Beauty industry: "amateur" human resources, lax laws, confusing management

This situation not only causes difficulties for management but also poses many risks to consumers. This is the issue raised at the Dialogue Conference “Legal Corridor for the Beauty Industry” organized by the Ministry of Justice in Ho Chi Minh City on April 12.

"Inadequacies" pervade the beauty industry

According to statistics, the country has 28 specialized cosmetic hospitals, mainly concentrated in large cities. In addition, about 70% of private general hospitals have cosmetic departments or provide services related to cosmetics and dermatology, along with 412 licensed cosmetic clinics.

However, according to Dr. Nguyen Trong Khoa, Deputy Director of the Department of Medical Examination and Treatment Management ( Ministry of Health ), violations of regulations in the field of aesthetics are still common and complicated.

Violations include: providing medical examination and treatment services without a license to operate; performing beyond the scope of licensed expertise; failing to ensure operating conditions; employing people without a license to practice or practicing without registration.

An unlicensed, signless cosmetic surgery facility in Ho Chi Minh City

More worryingly, many cosmetic facilities use dyes, drugs, and medical equipment of unknown origin, even expired goods, to directly interfere with the human body.

False advertising and exaggerated effects are also rampant. Some facilities even blatantly train students illegally, without a formal training program, making beauty activities uncontrolled and posing many risks to the community.

Even many "underground" beauty salons disguised as spas, skin care, hair care, etc. still operate in defiance of regulations. When inspectors come to check, they often close their doors and do not cooperate.

Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Thanh Chung, lecturer at Ho Chi Minh City College of Economics and Technology, said that currently Vietnam does not have a clear distinction between the aesthetic industry and the beauty care industry, leading to many shortcomings in training, licensing and management of professional activities.

According to Mr. Chung, the concept of "aesthetics" is often used to refer to the perception of beauty, while "beauty care" includes activities that directly impact with tools, equipment and techniques to improve health and beauty.

The lack of clear distinction between these two concepts is causing loose management of the industry, especially for establishments such as spas, beauty salons, nail salons, tattoo parlors, etc.

Mr. Chung cited the training and management model in Korea - one of the world's leading countries in the beauty industry.

Even the nail industry has a well-rounded training program, from elementary to doctoral.

Thanks to the development of high-quality human resources and a clear legal framework, the Korean cosmetic industry has achieved its current global position.

Meanwhile, in Vietnam, training is still mainly based on experience passed down from predecessors, lacking in systematization and depth.

The predecessors themselves only received elementary training, lacking formal training programs.

Leaders of the Department of Legal Dissemination, Education and Legal Aid, Ministry of Justice shared at the Conference.

“Currently, our school has opened a college system, but it is very difficult to find teachers with appropriate degrees in the field of aesthetics or health care. Because up to now, Vietnam has only trained cosmetic doctors. This is a problem. If we do not expand training, we cannot talk about the legal corridor of the industry, because only with human resources can we manage the industry,” Mr. Chung added.

Businesses "stuck" in legal procedures

Ms. Bui Thi Thu Trang, General Director of Sol Group (Thailand) in Vietnam, shared that for almost the entire time, the company has only focused on applying for licenses, processing documents and completing legal procedures so that the products can be legally distributed.

Bui Thi Thu Trang, General Director of Sol Group (Thailand) in Vietnam, said that it took the facility 2 years to complete all legal procedures to start operating.

One of the challenges businesses face is the lack of a clear point of contact when support is needed.

Ms. Trang emphasized that, for micro-enterprises, accessing authorities is sometimes "unthinkable".

The common problem for many new entrants to the industry is not knowing who to ask, who to send their applications to, and how long it will take to get a response.

In addition, the Group's representative also recommended reducing cumbersome and complicated procedures, and at the same time having tax support and incentive policies to encourage small businesses to develop sustainably, thereby contributing to the healthy and safe development of the beauty industry:

“We hope that ministries and sectors will be closer to businesses, with more specific legal corridors, so that we can regularly exchange information, if there are issues that need to be updated, who to report to, how long it will take to resolve, which means it needs to be specific. Without such clear information, businesses can easily fall into a situation where they have not recovered their capital before having to close. This situation needs to be avoided,” Ms. Trang shared.

According to vov.vn

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/nganh-lam-dep-nhan-luc-tay-ngang-luat-phap-long-leo-quan-ly-roi-ram-post400108.html