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ENSURING LABOR RIGHTS IN THE AGE OF AI: STRENGTHENING CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY...

02/06/2025

ENSURING LABOR RIGHTS IN THE AGE OF AI: STRENGTHENING CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND HUMAN SECURITY IN VIETNAM

Nguyễn Nam Trung
Faculty of Law, University of Economics and Finance, Vietnam
*Corresponding Author Email: trungnn@uef.edu.vn

The article was published in Scopus Q2 - Khazanah Hukum on March 2025

ABSTRACT
This study examines Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as a legal mechanism to protect the right to work in Vietnam amid disruptions caused by Artificial Intelligence (AI). While AI enhances productivity, it threatens labor rights and human security, particularly in labor-intensive industries. The research critically evaluates Vietnam’s legal framework, including the 2013 Constitution (Article 35), the 2020 Labor Code, and the 2020 Enterprise Law, in alignment with international human rights standards such as the ICESCR, ICCPR, and ILO conventions. Drawing from global best practices, Germany’s Digital Pact for Labor and Japan’s Society 5.0 demonstrate how legal frameworks can balance AI-driven economic transformation with labor protection and human security. Sweden’s CSR model ensures corporate accountability through mandatory reporting and supply chain oversight, while Singapore’s Skills Future initiative offers government-funded reskilling to support workforce adaptation. This study proposes legally binding CSR obligations, fiscal incentives for sustainable employment, enhanced regulatory oversight, and a National Workforce Retraining Fund to align Vietnam’s policies with international labor standards. By embedding CSR into law, Vietnam can balance economic growth with labor protection and human security, ensuring a just and sustainable transition in the AI era.

Keywords: Artificial Intelligence (AI); Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR); Labor Rights; Legal Framework; Sustainable Employment
ABSTRAK

Studi ini meneliti bagaimana tindakan penahanan praperadilan Ukraina dapat selaras dengan Studi ini meneliti Tanggung Jawab Sosial Perusahaan (CSR) sebagai mekanisme hukum untuk melindungi hak untuk bekerja di Vietnam di tengah gangguan yang disebabkan oleh Kecerdasan Buatan (AI). Sementara AI meningkatkan produktivitas, ia mengancam hak-hak buruh dan keamanan manusia, khususnya di industri padat karya. Penelitian ini secara kritis mengevaluasi kerangka hukum Vietnam, termasuk Konstitusi 2013 (Pasal 35), Kode Ketenagakerjaan 2020, dan Undang-Undang Perusahaan 2020, yang selaras dengan standar hak asasi manusia internasional seperti ICESCR, ICCPR, dan konvensi ILO. Mengambil dari praktik terbaik global, Pakta Digital untuk Tenaga Kerja Jerman dan Masyarakat 5.0 Jepang menunjukkan bagaimana kerangka hukum dapat menyeimbangkan transformasi ekonomi yang digerakkan oleh AI dengan perlindungan tenaga kerja dan keamanan manusia. Model CSR Swedia memastikan akuntabilitas perusahaan melalui pelaporan wajib dan pengawasan rantai pasokan, sementara inisiatif Skills Future Singapura menawarkan pelatihan ulang yang didanai pemerintah untuk mendukung adaptasi tenaga kerja. Studi ini mengusulkan kewajiban CSR yang mengikat secara hukum, insentif fiskal untuk ketenagakerjaan yang berkelanjutan, peningkatan pengawasan regulasi, dan Dana Pelatihan Tenaga Kerja Nasional untuk menyelaraskan kebijakan Vietnam dengan standar ketenagakerjaan internasional. Dengan menanamkan CSR ke dalam hukum, Vietnam dapat menyeimbangkan pertumbuhan ekonomi dengan perlindungan tenaga kerja dan keamanan manusia, memastikan transisi yang adil dan berkelanjutan di era AI.

Kata Kunci: Kecerdasan Buatan (AI); Tanggung Jawab Sosial Perusahaan (CSR); Hak-hak Tenaga Kerja; Kerangka Hukum; Ketenagakerjaan yang Berkelanjutan

INTRODUCTION
The right to employment, as enshrined in Article 35 of the 2013 Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, constitutes a fundamental right aimed at promoting social equity and sustainable welfare. This right obliges the state, enterprises, and other stakeholders to ensure that all citizens are provided with opportunities to access employment, maintain a stable income, and contribute to collective societal development (National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, 2013). However, in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution—marked by the rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI)—Vietnam’s labor market faces unprecedented challenges.
The adoption of AI across key economic sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, finance, and retail is accelerating labor displacement at an alarming scale. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO, 2021), approximately 70% of jobs in Vietnam’s manufacturing sector are at high risk of automation over the next 10–20 years. This phenomenon is particularly pronounced in labor-intensive industries such as textiles, footwear, and electronics assembly, which collectively employ a substantial portion of the national workforce. The implications of this transformation threaten the realization of employment rights for many citizens while amplifying the strain on Vietnam’s legal and social welfare systems.
In addition to employment rights, the 2013 Constitution guarantees the freedom of enterprise. Article 33 stipulates that “all individuals have the right to conduct business in industries not prohibited by law.” This constitutional right enables businesses to exercise autonomy in organizing production, including decisions to adopt AI technologies as a substitute for human labor. In a competitive economic environment, the prioritization of cutting-edge technologies, including AI, to enhance efficiency and productivity is viewed as an inevitable and rational trajectory (Nguyen et al., 2022). However, this trend raises profound ethical and legal questions: How can policymakers reconcile the economic imperatives of enterprises with the constitutional obligation to safeguard workers’ right to employment?
The replacement of labor by AI technologies, without adequate social safeguards, risks driving millions of workers into unemployment, thereby undermining the constitutional commitment to employment rights. This technological displacement not only exacerbates labor market imbalances but also disproportionately affects low-skilled and unskilled workers, further restricting their opportunities for economic participation. Such challenges necessitate a more robust legal framework to balance technological innovation with social equity.
Vietnam’s existing legal framework has begun to recognize the role of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in addressing labor rights, environmental concerns, and community development. However, provisions aimed at safeguarding employment rights in the context of technological transformation remain underdeveloped and fragmented. For instance, while the 2019 Labor Code and the 2020 Enterprise Law encourage enterprises to engage in CSR activities, they fall short of mandating specific obligations for retraining displaced workers or facilitating access to alternative employment opportunities (National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, 2019; 2020).
Empirical evidence highlights significant shortcomings in the implementation of CSR in Vietnam. According to a 2021 survey by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), only 25% of large enterprises have instituted programs for workforce retraining and career transition. Among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which comprise over 97% of all businesses in Vietnam, CSR efforts are largely ad hoc and confined to short-term initiatives rather than long-term strategies for ensuring employment security.
In light of these challenges, it is imperative to draw on international experiences and develop a comprehensive legal framework for CSR to safeguard the right to employment. Case studies from countries such as Japan, Singapore, and Germany reveal that a combination of stringent legal frameworks and effective regulatory oversight can enable enterprises to actively contribute to labor rights protection while promoting sustainable development (Schneider & Scherer, 2015). Notable initiatives such as Japan’s “Society 5.0” and Germany’s “Digital Pact for Labour” provide valuable lessons on integrating technological advancement with equitable social outcomes.
This study underscores the urgency of embedding CSR into Vietnam’s legal framework as a legally enforceable obligation. By mandating retraining programs, offering incentives for green job creation, and strengthening social safety nets, Vietnam can ensure an equitable transition toward a labor market transformed by AI. Such measures are essential for reconciling technological progress with the constitutional imperatives of social justice and employment equity.

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