Joint Resolution No. 01/2004/NQLT/TLĐ-BTNMT on coordinating actions to protect the environment for sustainable development

JOINT RESOLUTION

On coordinating actions to protect the environment

serving sustainable development

On the basis of the Environmental Protection Law dated December 27, 1993;

Pursuant to Directive No. 36/CT-TW dated June 25, 1998 of the Politburo on strengthening environmental protection work during the period of industrialization and modernization of the country;

Pursuant to the Charter of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor adopted at the 9th National Congress of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor on October 13, 2003;

Pursuant to Decree No. 91/2002/NĐ-CP dated November 11, 2002 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment;

To meet urgent requirements for environmental protection during the period of accelerating industrialization and modernization of the country, contributing to effectively implementing the contents and targets related to the environment set forth in the Resolution of the 9th National Congress of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, realizing the effective role of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, attracting a large number of workers, civil servants, officials, and employees to participate in environmental protection, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment hereby jointly issue this Joint Resolution on coordinating activities to protect the environment for sustainable development,

I. OBJECTIVES AND REQUIREMENTS

1. Enhancing awareness among workers, civil servants, officials, and employees about the task of protecting the environment, gradually changing backward behaviors and customs that negatively impact the living environment, having a sense of reasonable and thrifty use of resources, protecting and improving the environment, building a civilized lifestyle friendly with the environment for sustainable, equitable, and socially progressive development.

2. Mobilizing workers, civil servants, officials, and employees to participate in environmental protection, building and piloting models of workers, civil servants, officials, and employees participating in environmental protection at all levels of the trade union, particularly focusing on industrial production bases, small-scale industries - craft villages.

3. Strengthening coordination in directing between the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, participation of all levels of trade unions in environmental protection activities, consolidating and enhancing the quality of trade union activities, while training, nurturing, and utilizing trade union cadres in environmental protection work.

II. CONTENTS OF COORDINATED ACTIVITIES

1. Developing a program to integrate unified management of occupational safety and health systems with environmental protection within the trade union system.

2. Regularly organizing promotional and educational activities to raise awareness about environmental protection, thrifty and reasonable use of natural resources for workers, civil servants, officials, and employees nationwide, integrating environmental protection activities with the movement "Green - Clean - Beautiful, ensuring occupational safety and health" launched by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor. Promoting traditional activities to equip knowledge, techniques, and technologies for environmental protection, managing and using natural resources reasonably for trade union cadres at all levels.

3. Organizing the compilation and provision of educational materials on the environment suitable for workers, civil servants, officials, and employees, integrating environmental education content with occupational safety and health education, ensuring the health of workers, and other trade union tasks to enhance the effectiveness of environmental education.

4. Building and implementing the Action Program "Strengthening the Participation of Trade Unions in Environmental Protection from 2005 to 2010" to effectively implement the National Environmental Protection Strategy until 2010 and orientation until 2020.

5. Building programs to protect and improve the quality of working environments and industrial zones, contributing to the protection of natural resources and the environment. Applying clean technologies, environmentally friendly technologies, and cleaner production programs at production facilities.

6. Organizing the implementation of research projects on the role of trade unions and workers in the cause of environmental protection; researching and recommending to the State to amend and supplement mechanisms, policies, and laws related to environmental issues.

7. Organizing action programs and specific activities on World Environment Day (June 5) and other annual environmental events in production facilities and at all levels of trade unions.

8. Proactively and actively participating in implementing programs and projects to implement the National Environmental Protection Strategy until 2010 and orientation until 2020 approved by the Prime Minister.

III. ASSIGNMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Responsibilities of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor

1.1. Directing and implementing the Joint Resolution to all levels of the trade union, workers, civil servants, officials, and employees throughout the country. Mobilizing active and extensive participation of workers, civil servants, officials, and employees in the field of environmental protection.

1.2. Coordinating with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, local state agencies responsible for the environment, and relevant agencies to organize the implementation of environmental protection content at all levels of the trade union effectively.

1.3. Organizing diverse and rich forms of communication and education on environmental protection through the mass media system of the trade union, central, local, and sectoral levels; training to enhance knowledge, skills, techniques, and technology for environmental protection for trade union cadres, trade union communicators, and cooperators at all levels; organizing campaigns to raise awareness about environmental protection; activities responding to National Sanitation Week (April 29 - May 6) and World Environment Day (June 5) annually and other environmental events.

1.4. Continuing to promote the movement "Green - Clean - Beautiful, Ensuring Occupational Safety and Health" and other appropriate activities according to the situation and conditions of each locality and unit, linking environmental protection and occupational safety and health activities with key tasks in the program of the term of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor.

1.5. Building, managing, and effectively implementing models of workers, civil servants, officials, and employees protecting the environment in different regions. Regularly exchanging information and organizing lessons learned to replicate models nationwide.

1.6. Direct the implementation of scientific and technological research activities related to the environment within the trade union system, with the core being the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health Science and Technology, the Labor Environment Monitoring and Analysis Station within the network of State Labor Environment Monitoring Stations managed by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor.

2. Responsibilities of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment

2.1. Direct the Departments of Natural Resources and Environment, relevant agencies and units under the Ministry to coordinate with all levels of trade unions to effectively implement the contents of the Joint Resolution.

2.2. Provide information and cooperate in developing training materials and educational content on environmental protection.

2.3. Support technical expertise and other resources for trade union levels, workers, civil servants, officials, and employees to ensure current environmental protection requirements and tasks.

2.4. Coordinate with competent authorities in allocating annual funds from the environmental protection public service budget to support environmental protection activities of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor.

IV. IMPLEMENTATION

1. For the Central Level

1.1. The Vietnam General Confederation of Labor and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall jointly organize the implementation and dissemination of the Joint Resolution to key cadres of provinces and cities nationwide.

1.2. Annually, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor shall convene meetings to evaluate the implementation results of the Joint Resolution. Based on the achievements and the content of cooperation, plans for implementation in the following year will be developed with specific content and measures to ensure the execution of proposed activities.

1.3. The Institute of Occupational Safety and Health Science and Technology under the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor and the Department of Environment under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall serve as focal points to assist leadership in drafting annual environmental protection plans and implementing this Joint Resolution.

2. For Local Levels

2.1. Provincial Departments of Natural Resources and Environment, provincial-level Trade Unions, central-level industry trade unions, and total companies under the Vietnam General Confederation shall base their plans on the contents of the Joint Resolution and the annual implementation plan between the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, adapting them to local conditions and circumstances.

2.2. Provincial-level Trade Unions, central-level industry trade unions, and total companies under the Vietnam General Confederation shall concretize the contents of the Joint Resolution and appropriate forms of activity for workers, civil servants, officials, and employees, while proactively coordinating with Provincial Departments of Natural Resources and Environment to direct the implementation of activities.

2.3. Provincial Departments of Natural Resources and Environment shall provide professional guidance and technical support, draft plans for implementing activities outlined in the annual cooperative program, and jointly with trade union levels monitor, inspect, and evaluate the results of implementing the Joint Resolution.

2.4. Leaders of Provincial Departments of Natural Resources and Environment and Provincial-level Trade Unions shall organize regular meetings every year to review and assess the implementation results of the Joint Resolution, and report the situation to the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment.

The Vietnam General Confederation of Labor and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment; Provincial-level Trade Unions and Provincial Departments of Natural Resources and Environment are responsible for enforcing this Resolution.

This Resolution shall take effect fifteen days after its publication in the Official Gazette.

During the implementation process, if there are difficulties or obstacles, provincial-level Trade Unions and natural resource and environmental management agencies at all levels shall promptly reflect these issues to the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment for consideration and resolution./.