Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính on Thursday attended a ceremony to launch the Action Month on Occupational Safety and Hygiene and the Month for Workers in 2023. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính on Thursday attended a ceremony to launch the Action Month on Occupational Safety and Hygiene and the Month for Workers in 2023, during which he stressed the need to pay more attention to labourers, and listen to their thoughts and aspirations.

Speaking at the event, PM Chính stressed the economic restructuring, the change in production and business methods, the transfer of labourers between regions, economic zones and enterprises require workers to quickly and flexibly adapt to these changes.

Meanwhile, a proportion of workers, especially those working in the informal sector, do not have sustainable jobs. Many lose their jobs and have working hours reduced, especially in the past two years due to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the disruption of supply and production chains in the world. The demand for housing and basic facilities of workers is still very huge but has not been met yet, according to the PM.

Therefore, it is necessary to seek measures to tackle difficulties and obstacles to improve workers’ living and working conditions, promote innovation and creativity and diversify economic components to create more jobs and livelihoods for them, he said.

Ministries, sectors and localities were requested to ensure full access to basic and essential social services for employees; soon have fundamental solutions to improve the national labour productivity; and build and implement human resources development strategies, especially for high-quality human resources, with attention paid to remote areas, border areas and islands.

Joint actions are needed to build and develop a modern, multi-layered, inclusive and sustainable social welfare system, PM Chính said, stressing the importance of measures to ensure occupational safety and hygiene, and proactively prevent occupational accidents and diseases, particularly for female employees.

Trade unions at all levels should focus on caring for and performing well their roles of representing and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of their members, and representing them to negotiate and sign collective labour agreements; and actively contribute to perfecting policies and laws on labour.

Currently, Việt Nam’s workforce amounts to more than 52 million people. — VNS