MANAGEMENT OF OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY RISKS FOR INFORMAL WORKERS IN VIETNAM'S CONSTRUCTION SECTOR: LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND PRACTICAL GAPS

Abstract Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) represents a fundamental pillar in safeguarding workers' rights and ensuring the institutional sustainability of enterprises. In the context of Vietnam's accelerated industrialization and urbanization, the construction sector consistently poses high-level risks regarding occupational accidents and diseases. This article analyzes the enforcement of OHS legislation within Vietnam's construction industry from 2021 to 2023, with a specific focus on the Hanoi metropolitan area. By employing a normative legal analysis integrated with empirical surveys conducted at construction enterprises and an evaluation of occupational accident data, the study identifies critical gaps in the current legal framework, particularly concerning "informal workers" and the inadequacies in OHS training and the provision of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). The research findings indicate that although the legal system has achieved significant milestones - notably the "Law on Occupational Safety and Hygiene 2015" - the fatality rate in the construction sector remains disproportionately high, accounting for over 20% of total occupational fatalities nationwide annually. Drawing on these findings, the article proposes systemic recommendations to improve the "voluntary occupational accident insurance" mechanism and enhance the efficacy of labor inspections to mitigate risks for workers in this high-hazard sector.