Vietnam eyes crackdown on workers rights, foreign aid, report says

Vietnam’s Communist Party Directs Officials to Control Trade Unions and Monitor Foreign Organisations

BANGKOK (Reuters) – Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party has directed officials to control trade unions as the country prepares to expand workers’ rights, alongside closely monitoring foreign organisations and citizens travelling abroad, according to an advocacy group.

Bangkok-based Project88, which focuses on human rights in Vietnam, said in a report published on Friday it had obtained an internal directive issued by the Politburo of the party in July containing these orders.

Project 88 said it could not independently verify the authenticity of the document, but noted that parts of it were reported in state media.

Contradiction with International Trade Deals

The party has ordered measures that appear in contradiction with its commitments under international trade deals to increasing the protection of workers, according to Project88’s translation of excerpts of the internal document.

In response to questions from Reuters, Vietnam’s foreign ministry said the country is committed to executing its international commitments, including in the areas of trade and human rights.

“Taking account of the complicated developments of the world and the region, Vietnam has issued various documents and conducted different measures to strengthen its national security,” it said.

Control of Party Cells and Government Management

Under the directive, officials are required to ensure the continued control of party cells and government management “at all levels” in the application of a U.N. convention on workers’ rights that Vietnam is planning to ratify this year after a decade of talks with international partners.

The convention is meant to guarantee the free establishment of trade unions, but the internal directive requires officials to “prevent the establishment of labour organisations on the basis of ethnicity or religion”, the group’s translation of the document said.

The Vietnamese office of the International Labour Organization (ILO) did not reply to requests for comment.

Crackdown on Foreign Aid and National Security

In what appears as a crackdown on foreign aid, the directive urges officials to “closely manage international cooperation activities” and refuse funds for sensitive projects, according to Project88’s translation.

Officials have also been instructed to prevent threats to national security from reforms that could facilitate foreign investors’ acquisition of controlling stakes “in vital economic sectors.”

Officials in the tightly controlled one-party state are also reminded in the directive that independent political organisations are not to be allowed in the country.

Enhanced Security Measures

“Security conditions” are to be enhanced in industrial parks, residential areas, economic zones and “areas with a large concentration of workers,” said a Project88 analysis that translated and quoted the internal document.

Vietnamese citizens travelling abroad for business or leisure must be closely monitored, according to the analysis.

Media Usage and Cultural Promotion

The media should be increasingly used to tackle civil disobedience, fight “sabotage by hostile forces” and counter the promotion of “a hybrid foreign culture that does not conform to the customs and traditions of the nation,” the group’s translation of the directive said.

(Reporting by Reuters staff)

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Identified in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

The issues highlighted in the article are connected to SDG 8 as they discuss the control of trade unions and the prevention of the establishment of labor organizations based on ethnicity or religion. These issues are related to protecting labor rights and promoting safe and secure working environments for all workers.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The issues highlighted in the article are connected to SDG 16 as they discuss the control of party cells and government management at all levels, as well as the prevention of independent political organizations. These issues are related to ensuring responsive, inclusive, participatory, and representative decision-making at all levels.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The issues highlighted in the article are connected to SDG 17 as they discuss the need to closely manage international cooperation activities, refuse funds for sensitive projects, and prevent threats to national security from reforms facilitating foreign investors’ acquisition of controlling stakes in vital economic sectors. These issues are related to enhancing policy coherence for sustainable development.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Target 8.8: Protect labor rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers

Based on the article’s content, the specific target under SDG 8 is to protect labor rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers. This target is addressed through the control of trade unions and the prevention of the establishment of labor organizations based on ethnicity or religion.

Target 16.7: Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory, and representative decision-making at all levels

Based on the article’s content, the specific target under SDG 16 is to ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory, and representative decision-making at all levels. This target is addressed through the control of party cells and government management at all levels, as well as the prevention of independent political organizations.

Target 17.14: Enhance policy coherence for sustainable development

Based on the article’s content, the specific target under SDG 17 is to enhance policy coherence for sustainable development. This target is addressed through the need to closely manage international cooperation activities, refuse funds for sensitive projects, and prevent threats to national security from reforms facilitating foreign investors’ acquisition of controlling stakes in vital economic sectors.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article mentions several indicators that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets:

– Control of trade unions: This indicator can be measured by assessing the extent to which trade unions are controlled or restricted by officials.
– Prevention of establishment of labor organizations based on ethnicity or religion: This indicator can be measured by monitoring any instances where labor organizations are prevented from being established based on ethnicity or religion.
– Enhanced security conditions in areas with a large concentration of workers: This indicator can be measured by evaluating the security conditions in industrial parks, residential areas, economic zones, and other areas with a large concentration of workers.
– Control of party cells and government management at all levels: This indicator can be measured by examining the extent to which party cells and government management are controlled or managed at all levels.
– Prevention of independent political organizations: This indicator can be measured by monitoring any instances where independent political organizations are prevented from operating.
– Closely manage international cooperation activities: This indicator can be measured by assessing the level of management and oversight of international cooperation activities.
– Refuse funds for sensitive projects: This indicator can be measured by tracking instances where funds for sensitive projects are refused.
– Prevent threats to national security from reforms facilitating foreign investors’ acquisition of controlling stakes in vital economic sectors: This indicator can be measured by evaluating the extent to which reforms are implemented to prevent such threats.

Overall, these indicators can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets by assessing the extent to which the mentioned actions are implemented or enforced.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Behold! This splendid article springs forth from the wellspring of knowledge, shaped by a wondrous proprietary AI technology that delved into a vast ocean of data, illuminating the path towards the Sustainable Development Goals. Remember that all rights are reserved by SDG Investors LLC, empowering us to champion progress together.

Source: yahoo.com

Join us, as fellow seekers of change, on a transformative journey at https://sdgtalks.ai/welcome, where you can become a member and actively contribute to shaping a brighter future.