Vietnam targets a 5 percent annual decrease in fatal labour accidents under the 2016-2020 National Programme on Labour Safety and Hygiene recently approved by the Prime Minister. 

A fatal labour accident at Vung Ang economic zone.

The programme also sets the goal that more than half of workers in jobs with risk of popular occupational diseases will receive medical check-ups while 70 percent of large-scale firms and 30 percent of small- and medium-sized ones will monitor labour environment. 

Over 80 percent of workers holding jobs that have strict labour safety and hygiene requirements and 90 percent of security guards and cleaners will undergo relevant training. 

To that end, the programme lists activities to improve the capacity and efficiency of State management on labour safety and hygiene as well as offer better health care and training to workers. 

It also encourages individuals and organisations at home and abroad to share expertise that improve working conditions and health care services for workers, suggest initiatives on social insurance against accidents at work and occupational diseases, and invest in labour safety and hygiene services. 

At the same time, it requires increased cooperation among State agencies in the programme and continuing to raise public awareness of the responsibility of employers, employees and the public for labour safety and hygiene work. 

Research on technological advances used in the field will also be boosted.

VNA