Trade unions must be a support for workers to adapt to change
Mr. Nguyen Ha Xuyen assessed that the current fluctuations in jobs, production model transformation and organizational arrangement are directly affecting workers in the agricultural and environmental sectors.
He said: "In the context that the whole country is promoting streamlining the apparatus, innovating the growth model, digital transformation and green transformation, workers in the agricultural and environmental sectors are directly affected by jobs, income as well as new professional skills requirements.
According to him, the rapid change of production and management models is posing a very large requirement for workers, especially the force working directly at the grassroots level. Not only facing the risk of job fluctuations, many workers also have to adapt to new technologies, new production processes and pressure to improve their professional qualifications.
Therefore, the role of trade union organizations is not only to take care of life but also to truly be a spiritual support, representing and protecting legitimate rights and accompanying workers to adapt to change," Mr. Nguyen Ha Xuyen emphasized.
Currently, many units in the industry are promoting green transformation, circular economy and high-tech agriculture. Mr. Nguyen Ha Xuyen said that this is both an opportunity and a challenge for trade union organizations. Green transformation and high-tech agriculture require the labor force to change production thinking, improve professional skills and adapt to new technologies.
This poses an requirement for trade unions to be more proactive in propaganda, training and mobilizing workers to participate in the transition process. Trade unions must not only take care of life but also contribute to forming a team of green workers, with digital skills, industrial style and environmental protection awareness.
In addition, the trade union needs to strongly launch emulation movements for creative labor, technical improvement, resource saving, emission reduction, and building a green - clean - safe working environment.
During the transition process, there will be job positions that change or are replaced. Therefore, trade unions must participate with professionals in developing retraining plans, ensuring jobs and legitimate rights for workers. This is a very important responsibility for the transition process to take place harmoniously and sustainably.
According to him, this is not only a short-term requirement but also a long-term task to ensure that workers are not left behind in the transition process.
He believes that if the trade union organization does not proactively grasp the thoughts and aspirations of union members, it is very easy to have gaps in the work of caring for and protecting the rights of workers. Therefore, the current requirement is to strengthen dialogue, listen and accompany workers right from the grassroots level.
Strongly orienting activities towards grassroots levels, taking care of labor in remote and isolated areas
As an industry with many workers working in remote, isolated, border and island areas, the work of caring for the lives of union members is always identified by the Vietnam National Union of Agriculture and Environment as a key task.
Mr. Nguyen Ha Xuyen said: "This is a very large characteristic of the industry. Many union members work in border areas, islands, and particularly difficult areas; living conditions, travel, and access to health and cultural services are still limited.
According to him, precisely because working and living conditions are still difficult, the work of caring for workers must really strongly focus on the grassroots level.
Therefore, care work must strongly focus on the grassroots level and take workers as the center," he emphasized.
To better care for the labor force in difficult areas, the Chairman of the Vietnam Union of Agriculture and Environment said that first of all, it is necessary to strengthen resources for grassroots trade unions.
He said: "In my opinion, first of all, it is necessary to strengthen resources for grassroots trade unions in difficult areas; prioritize funding to care for and support union members in particularly difficult circumstances, affected by natural disasters, epidemics or job decline.
This is also the group of workers most vulnerable to economic, weather and labor market fluctuations.
In recent years, many union member support programs have been widely implemented throughout the trade union system, especially on holidays, Tet or when workers encounter unexpected difficulties.
In addition to direct support, Mr. Nguyen Ha Xuyen believes that it is necessary to strongly utilize information technology to connect union members, especially workers who are working far from the center.
He shared: "Promoting the application of information technology to connect union members far away with trade union organizations, helping them access policies, legal advice, and necessary support faster.
In the context of strong digital transformation, the application of technology not only helps trade unions improve operational efficiency but also shortens geographical distance, creating conditions for workers in remote and isolated areas to access information faster.
Many workers in difficult areas are still facing obstacles in accessing information about labor policies, social insurance, labor safety or welfare regimes. Therefore, digitizing trade union activities is considered an important solution to increase connectivity and support union members.
Not stopping there, the Chairman of the Vietnam Agriculture and Environment Trade Union said that improving working conditions and welfare for workers needs synchronous coordination between trade unions and professionals.
According to Mr. Nguyen Ha Xuyen, for forces directly performing tasks of environmental protection, resource management, forest rangers, irrigation or agricultural production units in difficult areas, working conditions are still very hard. Therefore, in addition to income, workers need to be cared for in terms of working environment, living conditions and accompanying support regimes.
With the motto "Where workers are in difficulty, there must be a role of the trade union", the Vietnam Union of Agriculture and Environment is aiming to build a trade union organization that is truly close, in-depth and accompanies union members in all circumstances.
