CHALLENGES FOR VIETNAM’S PARTICIPATION IN AEC: FREE FLOW OF SKILLED LABOR AND LESSONS LEARNED FROM EUROPEAN UNION

Wolfgang Form, Huynh Luu Duc Toan, Le Dong Thao Vy

Abstract

Abstract
The formal establishment of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) at the end of 2015 will
ceremonially mark a milestone in the process of economic integration in Southeast Asia.
AEC will open new chapter in ASEAN countries when it promotes four main free flows:
capital, goods, skilled labor and services. Apparently, skilled labor mainly contributes to
the economic growth nationally and regionally. Vietnam has a segment of the work force
with low or medium skill level which has restricted economic value through the work
performed. This is considered as Vietnam’s challenging matter in context of integration.
This paper is dedicated to analyze the theoretical basis of free flow of skilled labor in
AEC, Vietnamese current situation and some lessons from European Union to suggest in
the further application. The scientific methodologies used by group author are descriptive,
explanatory, comparative, observable researches to complete this paper.
Key words: AEC, labor mobility, Vietnam