Labour Mobility in the Asean Economic Community – A Story in Viet Nam's Sustainable Development Goals

Abstract

Purpose: This article analyzes Vietnam's sustainable development strategy when participating in the Southeast Asian Community of Nations (ASEAN) based on 3 pillars: Political-Security Community, Economic Community and Socio-Cultural Community. The admission of labour by member states participating in ASEAN's labour market will become a more cohesive political-economic entity, a community "united in diversity"; continue to be an open and important regional cooperation organization in the Asia-Pacific.   Theoretical reference: The overall objective of the ASEAN Community is to build the Association into a deeper and more binding intergovernmental cooperation organization based on the legal basis of the ASEAN Charter; but not a supranational and non-closed organization that still expands cooperation with the outside.   Methods:  the article analyzes the factors affecting the outlook, the labour market in ASEAN has gradually transformed into an intergovernmental cooperation organization with a higher level of legal binding and deeper links but has not become a supranational organization. In that process, Vietnam's participation in the ASEAN labour market is an inevitable process of the ASEAN Economic Community.   Results and conclusions: In the economic field, this is an area with important strides and is currently a driving force for accelerating the process of regional integration. Up to now, ASEAN has basically fulfilled its commitments on the formation of the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA),  with most tariff lines having been reduced to 0-5%. ASEAN has identified 12 priority areas for early integration to further boost intra-regional trade. Intra-regional trade currently reaches about US$300 billion and accounts for about 25 per cent of ASEAN's total trade. Vietnam's participation in the ASEAN Economic Community has favorable factors and challenges. Vietnam needs to improve policies in training high-quality human resources to meet labor standards in the ASEAN Economic Community.   Implications of research: The ASEAN Economic Community aims to create a single common market and unified production base, including the free flow of goods, services, investment, capital and skilled labour; thereby enhancing competitiveness and promoting shared prosperity for the whole region; making it attractive for investment – business from the outside. Viet Nam's extensive labour market participation in ASEAN will boost effectiveness in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals   Originality/value: With the goal of "For an ASEAN Economic Community for Sustainable Development", the article analyzed Vietnam's participation in the ASEAN labour market.Successful integration in the labour market will help Vietnam reduce poverty rates, improve the quality of human resources and develop sustainably.