A majority of countries have adopted legislation to prohibit or place restrictions on the employment of children, much of it guided by standards adopted by the International Labour Organization (ILO). In spite of these efforts child labour continues to exist on a massive scale, in appalling conditions, particularly in the developing world. Progress has been slow,or even apparently non-existent because child labour is an immensely complex issue. In December an ILO project was approved to combat child labour in Vietnam, based on donations from the United States Department of Labour and the Government of Vietnam. The project will be implemented over five years in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, An Giang and other locations. It aims, among other things to, improve the monitoring and enforcement of laws and to raise awareness of child labour in Vietnam.