Talk on “Labor - Employment Policy in New Normal”

Covid 19 pandemic has been bringing about many effects on all aspects of our life, meanwhile, labor - employment is one of the most concerning issues. With the hope of creating an exchange channel as well as sharing recovery solutions and adapting to “new normal” condition in COVID-19 context of Vietnam in general, and Southeast and Mekong River Delta Regions in particular, University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) organized a Talk on “Labor - Employment Policy in the New Normal”. The program was broadcast online on Cisco Webex platform on the morning of 17^th December 2021 with the enthusiastic participation of experts, scientists, policymakers, and corporations from Southeast and Mekong River Delta Regions.

Delivering at the opening at the talk, Prof. Su Dinh Thanh - President of UEH emphasized: “A series of talks on policy is an activity that UEH expects to contribute to the economic recovery process of Ho Chi Minh City in particular and South Region in general. The Talk is also an opportunity to connect science with practice, a foundation for long-lasting relationships between research institutions, state organizations, and corporations, to solve current eco-social issues, as well as to build a strategy for long-term economic development.”

Prof. Su Dinh Thanh - President of UEH delivering the opening at the talk

A research team of UEH, including Dr. Pham Khanh Nam, Dr. Truong Dang Thuy, Dr. Ho Quoc Thong, Dr. Nguyen Quang, and Dr. Tran My Minh Chau, presented estimated damage calculation of labor - employment iduring social-distancing time from May toDecember 2021, labor supply analysis, demand aspects, and predictions about labor shift in HCMC.

UEH research team presenting

After these finalizing analyses, Dr. Nguyen Van Lam - Deputy Director of HCM Department of Labors, Invalids and Social Affairs shared his experience of carrying out supportive policies on training and creating jobs for laborers returning to work after social distancing in HCMC. He concluded experiences carrying out HCMC labor and employment policies surrounding 5 main points: (1) Labor market information; (2) Job skill training; (3) Supporting HCMC external labors to return to work; (4) Connecting regional links in moderating labor supply-demand; (5) Supporting laborers to self-create jobs.

Dr. Nguyen Van Lam - Deputy Director of HCM Department of Labors, Invalids and Social Affairs

Through provincial perspectives with labor emigrations to large cities in the social distancing, what kinds of policies should provinces generate to help laborers coming back to work from large cities after social distancing? Mr. Nguyen Quang Thuan - Deputy Director of Daklak Department of Labors, Invalids and Social Affairs shared his experience of receiving laborers from Daklak to South provinces.

Mr. Nguyen Quang Thuan - Deputy Director of Daklak Department of Labors, Invalids and Social Affairs sharing his experience

To collect comprehensive information on labor-employment issues through employers’ lens, Mr. Truong Quoc Binh - Deputy Director of Thai Hoa Foods, Soc Trang Province shared his experience with corporations in organizing labor and manufacture during Covid-19 period. Covid-19 pandemic has hugely impacted the production and business statements of corporations, with reasonable labor organizing, issuing timely solutions will help laborers feel more secure in their lives.

Based on the analysis of research and policy experience sharing from labor managers, Dr. Pham Khanh Nam, on behalf of the research team, presented recommended policies on labor - employment in new normal phase. Three groups of policies recommended by the research team comprise: (1) Organizing to provide jobs so as to solve quickly welfare and employment issues for severely affected groups; (2) Using behavior science tools to attract laborers to return to work; (3) Constructing technological foundation connecting unskilled labor supply-demand.

Dr. Pham Khanh Nam, on behalf of the research team, presenting recommended policies on labor - employment in the new normal phase

This 30-minute discussion session took place excitingly with many questions raised by audiences, listing as: connecting regions in moderating supply and demand, managing investment funds aiming to provide jobs, identifying training demands, evaluating the effectiveness of job creation policies, labor protection policy in the informal sector, corporate labor regulations, and so on.