Action Month on Occupational Safety and Health 2026: From the national launching ceremony to a series of actions for workers
Delegates press the button to launch the 2026 Action Month on OSH and Workers’ Month
On the morning of April 24, 2026, in Quang Ninh Province, the launching ceremony for the Workers’ Month and Action Month on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) 2026 officially kicked off the nationwide campaign leading up to the action month in May. With the theme: “Innovating management and improving the efficiency of OSH in the digital era”, the event not only served as an annual launch but also clearly demonstrated the determination of the Party, the State, trade union, businesses, and the entire society in building a safe, modern working environment that puts people at the center of sustainable development.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Do Thanh Binh, Minister of Home Affairs, emphasized the consistent message: do not trade the safety of workers for output and economic growth. This is a particularly important direction in the context of Vietnam simultaneously facing many new challenges such as digital transformation, climate change, productivity pressure, and the rapid changes in employment models. This year’s theme shows that OSH work is no longer limited to implementing legal regulations, but is strongly shifting towards innovation in governance, application of technology, and building a broader safety culture across production sectors.
The launch ceremony also reflected the positive results that Vietnam has achieved in 2025: a reduction in occupational accidents and damages, increased social awareness, the widespread adoption of many advanced safety management models, and hundreds of thousands of technical innovation initiatives from workers. However, the potential risks in high-risk industries, along with new factors arising from automation and a changing work environment, continue to demand stronger innovation for the national OSH system.
Later in the afternoon, the 2026 National Dialogue Conference on OSH continued the spirit of the launch ceremony with an open
policy forum between state management agencies, trade union, and the business community. Here, many businesses frankly raised “bottlenecks” in policy implementation, such as inspection procedures, training, accident reporting, and the need to digitize
management processes. These recommendations not only reflect production realities but also show that OSH works are increasingly linked to the competitiveness, operational efficiency, and sustainable development of businesses. Learning from practical experience is considered a crucial step in further improving the institutional framework, aiming for a more flexible, modern, and effective management system.
Previously, a series of specialized and practical activities took place, creating an important foundation in terms of awareness, science, and action for this year’s Action Month:
On April 16 in Hanoi, the “Workers’ Health Day” and the seminar “Proactive Health Care” organized by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour emphasized the trend of shifting from “treatment” to “prevention”, from passive response to proactive health management. Programs such as occupational health check-ups, occupational disease counseling, mental health care, and guidance on preventive practices have provided a more comprehensive approach to workers’ health in the modern context.
During these activities, VNNIOSH continues to clearly demonstrate its role as a core professional organization, connecting scientific research with direct care for workers. The Occupational Health Center under VNNIOSH, directly organized examinations, consultations, and occupational disease risk screenings for workers working in hazardous environments. At the same time, experts from the institute also participated in guiding practical training, disseminating knowledge, and improving the self-protection capacity of workers, contributing to turning professional knowledge into concrete and practical actions.
On April 23 in Quang Ninh Province, the seminar “Trade union innovates and enhances the effectiveness of occupational safety and health in the digital era” highlighted the new role of trade union in the context of digital transformation. Beyond simply protecting rights in the traditional sense, trade union gradually becomes an important entity in modern risk governance. In particular, the presentation of Dr. Nguyen Anh Tho, VNNIOSH’s Director General on OSH management using digital technology emphasized the potential of AI, smart sensors, and real-time data systems in early risk identification, supporting businesses in transitioning from manual to data-driven management. Through this, the institute not only performs the research role but also contributes to innovating management mindset for the national OSH system.
Overall, from the national launching ceremony and policy dialogue to the preceding specialized activities, the series of events in April 2026 created a strategic stepping stone for the Action Month on OSH in May. This was not only organizational preparation but also a process of strengthening awareness, promoting policy reforms, enhancing the application of science and technology, and raising the role of stakeholders. In that process, VNNIOSH stands out as a crucial link connecting science, policy, and practice, contributing to building a more modern, proactive, and humane working environment – where the safety of workers truly
becomes the foundation for sustainable development.
