Labor disputes and illegal strikes in sustainable development of Vietnam's industrial parks

Abstract

A survey of 69 foreign-invested enterprises in six industrial parks in southern Vietnam found that strikes occurred at all enterprises with the participation of the majority of employees. Strikes left negative impacts on production and business activities of enterprises as well as the sustainable development of industrial parks. The fundamental cause of illegal strikes was workers' limited knowledge about strikes, the Labor Code, their rights and interests during strikes, low discipline, and mismatch between personal values and industrial working environment. Employees were also easily provoked when it comes to personal interests; as a result, they can cause chaos when provoked.