USAID/IRPP March 2012 Monthly Report

These subcomponents focused on strengthening capacity for labor inspectorate, developing a national strategic framework on industrial relations promotion, and building capacity for IR education institutions. Approximately 350 men and women from national and local tripartite stakeholders participated in these activities, including representatives from ASEAN/IALI member countries. Technical assistance was provided by US-based IT Specialist Mr. Tac Tacelosky, non-STTA Specialist Ms. Van Nguyen, and National Consultant Dr. Nguyen Huu Dung. They shared and presented their work with counterparts on improved effectiveness of labor inspection systems, US-Vietnam IR education partnership needs assessment, and a roadmap for sound industrial relations. The COP and Project Staff met with leaders of Labor Inspectorate and Labor and Wage Department to update project progress and achievements, and planned activities for April. The Project staff coordinated with Labor and Wage Department to prepare the Tripartite National Workshop on IR Strategy Development, which was held on March 8th and 9th. Project representatives presented a position paper assessing IR developments and suggested a strategic framework for sound industrial relations development toward 2020 for Vietnam. The COP met with high-ranking representatives of MOLISA, VGCL, and VCCI to discuss follow-up on IR policy development. The Project coordinated with Labor Inspectorate to provide technical assistance to host a Planning Workshop on the draft Strategy for Improved Effectiveness of Labor Inspection System. The Project also attended national and international advocacy activities at the outset of the 14th National Occupations Safety and Health Week in Bien Hoa City. Activities included the ISSA Mining/ASEAN/IALI Workshop on Labor Inspection and Occupational Safety and Health, the MOLISA/FES Green Job Workshop, and the National OSH Week's Official Launch. In the fourth week, the Project Office focused on preparing and organizing the Project's Final Evaluation Terminate Workshop, which was held on March 28th. Representatives from local counterparts and implementers, including MOLISA's relevant units, Ministry of Planning and Investment, Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Vietnam Cooperative Alliance, were invited. The Project Office also arranged technical support from a US IT specialist to be a resource person in four Training/Technology Transfer Workshops for 45 participants, including the LI/MIS Committee members. The Project Office played a liaison role between VCCI and US Cornell University to support the local business community. VCCI and VGCL conducted a Visioning Dialogue and reached an agreement for follow-up with the VCCI/Cornell Project Proposal, which would be submitted to potential funding sources. The Project Office also coordinated with VGCL and other partners to complete LAC/LAOs handbooks and Labor Inspection Visit manuals, Technical Assistance Compilations, IR textbook supplemental materials, and IR Glossary. The project was granted a one-month no-cost extension for April 2012. In April, the Project Office will focus its resources on final activities, including the IR Textbook Appraisal Roundtable, the OSAS version 1.0 Launching Ceremony, completion of LACs/LAOs Handbook and publication, completion of Labor Inspection Visit Manual, backstopping to the National Conference on Sustaining Sound Industrial Relations, reception of Sandra Lehman's closedown trip, finalization and submission of Project's Final Reviews, and other activities.