The handover took place on July 8 at the 27th Coordinating Board Meeting of the ASEAN Occupational Safety and Health Network (ASEAN-OSHNET) in Danang.
Thailand formally transferred the chairmanship to Vietnam, while Brunei assumed the role of vice chair and took over as the network's secretariat.
Hoang Thi Thu Huyen, deputy director of the International Cooperation Department under the Ministry of Home Affairs, receives the ASEAN-OSHNET chairmanship on behalf of Vietnam (Photo: Hoai Son).
Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Cao Huy said Vietnam's appointment reflected its growing role in ASEAN's sectoral cooperation and would allow the country to contribute regional initiatives while sharing its experience in digital transformation, labour administration and occupational accident insurance.
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Cao Huy speaks at the forum (Photo: Hoai Son).
A key objective of the meeting is the adoption of the ASEAN-OSHNET Action Plan for 2026-2030, which will set priorities for regional cooperation over the next five years.
Vietnam urged member states to address emerging workplace challenges, including the impact of digital transformation and artificial intelligence, occupational safety in the informal economy, psychosocial risks and new occupational diseases, and the effects of climate change and the transition to a green economy.
Cao Huy said these issues required coordinated regional action and closer cooperation among ASEAN members and international partners.
Delegates join hands in solidarity at the conference (Photo: Hoai Son).
The meeting, hosted by Vietnam's Ministry of Home Affairs, brought together delegations from the 11 ASEAN member states, the ASEAN Secretariat and ASEAN+3 and other regional and international partners. It marks the start of ASEAN-OSHNET's new five year work programme for 2026-2030.
