Only 21 percent of Vietnamese workers are provided with training. Meanwhile labour productivity is low. The information was released at a seminar on enhancing the quality of Vietnamese workforce in implementing the Vietnam-EU Free trade agreement held in Hanoi on October 25.

Apart from benefits, the Vietnam-EU free trade agreement (EVFTA) also challenges Vietnam, including commitments relating to the labour.

Le Xuan Sang, Deputy Director of Vietnam Institute of Economics, said: "The FTA urges Vietnam to improve labour quality and create chances for workers to participate in production chains."

Last year, Vietnam had 47.7 million people at working age. Young and abundant labour force is ideal for Vietnam. However, 80 percent of them were not trained which hinders the country from taking this advantage.

According to Doan Mau Diep, Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, what Vietnam needs to do is developing an occupational standard for workers to follow​ so that they can meet enterprises and partners’ job requirements.

Free trade agreements between Vietnam and other countries also put pressure to Vietnam on renovating education-training system, improving labour quality, among others.

As such, enterprises need to build a labour standard management system meeting international standards and adapting to requirements of partner markets.-VNA