From midnight calls to digital connection networks
Every time a union member encounters difficulties, Ms. Vuong Thi Anh - Chairwoman of the Nghia Lo Ward Trade Union (Lao Cai province) -'s phone rings more than usual.
There are calls asking for advice on regimes and policies, there are reports about labor safety and food safety at enterprises, and sometimes it is a plea for help from a union member facing upheavals in life.
Immediately after receiving the information, Ms. Vuong Thi Anh immediately shared it on Zalo groups connected with grassroots trade unions and related units. In just a few minutes, many issues were discussed, verified and coordinated to be resolved.
Digital transformation helps us shorten the distance, process information much faster. Many difficult circumstances are spread in a timely manner, receiving the joint efforts of union members, businesses and the community," shared the Chairman of Nghia Lo Ward Trade Union.
Typically, the case of Ms. Luong Thi Tinh - an environmental worker - who was seriously injured after bravely rescuing two students in a storm that occurred in the area.
Immediately after grasping the information, the Nghia Lo Ward Trade Union launched a donation campaign among union members, businesses and philanthropists. In a short time, more than 43 million VND was handed over to Ms. Tinh to support treatment and stabilize her life.
That story shows that technology not only helps information to be transmitted faster but also increases the spread of beautiful gestures, helping trade union organizations get closer to union members.
Creating a social security ecosystem for workers
Talking to Lao Dong Newspaper, Mr. Phan Huy Cuong - Vice Chairman of Lao Cai Provincial Labor Federation - shared that the changes in the labor market are posing new requirements for trade union organizations.
If previously, the focus of the trade union was to care for and support union members when facing difficulties, today it is necessary to take another step, participate more deeply in policy making, protecting rights and creating a foundation for workers to develop sustainably," Mr. Cuong emphasized.
Currently, Lao Cai has more than 42,700 trade union members working in agencies, units and businesses. Each field faces its own challenges.
Workers in the metallurgy and chemical industries must master smart production lines. Tourism workers need to improve foreign languages, digital skills and service quality.
Meanwhile, young workers must continuously update their technology knowledge to meet the new requirements of businesses.
This requires trade unions not only to be a support when workers face difficulties, but also to better perform their representative role in salary negotiation, improve working conditions, and supervise the implementation of policies on social insurance, health insurance, and unemployment insurance.
At the same time, strengthen dialogue between workers and businesses to build harmonious and stable labor relations.
Improving digital skills for union members
Another important requirement is that the trade union organization itself must also digitally transform.
According to Mr. Phan Huy Cuong, managing union members on a digital platform, digitizing dossiers, deploying union member care applications, online legal advice, receiving recommendations through the digital environment or organizing online dialogues with businesses will help improve the effectiveness of representing and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of workers.
Further, trade unions need to participate in building a social security ecosystem so that workers can feel secure and stick with the business for a long time.
That is not only enough salary to live on, but also social housing, trade union institutions, kindergartens, cultural living spaces, safe working environments and lifelong learning opportunities.
In parallel with that are digital skills training programs, vocational skills, AI application skills in production; strengthening legal advice, job connection and supporting career change when necessary.
According to the leader of the Lao Cai Provincial Labor Federation, as AI is increasingly being deeply applied in production, the Trade Union needs to proactively coordinate with businesses to build retraining programs to improve digital skills and adapting skills to smart production models.
The goal is not only to help workers retain their jobs but also to have the opportunity to take on positions with higher added value and better income," Mr. Phan Huy Cuong emphasized.
