Proactively adapting to new models
On July 17, the Da Nang City Labor Federation organized a seminar on "Model of Commune and Ward Trade Unions after 1 year of operation".
The report of the Da Nang City Labor Federation said: After implementing organizational arrangement according to the two-level local government model, Da Nang city currently has 11 inter-communal and ward trade unions managing grassroots trade unions in more than 40 communes and wards.
Some units are in charge of 5 to 7 areas, while most only have one to two full-time officials.
Despite many difficulties in manpower and wide management scope, inter-communal and ward trade unions have quickly stabilized their organizations, received grassroots trade unions, and maintained activities to care for and protect the legitimate rights and interests of union members and workers.
It is worth noting that the transition process did not interrupt trade union activities. Programs such as caring for union members in difficult circumstances, supporting workers, legal advice, dialogue at enterprises, developing union members, establishing new grassroots trade unions... are still being implemented regularly.
In addition, many new models have also been formed from practice. Some units promote the strengths of the health sector to take care of union members' health; some places build the model "Labor Safety Culture at the Workplace"; many inter-communal trade unions proactively connect businesses, authorities and sectors to expand resources to care for workers.
One of the bright spots is Nam Phuoc Commune Trade Union. After nearly a year of operation, the unit has proactively signed regulations on coordination with the People's Committees of three communes within its management scope, implemented many activities to care for and connect welfare, built the model "Labor safety culture in the workplace", supported fishing trade unions and innovated communication work.
According to Ms. Lam Thi Vy - Chairwoman of Nam Phuoc Commune Trade Union, the inter-communal model helps trade unions have conditions to connect broader resources, share experiences between grassroots trade unions and organize many practical activities for union members.
It is necessary to improve the mechanism for the model to operate sustainably
The common opinion of 11 inter-communal and ward trade unions at the seminar shows that the biggest difficulty currently lies not in having to manage many areas, but in the lack of synchronization between the assigned tasks and the implementation mechanism.
Many inter-communal trade unions are assigned to manage dozens of grassroots trade unions in many different areas, but still operate with a mechanism similar to a commune-level trade union before. When implementing coordination, inspection, guidance or working activities with businesses, many places are still confused because there are no clear regulations on authority.
In addition, the coordination between the inter-communal Trade Union and Party committees, authorities, and the Fatherland Front in localities without headquarters is also not unified. This affects grasping the business situation, developing union members, or solving arising issues related to labor relations.
Another difficulty is human resources. Some units manage more than 3,000 union members, dozens of grassroots trade unions in many communes, but there are only two full-time officials. Meanwhile, tasks related to finance, inspection, accounting, and guiding grassroots trade unions all require in-depth expertise.
From that reality, inter-communal and ward trade unions have proposed that the Da Nang City Labor Federation soon issue regulations on inter-regional coordination; clearly define the management scope of each unit; review human resources and funds according to the scale of tasks; and at the same time have a mechanism to assign targets and rewards suitable to the specific characteristics of each area.
For the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, many opinions suggested that it is necessary to soon complete the Guidance on the implementation of the 14th Trade Union Charter in the direction of clearly establishing the legal status, authority, powers and operating mechanism of commune and ward trade unions managing inter-territorial areas. This will be an important basis for the new model to operate uniformly nationwide.
