PREVENTING AND COMBATING CHILD LABOUR DURING VIETNAM'S GREEN ECONOMIC TRANSITION: AN ANALYSIS OF THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REFORM

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18623/rvd.v22.n2.3272

Keywords:

Green Economic Transition, Child Labour, Sustainable Development, Climate Change, North Central and South Central Coast

Abstract

The green economic transition is emerging as a pivotal strategy in Vietnam for achieving sustainable development. However, this process poses significant challenges to the legal framework for protecting children's rights. Although the green economy can promote compliance with international labour standards, it also reveals inadequacies and inconsistencies in legal regulations and weaknesses in enforcement mechanisms, heightening the risk of child labour, particularly in rural areas. Through a qualitative analysis of legal and policy documents and relevant secondary data, this paper identifies gaps in the current legal system. Consequently, the paper proposes recommendations for legal reform to effectively integrate child protection objectives into green growth strategies, ensuring a just, human-centred transition and contributing to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Vietnam.

References

Anker, R. (2000). The economics of child labour: A framework for measurement. International Labour Review, 139(3), 251–374.

Bang, L. V. (2019). Implementation of child protection laws in Vietnam today (Doctoral dissertation). Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics.

Basu, K. (1999). Child labor: Cause, consequence, and cure, with remarks on international labor standards. Journal of Economic Literature, 37(3), 1083–1119.

Basu, K., & Van, P. H. (1998). The economics of child labor. The American Economic Review, 88(3), 412–427.

Bellettini, G., Ceroni, C. B., & Ottaviano, G. I. P. (2005). Child labor and resistance to change. Economica New Series, 72(287), 397–411.

Dao, N. X., & Oanh, D. H. (2024). Growth of green credit in Vietnamese commercial banks. Industry and Trade Journal, 21. https://tapchicongthuong.vn/tang-truong-tin-dung-xanh-cua-cac-ngan-hang-thuong-mai-viet-nam-130376.htm

Dung, D. T. (2012). Children and legal violations related to child labor. Law Studies Journal, 2.

Edmonds, E. V. (2003). Child labour in South Asia. OECD Social, Employment and Migration Working Papers, 5.

European Commission. (2010). Europe 2020: A strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. Brussels.

Food and Agriculture Organization. (2020). FAO framework on ending child labour in agriculture. https://doi.org/10.4060/ca9502en

Fors, H. C. (2012). Child labour: A review of recent theory and evidence with policy implications. Journal of Economic Surveys, 26(4), 570–593.

Fors, H. C. (2012). Social globalization and child labor. Working Papers in Economics, 533. University of Gothenburg, Department of Economics.

General Statistics Office of Vietnam & International Labour Organization. (2025). Summary of key findings on child labor participation and child labor in Vietnam in 2023. https://www.gso.gov.vn/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/layout-factsheet-vie-final-.pdf

Ha, Q. (2024). World Vision provides over 4.3 billion VND to improve livelihoods in mountainous areas. Quang Nam Province Electronic Portal. https://quangnam.gov.vn/world-vision-vien-tro-hon-4-3-ty-dong-cai-thien-sinh-ke-mien-nui-58492.html

Hai, D. P. (2018). Theoretical issues on sustainable development and green economy in Vietnam. Hanoi National University Journal of Science: Policy and Management Studies, 34(2), 29–39.

Hai, P. H. (2025). Developing green credit in Vietnamese commercial banks today. Economic Review and Forecast Journal. https://kinhtevadubao.vn/phat-trien-tin-dung-xanh-trong-cac-ngan-hang-thuong-mai-viet-nam-hien-nay-31230.html

Hang, T. (2025). Organic agriculture production – A sustainable direction for farmers. Thanh Hoa Newspaper. https://baothanhhoa.vn/san-xuat-nong-nghiep-huu-co-huong-di-ben-vung-cho-nong-dan-240749.htm

Hung, D. (2025). Raising awareness to limit child labor in the coffee industry in Vietnam. Rural Economy Journal. https://kinhtenongthon.vn/Nang-cao-nhan-thuc-ve-han-che-lao-dong-tre-em-trong-nganh-hang-ca-phe-tai-Viet-Nam-post75318.html

Hung, V. (2025). Spreading dreams through the “Lighting Up Love” program. Central Power Corporation. https://cpc.vn/vi-vn/Tin-tuc-su-kien/Tin-tuc-chi-tiet/articleId/91587

International Labour Organization & Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (Vietnam). (2020). National child labor survey in Vietnam 2018: Key findings. Geneva: International Labour Organization.

Lam, M. (2024). Aquaculture model under mangrove forests combined with ecotourism. Vietnam Fisheries Journal. https://thuysanvietnam.com.vn/mo-hinh-nuoi-thuy-san-duoi-tan-rung-ngap-man-ket-hop-du-lich-sinh-thai/

Lan, P. (2025). Linking green transition – A new direction for rural Vietnam. Ministry of Agriculture and Environment. https://mae.gov.vn/phat-trien-nong-thon/gan-ket-chuyen-doi-xanh–huong-di-moi-cho-nong-thon-viet-nam-17609.htm

Loc, N. (2025). Unleashing green credit in Central Vietnam. State Bank of Vietnam Electronic Portal. https://byvn.net/M2JT

Loi, T. T. (2012). Perfecting labor laws for minors in the context of international integration (Doctoral dissertation). Hanoi National University – Faculty of Law.

Millennium Ecosystem Assessment. (2005). Ecosystems and human well-being: Synthesis. Washington, DC: Island Press.

Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (Vietnam), General Statistics Office & International Labour Organization. (2014). National survey on child labor 2012 – Key findings. Hanoi.

Ngoc, K., & Thu, N. T. K. (2015). Trends in green economic development worldwide. Vietnam Social Sciences Journal, 5(90), 9–17.

Nivedhini, J., Sneka, E., & Mathew, S. N. (2023). Protecting innocence: International efforts to combat child labour. International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research, 5(3), 1–9.

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2011). Towards green growth: A summary for policy makers. OECD Publishing.

Pearce, D. W., Markandya, A., & Barbier, E. (1989). Blueprint for a green economy (Vol. 1). London: Earthscan.

Phuong, P. T. L. (2014). Preventing and combating child labor abuse to promote children’s rights in Vietnam. Hanoi National University Journal of Science – Law Studies, 30(4).

Rosati, F. C., & Tzannatos, Z. (2006). Child labour in Vietnam. Pacific Economic Review, 11(1), 1–31.

Son, D. N. (2023). Quang Nam: Mangrove forest planting combined with aquaculture – A sustainable approach. National Agricultural Extension Center. https://khuyennongvn.gov.vn/hoat-dong-khuyen-nong/chuyen-giao-tbkt/quangnam-trong-rung-ngap-man-ket-hop-voi-nuoi-trong-thuy-san-mot-huong-di-ben-vung-22947.html

Trang, K. (2022). “School Light” – Illuminating knowledge for the future. Electricity Information Center. https://icon.com.vn/d6/vi-VN/news/Anh-sang-hoc-duong-thap-len-tri-thuc-tuong-lai-60-626-187569

Trang, T. T. H. (2023). Green economic development – An inevitable trend in Vietnam. Education and Society Journal, 1, 157–162.

United Nations. (2012). The future we want: Outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development. https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/733FutureWeWant.pdf

United Nations Environment Programme. (2011). Towards a green economy: Pathways to sustainable development and poverty eradication. https://www.unep.org/resources/report/towards-green-economy-pathways-sustainable-development-and-poverty-eradication

World Bank. (2012). Inclusive green growth: The pathway to sustainable development. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/6058

World Bank. (2021). Vietnam: Adapting to climate change with low-carbon development. World Bank Publications.

UNICEF, GPE KIX & Vietnam National Institute of Educational Sciences. (2022). Vietnam education brief 2022 – Analysis of learning and equity aspects through data from the Sustainable Development Goals survey on children and women in Vietnam. UNICEF Vietnam.

Downloads

Published

2025-10-02

How to Cite

Thanh, N. Q. (2025). PREVENTING AND COMBATING CHILD LABOUR DURING VIETNAM’S GREEN ECONOMIC TRANSITION: AN ANALYSIS OF THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR REFORM. Veredas Do Direito, 22, e3272. https://doi.org/10.18623/rvd.v22.n2.3272