Grants / Department of State / Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor

SFOP0007626: DRL Support to Workers’ Freedom of Association in Vietnam

Closed Closed April 20, 2021 Opportunity SFOP0007626 ☆ Save

This grant is closed. A newer notice from the same program is open now: FY26 DRL/IRF Global Request for Statements of Interest (DFOP0019929). Status: Closes December 7, 2026 (30 days left). It is in our archive of Bureau of Democracy Human Rights and Labor notices from 2021.

• Award ceiling$850,000
• Award floor$850,000
• Expected awards10
• Cost sharingNot required
• Funding typeGrant

Key dates

Who can apply

This opportunity was open to the applicants described in the notice.

• Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)

DRL welcomes applications from U.S.-based and foreign-based non-profit organizations/nongovernment organizations (NGO) and public international organizations; private, public, or state institutions of higher education; and for-profit organizations or businesses. DRL's preference is to work with non-profit entities; however, there may be some occasions when a for-profit entity is best suited.

Is this a realistic fit?

• Past International Programs to Support Democracy, Human Rights and Labor awards averaged $31.2 million; this notice allows up to $850,000 per award.
• Most of the program's money (99% over five years) went to nonprofits.
• No cost sharing or match is required.

What the grant funds

The U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) announces an open competition for organizations interested in submitting applications for a project that supports the implementation of new Labor Code provisions related to freedom of association in Vietnam. Vietnam has taken significant steps toward ensuring its labor laws comply with international labor standards. In July 2019, Vietnam ratified ILO Convention 98 on Collective Bargaining. In October 2019, the Vietnam National Assembly passed significant amendments to the Labor Code which entered into effect January 2021. The new Code includes numerous reforms including historic provisions that allow for the formation of independent worker organizations, referred to as Workers’ Representative Organizations (WROs). How this new right will be implemented, including the process of creating and registering WROs and advancing workplace participation and collective bargaining, is still pending the finalization and publication of key implementing regulations. The ILO has been providing support to the Vietnamese Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (MOLISA) to draft and finalize the regulations. DRL’s objective is to support reforms to and implementation of the new labor law and progressive aspects of that related to freedom of association and trade union organizing, with an overall goal of expanding freedom of association and adherence to international labor rights in Vietnam.

Category: Other.

Applying now

This notice no longer takes applications. Apply under the newer notice, DFOP0019929, which is open now.

The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.