At the seminar (Source: https://baotainguyenmoitruong.vn) Hanoi (VNA) – As environmental disputes, especially between citizens and businesses,are increasing, it is important to ensure better environmental justice as wellas people’s access to information and participation in decision-making inenvironmental matters that affect them.This was the corepremise of the thematic discussion entitled “Environmental disputes, socialchanges and distributive justice: Case studies, comparative analysis, andpolicy implications for Vietnam” which was held in Hanoi on January 25. According to the 2016Vietnam Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index(PAPI), environmental concerns ranked as the second most urgent matter thatcitizens expected the State to address after poverty and hunger. The 2016 PAPI surveyalso shows that 77 percent of the respondents suggested that the State shouldgive priority to environmental protection rather than economic growth at allcosts. The United NationsDevelopment Programmme (UNDP) in Vietnam and the National Economics University(NEU) co-organised this event to present and discuss the findings of theirlatest thematic research, which provides insights into the causes and effectsof past and on-going environmental disputes. Utilisingenvironmental justice and social construction frameworks, the research haspresented policy options for Vietnam to consider in its efforts to promote ahealthier environment for all. UNDP Country Directorin Vietnam Caitlin Wiesen highlighted the need to better understand the dynamics of environmental disputes in Vietnam, the socio-economicand political implications to safeguard environmental rights, as well as accessto justice for those who are victims. She said the casestudies analysed in the research and experience from other countries show thatthree factors are important in order to ensure environmental rights: consultingwith communities before… [Read full story]
Environment disputes are common phenomenon causing social problems. According to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the environmental dispute cases rank second after land disputes. This means that environmental pollution is a great concern in Vietnam. However, there are still many shortcomings in the existing settlement mechanisms. According to experts, to deal adequately with this issue, Vietnam should establish an environmental court in the long term. Shortcomings in the resolution mechanism Reviewing a typical number of environmental disputes in Vietnam, most of the cases people have sent denunciations against pollution damaging to crops, livestock, health and farming practices. People…... [read more]
President Truong Tan Sang meets delegates attending the fourth ASEAN Chief Justices's Roundtable yesterday. — VNA/VNS Photo Nguyen Khang HA NOI (VNS) — Viet Nam hopes to learn from other countries' experiences in protecting the environment, President Truong Tan Sang said on Saturday to delegates attending the fourth ASEAN Chief Justices' Roundtable. Chief justices and senior judiciary members said they applauded Viet Nam's organisation of the roundtable, which focused on the role the courts should play in protecting the environment. The event allowed member countries to exchange expertise and share their laws on environmental protection, Sang said.ASEAN, which has a…... [read more]
The Committee for Social Issues of the National Assembly (NA) has proposed the Government to think over amendments for rules of strikes of the Labor Law. The committee is reporting its supervision on strikers to the NA Standing Committee. Over 1,000 Unprompted Strikes According to the Government, Viet Nam saw 1,056 strikes from 1995 to early 2006. In this January alone, up to 78 strikes took place. Companies of all economic sectors have seen strikes but more at foreign-invested enterprises. Statistics by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) shows that 90% of all strikes broke out from…... [read more]
According to the Industrial Policy and Strategy Institute (IPSI) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam, environmental disputes in Vietnam are characteristically happening on a large scale and causing enormous damage to many people, but the authorities are not adopting drastic remedies to environmental issues while considering them the matter of order and security. One-dimensional reflection According to a survey performed by IPSI in Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Nai, Thai Nguyen, Hung Yen and Da Nang, environmental pollution in industrial zones is mainly discovered by people who do not assess pollution with such indexes as biochemical oxygen…... [read more]
Domestic Press Highlights (06-06-2009) New centre to help solve labour disputes The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs has set up the Centre for Labour Relations Development. The centre will play the role of an intermediary between employees and employers, helping them organise dialogues and sign collective labour agreements and resolving labour disputes. Its chapters will be set up in provinces and cities that have the need and suitable conditions. Dau Tu (Viet Nam Investment Review) Mekong Delta cuts sugarcane cultivation The area under sugarcane cultivation in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta has shrunk by 4,500 hectares since the…... [read more]