Like the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the EVFTA is a new generation FTA with a strong emphasis on labor rights to ensure that free trade contributes to sustainable development, whilst helping employees and businesses to equally enjoy the economic benefits. The new-generation FTAs require all participating countries to adopt and maintain the rights set out in 8 conventions by the International Labor Organisation (ILO). Vietnam has ratified 5 out of the 8 core ILO conventions and plans to ratify the remaining 3 conventions on freedom of association, collective bargaining, and elimination of all forms of forced or compulsory labour. Vietnam has also accelerated the revision of its Labor Code. Ambassador Bruno Angelet, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Vietnam, said he hopes that the Labor Code will be endorsed next year by the National Assembly.

As scheduled, next May the Vietnamese government will submit the revised Labor Code to the National Assembly, which will approve it during the October session. The remaining conventions are expected to be submitted to the National Assembly for consideration from 2019 to 2023.