Connecting Social Protection, Labor Market Interventions and Fisheries Management in Viet Nam

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the fisheries sector in Vietnam Core Insights - Vietnam's fisheries sector is facing significant challenges, including declining fish stocks and vulnerabilities among workers, necessitating a multifaceted approach for sustainable development [1][6][7] - The integration of social protection and labor market policies is essential to support sustainable fisheries and enhance the resilience of communities dependent on this sector [7][18] Summary by Sections Introduction - Vietnam is a leading producer and exporter of aquatic products, with aquaculture contributing 57% of total production and 75% of total revenues [5][6] - Over 7 million people rely on livelihoods from the capture fisheries sector, with marine fisheries being a significant source of employment [5][6] Country Context - The marine economy contributes approximately 30% to Vietnam's national GDP, with fisheries and aquaculture accounting for 3.4% [10] - The fisheries sector is under pressure from overfishing, climate change, and illegal fishing practices, which threaten its sustainability and competitiveness [6][15] Social Protection and Labor Policies - Vietnam's social protection system has evolved but remains fragmented, with significant gaps in coverage, particularly for informal workers in the fisheries sector [18][19] - Social assistance spending is low, at around 0.86% of GDP, and only 3.5% of the population is covered by social insurance [19][22] Data and Methodology - The analysis utilizes data from the Vietnam Household Living Standard Survey (VHLSS) and the Vietnam Labor Force Survey (LFS) to assess socioeconomic vulnerability in the fisheries sector [30][31] Main Findings - The demographic profile indicates that fishing and aquaculture households are primarily located in the Mekong Delta and face high climate risks [36] - Employment in fisheries and aquaculture accounts for 3.3% of total employment, with inland aquaculture being the largest source of jobs [39] - Monthly income for fishing and aquaculture households averages US$174, higher than agriculture but lower than other sectors [47]