Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2018, published 108th ILC session (2019)

Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) - Viet Nam (Ratification: 2000)

Article 6 of the Convention. Programmes of action to eliminate the worst forms of child labour. National programme on the elimination of the worst forms of child labour. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that the Government initiated a project entitled “Support to the Design and Implementation of National Programmes on the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour” with the assistance of ILO–IPEC. The Committee also noted that, according to ILO–IPEC information, a significant intended output of the project was the drafting of a road map or national strategy on child labour, which would be included in the National Action Plan for Children (2012–20).

The Committee notes the Government’s information in its report that, following the Prime Minister’s Decision No. 1555/QD-TTg, the National Action Plan for Children for 2012–20 was adopted in October 2012, which envisages the development of the National Programme on the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour for 2016–20. The Committee requests the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that the National Programme on the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labour is adopted in the near future, and to provide information on its implementation and results achieved.

Article 7(2)(b). Effective and time-bound measures. Direct assistance for the removal of children from the worst forms of child labour and for their rehabilitation and social integration. Child victims of trafficking. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that 63 provinces and cities had set up victim support centres for victims of trafficking. In addition, peace houses in Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho City and Au Giang province provided victims in disadvantaged situations with shelter, food, medical, social and psychological assistance and access to education and vocational training.

The Committee notes the Government’s information that, according to the report by the Ministry of Public Security on the implementation of the Action Programme to Prevent and Combat Human Trafficking (2016–20) for the first six months of 2016, human trafficking remains a problem in Viet Nam, especially trafficking in children. In the northern provinces, children were trafficked to China by deception, while in the southern provinces, some child victims were sold abroad as sex workers. According to the statistics from the local departments of labour, invalids and social affairs, since 2011, 2,204 trafficking victims were provided with assistance for their reintegration into the community, of which children under 16 years accounted for 9 per cent. The Committee also notes that several decrees and circulars were promulgated regarding the identification and protection of trafficking victims. Moreover, bilateral agreements on the verification and return of trafficking victims were signed with Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Thailand. Considering that child trafficking exists in Viet Nam, the Committee requests the Government to continue providing information on the number of child victims of trafficking who have been provided with assistance and education or vocational training by the local departments of labour, invalids and social affairs, as well as by other victim support centres, including peace houses.

Clause (d). Identify and reach out to children at special risk. Street children. In its previous comments, the Committee noted that the incidence of street children had started to decrease from 28,528 in 2008 to 21,208 in 2010. The Government acknowledged that the problem of street children in Viet Nam persisted and provided information on the measures taken to combat this phenomenon, including initiating a programme to care for children and prevent them from working in the streets; developing models to help street children reunite with their families; facilitating the provision of support for families of street children; and promoting systematic coordination in order to create a community-based system for child protection.

The Committee notes the Government’s statement that, in 2014, more than 1,473,000 children in vulnerable situations were identified, including around 22,000 street children. The Committee also notes the adoption of the Children Law in 2016, of which section 10 determines 14 groups of children in vulnerable situations, including homeless street children. The Committee therefore requests the Government to provide information on the application of the 2016 Children law regarding the protection of street children from the worst forms of child labour, including the number of children living on the street detected and provided with direct assistance for their rehabilitation and social integration.