Mr. Le Dinh Quang - Deputy Head of the Department of Legal Policy and Labor Relations (Vietnam General Confederation of Labor) said that Clause 1, Article 7 of the 2024 Trade Union Law has added the principle of organization and operation of Vietnam Trade Unions as "cooperation and coordination with employers, while ensuring the independence of the Trade Union organization" to ensure compliance with basic international labor standards. The 2024 Trade Union Law also clarifies the principles and contents of international cooperation on trade unions in Article 9.
Article 9 of the 2024 Trade Union Law stipulates that international cooperation on trade unions must comply with the Party's guidelines and policies, foreign policies, the Constitution, the law, regulations on people's foreign affairs and international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member.
International cooperation on trade unions is carried out on the basis of respect for independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, ensuring the principle of equality, respect for political institutions and non-interference in each other's internal affairs; enhancing the position and prestige of Vietnam and the Vietnam Trade Union in the international arena.
The content of international cooperation on trade unions includes: Information and propaganda on foreign guidelines, policies, and achievements in socio-economic development of the country; training and fostering to improve the capacity of trade union cadres; sharing experiences in trade union activities and international workers' movements; carrying out international solidarity and support activities; establishing cooperative relations, negotiating, signing and implementing bilateral and multilateral commitments and cooperation agreements; national representatives of workers participating in international forums; participating in activities, joining or withdrawing from the international trade union organization.
Other cooperation contents include: Mobilizing, coordinating, approving, receiving, managing the use of aid, sponsorship, and technical assistance from international partners for the Trade Union in accordance with the provisions of law; receiving and awarding forms of rewards; carrying out other people's foreign affairs activities in accordance with the functions and tasks of the Vietnam Trade Union.
Mr. Le Dinh Quang added that one of the practical bases for promulgating the 2024 Trade Union Law is the requirement of international integration. Vietnam has ratified the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the Vietnam - EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the ILO Convention No. 98 on the right to organize and negotiate collectively. The labor commitments in these Treaties require member states to comply with the principles and basic rights in labor of workers according to the 1998 Declaration of the ILO.
The commitments in the above Free Trade Agreements have required reviewing and perfecting the legal framework for regulating social relations, especially labor relations and legalizing content according to a roadmap in accordance with international treaties to which Vietnam is a member, first of all the law on trade, investment, intellectual property and technology transfer, labor - trade unions.
