Objective - This paper aims to analyze the Vietnamese legal framework on the prevention and abolition of child labor under the influence of the EU–Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). The study explores how EVFTA commitments, particularly those embedded in the Trade and Sustainable Development (TSD) Chapter, shape Vietnam's legal reforms, institutional adjustments, and enforcement responsibilities relating to child labor.

Methodology - The research employs a qualitative approach based on analysis, synthesis, and comparison of secondary data, including international conventions, Vietnamese legislation, academic publications, policy reports, and EVFTA provisions. The study examines the interaction between trade law and labor standards using theoretical lenses such as legalization theory and normative diffusion.

Findings - The results show that Vietnam has aligned key elements of its domestic legal framework with ILO Conventions Nos. 138 and 182 following the EVFTA. This alignment is reflected in the establishment of a statutory minimum working age, clearer prohibitions on hazardous work, strengthened child protection standards, and increasing attention to child labor data collection. However, significant enforcement challenges persist, including limited inspection capacity, inconsistent administrative reporting, a large informal labor sector, and socio-economic drivers that continue to push children into labor.

Novelty - The originality of this study lies in its integrated analysis of Vietnam's child labor regulations within the broader context of new-generation FTAs, highlighting how trade commitments can influence domestic labor governance. The paper contributes a legal-institutional perspective that links EVFTA obligations with practical implementation barriers, offering insights into compliance expectations shaped by recent developments in EU trade policy.

Type of Paper - Review

Keywords: Commitment to abolish child labor; EVFTA; Labor standards; New-generation FTA; Vietnamese law.

JEL Classification: F13; J83; J88; K31; K33.

URI: https://gatrenterprise.com/GATRJournals/JBER/vol10.3_1.html

DOI: https://doi.org/10.35609/jber.2025.10.3(1)

Pages 98–107