TRUNG TÂM PHÁT TRIỂN VÀ HỘI NHẬP

Following the success of Round Table Dialogues of 2009, 2010 and 2011, the Center for Development and Integration (CDI) continues its cooperation with the BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative by Foreign Trade Association (FTA) to organize the 2012 Dialogue. BSCI has an aim to establish a common forum about the rules of conduct and European monitoring system of social responsibility of business including BSCI standards for stakeholders and its members. The 2012 Round Table Dialogue in Hanoi on 26^th September 2012 and Ho Chi Minh City on 27^th September 2012 has the topic: “Improvement of Harmonious Labor Relationship and Corporate Social Responsibility in Vietnam”.

The meeting withdrew attention and participation of more than 113 people for both Hanoi and HCMC ends, representing for different fields and sectors including government officials, busines, manufacturers, services providers/consultants and auditors and academia.

The dialogues in Hanoi and Hochiminh city cover ranges of subjects regarding BSCI standards and update of related Vietnamese law like Amended Labor Code, Amended Law on Trade Union. The dialogue this year also review 2011 dialogue’s recommendations. More concrete topics of interest brought by the stakeholders include how the amendments of respective law effect the corporate compliance with BSCI standards. There are still work in progress but yet to the best practices such as Tripartite Approach. More discussion on what relevant mechanism should be in place to enhance Social Compliance through Tripartite Dialogues. Other topic is the benchmark of BSCI standards, ISO 26000 on CSR and their implications in Vietnam and how business and members of BSCI can recognize the benefits of BSCI standards while complying with the laws.

Key recommendations from stakeholders’ dialogues are:

(i) Business should raise their compliance with Laws and Standards: While the amended laws still allow exceptional cases for exporters to increase number of overtime hours for the rush periods to avoid breaking the rules, business should apply better management under voluntary mechanism. There is a need to have good will from business in compliance with the international standards. At the same time, auditors and compliance persons from buyers must have sufficient knowledge on relevant laws, regulations and guidelines to help business to improve their system. Business has responsibility to provide knowledge and awareness for workers/labourers on update law and their implementation with regard to the amended laws and any standards.

(ii) Improving labour relations: while Tripartite Mechanism is yet implemented widely at factory level because of lack of encouragement from the Government an lack of independence of Trade Union, Trade Union should be more active and efficient in providing supports to the local Trade Union in any dialogue approach in order to solve labor dispute and strengthen labor relations. Local Trade Union should be well established and protected to optimize its roles as representative of the employees. Tripartite dialogues between employer-trade union-employees should be conducted more regularly, not only to protect the rights and benefit for the employees, but also chances for employers to be shared with corporate difficulties.

(iii) Harmonising between Laws and Standards: The laws requires guidelines and regulations from Government to be effective. It is in the process to develop series of guideline but these should be announced widely at least 0.5-1 year before taking effects in order to let business time to prepare. In labor area, changes are often seen which makes negative effects to the operation and productivities of the enterprises. While there are policies that concern labourers. So any changes in this regards should go through process to receive consultation from enterprises as well as labourers.

Other recommendations for BSCI dialogues in Vietnam:

(iv) BSCI standards receive much more attention of stakeholders including the government and the business especially through members. More requests to attend and more issues shared during the last 3 year dialogues show the need to have more in depth dialogues and make it more regularly. Hence recommendations from stakeholder is made to make the 1 day length dialogue annually and half day for mid-year that allow more discussions and develop action plan of the stakeholders.

(v) Vietnam becomes closer to the international trade and regional trade and business mechanism. Networking is important way to learn and improve business performance and corporate social responsibility. The need for sharing information and linking business with BSCI network and other CSR networks in the region are highly recommended. CDI with its position as independent civil society working to promote implementation of CSR can be the focal point for Vietnam and act to promote sharing between Vietnam business, BSCI members and others in the region. A form of CSR forum online and offline can be developed to engage Vietnamese business more with CSR.