Directive No. 20/2004/CT-TTg on Strengthening Guidance and Implementation of Labor Safety and Hygiene in Agricultural Production

 DIRECTIVE

On Strengthening Guidance and Implementation of

Labor Safety and Hygiene in Agricultural Production

In recent years, implementing the industrialization and modernization of agriculture and rural areas in our country, agricultural production has achieved significant accomplishments, contributing to increasing the gross domestic product, ensuring food security, developing industry and exports, and making important contributions to improving people's living standards.

Along with the efforts of the people, the State has invested considerable resources to build infrastructure, innovate production methods, apply new technologies, invest in equipment, machinery, electricity, plant protection chemicals, etc., continuously improving working conditions in agricultural production. However, work accidents and occupational diseases among agricultural workers have also occurred and caused serious consequences. The reasons are that labor in agriculture has not been adequately publicized, guided, or trained on standards, procedures, technical regulations, and preventive measures; relevant ministries, sectors, local authorities at all levels, and business organizations have not fulfilled their responsibilities as prescribed by law.

To prevent and mitigate work accidents and occupational diseases, ensuring a better production environment in agriculture, the Prime Minister requests the Ministers, Heads of government agencies, sectors, mass organizations, Chairmen of provincial and municipal People's Committees under the central government to immediately implement the following tasks:

1. Continue to perfect legal documents related to the implementation of labor safety and hygiene in agricultural production:

a) From now until the end of 2005, the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Industry, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall review, supplement, complete, and promulgate according to their authority or submit to the Government and the Prime Minister for consideration and promulgation legal documents on labor safety and hygiene in agricultural production; the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant ministries, sectors, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, the Vietnam Farmers' Union, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Vietnam Federation of Trade Unions to study and submit to the competent authority for approval International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention No. 184 on labor safety and hygiene in agricultural production.

b) The Ministries of Science and Technology, Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, Agriculture and Rural Development, Health, Industry, and Fisheries shall review, supplement, and amend standards, procedures, and usage regulations for equipment, machinery, and chemicals to be consistent with the development of the agricultural sector; establish Vietnamese standards for personal protective equipment to ensure labor safety and hygiene in agricultural production.

c) Provincial and municipal People's Committees under the central government shall direct local agencies and departments to take specific measures to encourage individuals and production and business establishments to comply well with legal provisions on labor safety and hygiene generally and specifically in agriculture.

2. Strengthen preventive work against work accidents and occupational diseases in agricultural production:

- The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs and relevant ministries and sectors to develop guidelines for measures to ensure safety in production, business operations, and the use of plant protection chemicals, veterinary drugs, fertilizers, livestock feed, pest control products, biological preparations serving crop cultivation and animal husbandry; coordinate with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Vietnam Federation of Trade Unions, and the Vietnam Farmers' Union to develop an action program on labor safety and hygiene in agricultural production and incorporate this program into the national action program on labor safety and hygiene and fire prevention.

- The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and relevant ministries and sectors to strengthen state management and management of activities related to labor safety and hygiene in agricultural production.

3. Vigorously promote information dissemination and publicity to raise awareness among employers and workers in agricultural production about legal norms, standards, procedures, technical regulations, and preventive measures against work accidents when using machinery, equipment, and plant protection chemicals in agricultural production:

a) The Ministry of Culture and Information shall take the lead and coordinate with Vietnam Television, Voice of Vietnam Radio, and relevant ministries and sectors to direct media agencies and information organizations to regularly disseminate information, set good examples, and criticize establishments and individuals who have not performed well regarding labor safety and hygiene in agricultural production.

b) The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment shall coordinate with relevant ministries and sectors and the Vietnam Farmers' Union to combine activities to enhance awareness of resource and environmental protection with activities related to labor safety and hygiene in agricultural production.

c) The Ministry of Education and Training shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs and relevant ministries and sectors in developing scientific programs and materials on labor safety and hygiene in agricultural production within the education and training system.

d) The Ministry of Finance shall ensure funding for activities related to labor safety and hygiene in agricultural production for ministries, sectors, and localities in accordance with the Law on State Budget.

đ) Provincial and municipal People's Committees under the central government shall direct local departments to cooperate with political and social organizations, particularly the Vietnam Farmers' Union, to build a movement among farmers to implement labor safety and hygiene in production, protect the environment, and community health down to the district and commune level; organize training on labor safety and hygiene for farmers, especially in craft villages, farms, and small and medium-sized enterprises with many workers.

4. Strengthen international cooperation in the field of occupational safety and health in agricultural production:

Ministries, sectors, People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities shall take advantage of assistance from governments and non-governmental organizations for training, instruction, learning experiences, technical assistance, and propaganda to raise awareness about occupational safety and health in agricultural production, contributing to the implementation of the sustainable development strategy in our country.

5. Enhance inspection and supervision of compliance with regulations on occupational safety and health in agricultural production.

The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Industry to direct specialized inspections to cooperate with people's committees at all levels to strengthen inspection and supervision of the use of equipment, machinery, electricity, electrical equipment, plant protection chemicals, etc.; resolutely handle violations, including recommending criminal prosecution for serious offenses.

6. Organization of implementation:

a) People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities shall periodically report every six months and annually to the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs on the results of implementing this Directive.

b) The Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs shall be responsible for guiding, monitoring, urging, inspecting, and reporting to the Prime Minister on the implementation of this Directive.

Ministers, Heads of government agencies, Chairmen of People's Committees of provinces and centrally governed cities shall closely cooperate with the Vietnam Fatherland Front, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, the Vietnam Farmers' Association, the Vietnam Red Cross, the Vietnam Association for Safety Science and Technology and Occupational Health, and related professional associations to organize the implementation of this Directive.