USAID/IRPP February 2012 Monthly Report

The Project Office conducted 05 workshops/meetings/trainings and several consultations for a total of 270 participants from tripartite stakeholders/counterparts. Technical assistance was provided by US experts, including Mr. Michael Tacelosky, US IT Specialist, Ms. Van Nguyen, US Education Partnership Consultant, and Dr. Nguyen Huu Dung, National IR Strategy Consultant. These experts shared experiences and introduced locals to advanced approaches on labor inspection compliance, online labor law self-assessment scheme model, sound IR strategy roadmap recommendations, and IR education needs of Vietnamese partner educational institutions. Labor inspection/ILSs compliance/automation adaptation was a key focus area in February. The COP and PO staff met with ICD and LI leaders to update project progress and plan support activities for March. The COP also attended the MOLISA workshop on Labor Inspection compliance with related International Labor Standards and presented the impacts of the Project's supports in implementing the international labor inspection standards. The National Workshop on Labor Law Compliance Online Self-Assessment Scheme was held in February, where chief national, regional, and provincial labor inspectors from 35 provinces gathered. Under facilitation of the COP, the US IT Consultant introduced a pilot online self-assessment software (OSAS) tailored for labor inspection work. The OSAS model is designed to be efficient and a multipurpose automation vehicle/tool for Vietnamese labor inspectors to develop relevant database, quickly update labor law compliance status, and handle macro/micro labor emerging issues responsively, promptly, and accurately. The COP coordinated with LWD to host consultative meetings and a National Workshop on NIRC's 2-year Operation Review in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City with tripartite participation. The PO supported IR baseline survey findings and a draft Sound IR Development Strategy were presented for discussions and would be finalized in the upcoming IR National Conference chaired by the MoLISA Vice-minister in Ho Chi Minh City. IR education needs assessments were also conducted in February. The COP, PO staff, and the US IR Education Consultant met leaders of VGCL and the 03 universities to design a US-Vietnam IR and trade union faculty exchange program, following up on the VOLVIS labor study tour to the US arranged by the PO last November. The PO has been coordinating with relevant counterparts to finalize handbooks draft for LACs/LAOs Operation and labor inspection visits as well as IR syllabus and glossary for labor end-users. Arbitration/dispute resolution was another area of focus in February. The PO assisted the VCCI/BEA in liaising with Mr. Richard Fincher, Cornell University Adjunct Professor and ADR consultant, to continue to develop a labor arbitration program as part of the VCCI-Cornell partnership. ILO/IRPP coordination and USAID gender integration were also key activities in February. The COP gave a briefing with members of the ILO Labor Inspection Assessment Team, focusing on project work, on information sharing and coordination for future work on labor inspection systems in Vietnam. The PO staff also joined with other USAID partners to attend a Gender Briefing and took note of subsequently integrating gender issues in project planning out and reviewing work as required by the USAID's policy. Technical assistance compilation and closing-down activities were also underway in February. The PO staff began to compile TA materials, which are considered valuable materials for Vietnamese stakeholders' use, and arranged inbound project wrap-up visit of Ms. Sarah Lehman. The COP has been compiling and drafting the Final Evaluation Report for submission to USAID and MOLISA. Lastly, the PO focused resources to set up work agenda and administrative arrangements for inbound mission visits, including Mr. Jeff Wheeler, USDOL Specialist for International Labor Affairs, Jan Sunoo, IR Specialist, Ms. Nguyen Van, IR Education Development Specialist, and Ms. Sara Lehman, DAI Program Manager. Tentative upcoming project activities in March 2012 include arrangements for STTA mission of Jeff Wheeler, the MOLISA's National Workshop on Labor Inspection Strategy, and the 14th National OSH Week in Dong Nai.