20/11/2019 (Agence Europe) – The vote by the National Assembly in Hanoi on Wednesday, November 20, marks Vietnam’s adoption of reformed employment legislation. This step was welcomed by the European Parliament, where MEPs began their consent procedure for trade agreements with Vietnam (see EUROPE 12364/18). Kathleen van Brempt (Belgium), the S&D coordinator on the Committee on International Trade (INTA) said that this was “an important signal at this stage in the FTA ratification process”. At the same time, she stressed that her group did not consider that consent for the agreements was a “done deal”. A “credible roadmap” is still expected for the next steps, including ratification of the ILO’s fundamental conventions and concrete actions promoting respect for human rights. The INTA committee vote on these agreements will take place on 21 January. (HD)