ConflictBarometer_2016

ASIA AND OCEANIA
ers for forced and underage labor, as well as the illegal dismissal
of workers and pension frauds. On August 2, the 2013-
established National Wage Council decided to increase the
minimum wage by roughly seven percent.
Starting from early April and continuing throughout the rest
of the year, thousands of people, among them peasants, fishermen,
and environmental activists, repeatedly staged major
protests over the government's mishandling of a mass fish
poisoning incident, which was caused by a Taiwanese-owned
steel plant in Ky Anh, Ha Tinh Province. For instance, on August
15, more than 4,000 fishermen and Catholic parishioners
marched to the local government in Ky Anh to demonstrate for
higher compensation. Approx. 200 police officers blocked
their access to the highway and attacked them with batons,
leaving one person injured. Addressing the ongoing protests,
Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Hong Ha Tran
acceded to higher compensations and tougher security standards
during a meeting with representatives of affected fishermen
on December 7. vun
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