HCM City (VNA) – Increasinglabour productivity is the key to the sustainable development of small- andmedium-sized enterprises (SMEs), experts have said.

At a forum jointly held by the Ho ChiMinh City branch of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI-HCM) andthe International Labour Organisation (ILO) on October 27, VCCI-HCM Director VoTan Thanh said that labour productivity is an important factor to improvecompetitiveness so as to join effectively the global supply chain.

Increasing productivity is also asolution to improve incomes and working conditions for labourers, he noted.

Thanh stressed that as Vietnam is integrating deeply into the world’s economy,it is a must for enterprises to apply various measures to meet demands ofcustomers, thus, they can hold stable shares in the domestic market and gain afirm foothold in foreign countries.

ILO Vietnam Director Chang Hee Lee said that labourers play an important rolein deciding productivity and quality of products. For that reason, SMEs need toencourage the involvement of workers in technical improvement programmes whilebettering the working environment for their labourers.

SMEs can start from dialogues to share information and expectations betweenmanagers and workers, he said, adding that businesses should pay due attentionto carrying out quality management progresses like 5S model (seiri-tidiness,seiton- orderliness, seiso-cleanliness, seiketsu-standardisation andshitsuke-discipline) or ISO quality management system.

Technological innovation for green production and business culture are also importantto  labour productivity as well, he said.

Meanwhile, Brian Mtonya, an economic expert from the World Bank, stressed thatbusinesses should pay heed to product research, designing and marketing whichare touted as decisive factors for products’ competitiveness edge.-VNA