Enterprises face difficulties, union members drop sharply
Arena Technologies Quang Nam Co., Ltd. in Dien Nam - Dien Ngoc Industrial Park is the 5th private enterprise to have just launched a grassroots trade union organization (CDCS), in the first 5 months of 2025.
This is a business with 100% investment capital from Singapore, operating in the field of manufacturing electronic game seats, office seats, and manufacturing seats in cars and other motor vehicles. The enterprise currently has 60 employees, of which 57 are Vietnamese employees, with an average salary of about 8 - 9 million VND/month.
Ms. Le Thi Xuan Le - Chairwoman of the company's Trade Union - said that the Trade Union was established after nearly a year of operation, contributing significantly to building harmonious labor relations and improving the welfare of workers. At the same time, building a close relationship contributes to the development of businesses.
According to Mr. Nguyen Ky Vinh - Chairman of the Trade Union of Quang Nam Economic Zones and Industrial Parks, by the end of May 2025, the unit had newly established 5 grassroots unions in enterprises, out of a total of 11 grassroots unions for the whole year.
According to statistics from the People's Committee of Quang Nam province, up to 1,028 enterprises in Quang Nam have withdrawn from the market in the first 5 months of 2025, an increase of 11.5% over the same period in 2024.
This context not only directly affects the employment and income of workers but also puts the Trade Union organization in a difficult situation when it has to cope with the risk of reducing union members and rearranging the grassroots trade union network. Along with that is the process of arranging administrative units and streamlining the apparatus, which is directly affecting trade union activities.
Faced with these challenges, the Quang Nam Provincial Trade Union has focused on strengthening the trade union organization. In particular, strongly developing trade unions in private enterprises, foreign-invested enterprises and freelance industries.
"Although it is difficult, the goal of developing grassroots trade unions and admitting union members for the whole year is still feasible" - Mr. Vinh shared.
Caring for workers with practical actions
To date, the Quang Nam Provincial Federation of Labor has newly established 9 grassroots unions, admitting more than 2,000 union members. Although the total number of union members has decreased by about 3,800 compared to the end of 2024, the Trade Union organization still maintains its initiative in adaptation. Currently, the whole province has 1,877 grassroots unions with more than 146,400 union members.
Chairman of the Quang Nam Provincial Federation of Labor Phan Xuan Quang said: "We will promote the signing of collective labor agreements in the direction of being more beneficial to employees, in line with the capacity of the enterprise, focusing on wages, bonuses, benefits, rest, and emergency allowances...".
After the explosion at SGI Vina Factory (Nui Thanh District), which injured 12 workers at the end of May 2025, the Trade Union at the higher and lower levels mobilized hundreds of millions of VND to visit, support, and coordinate with businesses to pay all hospital fees to the victims.
Similarly, at Vinh Gia Company Limited, Ms. Tran Thi Bich - a worker who has been attached to the company for more than 12 years - is the pillar of a family of 7. With difficult circumstances, she was supported by the union to build a union shelter worth nearly 200 million VND.
"Having a stable house, I was so happy that I cried. The family has a place to live, the children have a place to study properly" - she emotionally shared.
In March 2025, the Quang Nam Provincial Federation of Labor announced the dissolution of the Education, Construction, and Health Sector Trade Union and the Provincial Civil Servants' Trade Union. Instead, the establishment of the Provincial People's Committee Trade Union and the Provincial Party Agencies Trade Union - marked a new transition in the grassroots trade union organization.
The Provincial People's Committee Trade Union currently has 48 affiliated trade unions with more than 6,490 union members. Mr. Tran Quoc Bao - Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Trade Union, affirmed that he will continue to connect the team of union members and protect their rights in the context of merger and restructuring.
