Within the framework of the Programme “Shaping development-oriented migration” (MEG), implemented by GIZ on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the training is a part the ongoing efforts to strengthen fair and ethical recruitment practices for migrant workers in Viet Nam, contributing to the overall protection of migrant workers’ rights and the promotion of safe migration.

Welcoming remarks by Ms. Beate Dippmar – Cluster Coordinator TVET, Labour Market and Labour Migration, GIZ in Viet Nam

Ms. Pham Thi Thuy – Specialist, Division of Taiwan, Europe and America, DOLAB, MoLISA

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Thai – Head of Labour and Employment Division, Ha Tinh Provinical DOLISA, presents on Exchange of information on inspection practices