Improving the legal framework on collective bargaining and collective labor agreements: A study of garment enterprises in Ho Chi Minh City

Collective bargaining and collective labor agreements are important institutions for promoting harmonious, stable, and progressive labor relations. Although Vietnam’s 2019 Labor Code has incorporated many international labor standards, implementation remains limited, particularly in the garment and textile sector. This article examines the current legal framework and its application in garment enterprises in Ho Chi Minh City by combining doctrinal legal analysis with empirical evidence. The findings show that, despite improvements in wages and employee welfare, many collective labor agreements remain largely formalistic and mainly restate statutory provisions rather than establishing more favorable terms for employees. The study proposes recommendations for improving the legal framework, strengthening the substantive quality of collective bargaining, and enhancing monitoring and enforcement mechanisms to better meet the requirements of international integration.