Vietnam Trade Union streamlines organizational structure, better serves union members and workers

Proactively and resolutely streamline the apparatus

Implementing Plan No. 04-KH/BCDTW dated November 13, 2024 and Conclusion No. 09-KL/BCDTW dated November 24, 2024 of the Central Steering Committee on summarizing Resolution No. 18 on a number of issues on continuing to innovate and reorganize the apparatus of the political system, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor (VGCL) has proactively synchronously implemented the work of reorganizing and streamlining the trade union apparatus at all levels in accordance with the direction of the Central Committee, ensuring the requirements and progress set out.

The Vietnam General Confederation of Labor is the central level of the Vietnam Trade Union organization operating relatively independently in relations with the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF), complying with the Trade Union Law, the Trade Union Charter and reporting periodic work to the Vietnam Fatherland Front.

After the arrangement, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor no longer has the model of old functional committees but reorganizes them into two committees: the Trade Union Work Committee and the Labor Relations Committee, which are decided to be established and managed by the Standing Committee of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front. The Vietnam General Confederation of Labor currently has 78 cadres and civil servants (including: 40 people at the Trade Union Work Committee, 38 people at the Labor Relations Committee), not including the Standing Committee and cadres of the Party Committee's support agency.

In provincial and municipal labor federations: The number will be reduced from 63 to 34 units (equivalent to the number of provincial-level administrative units from July 1, 2025). Previously, there were 236 departments/unit, now there are only 49 units after streamlining. Organizing professional committees is divided into 2 models: 15 provinces establish 2 committees (Union work, industrial park union work); the remaining 19 provinces establish only 1 union work committee. The total number of civil servants is 1,154 people, including 191 labor contracts.

Central and equivalent industry trade unions: Number of organizations reduced from 19 to 17 units; merged Transport and Construction Trade Unions; ended the activities of Vietnam Civil Servants' Trade Unions; renamed the Agricultural and Rural Development Trade Union into Agricultural and Environmental Trade Union, Information and Communications Trade Union into Science and Technology Trade Union. The organizational apparatus still has 58 departments with 352 civil servants (42 labor contracts).

Currently, there are 699 units qualified to establish trade unions, but only 395 commune, ward, special zone and central trade unions have been established (accounting for 56.5%) with 248 cadres, of which 79 Vice Chairmen of the Commune-level Front concurrently hold the position of Trade Union Chairman. Some provinces have arranged 35 full-time staff in 10 industrial parks and economic zones.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Khang - Member of the Party Central Committee, Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, Party Secretary, President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor - highly appreciated the proactiveness and determination of trade unions at all levels in implementing the restructuring of the apparatus.

Preparing resources to implement care for union members and workers

In the coming time, in addition to periodic and regular tasks, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor sets out many key tasks, including continuing to streamline the organization of the Vietnam Trade Union system, operating effectively and efficiently according to the direction of the Central Government; strengthening propaganda, raising awareness and responsibility of trade union officials and the participation of trade unions at all levels in the process of streamlining the apparatus, streamlining the payroll, ensuring the regime, policies and rights of cadres, civil servants and workers; promptly reviewing, amending and supplementing regulations, regulations, directives and instructions of the Trade Union organization, ensuring appropriateness, unity and synchronization for implementation, without interruption of activities.

Along with that, trade unions at all levels have a firm grasp of the employment situation, life and income of workers; participate in promoting solutions to ensure jobs for union members and workers in the context of the labor market forecast to have many changes; promote the role of trade union organizations in participating in building new productive forces.

The Vietnam General Confederation of Labor will issue and implement the Plan to organize Trade Union Congresses at all levels towards the Vietnam Trade Union Congress, term 2026 - 2031; documents directing the preparation for trade union congresses at all levels. Study and orient the amendment and supplementation of the Charter of the Vietnam Trade Union, Guidelines for implementing the Charter of the Vietnam Trade Union, Draft documents to be submitted to the Vietnam Trade Union Congress. Review and evaluate the results of the implementation of the Action Program of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor to implement the Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Party, Resolution 02-NQ/TW dated June 12, 2021 of the Politburo on "Innovation of organization and operation of Vietnam Trade Union in the new situation".

Trade unions at all levels thoroughly grasp and concretize the solutions in the Resolution to promote the development of union members and the establishment of grassroots unions in non-state enterprises by 2028, with a vision to 2033 to all levels of unions, striving to cover all eligible enterprises with grassroots unions; focus on innovating the method of admitting union members in conjunction with improving the quality of union members; focusing resources, creating a breakthrough in developing union members and establishing grassroots unions; implementing the "Pikes month for developing union members, establishing grassroots unions, introducing outstanding union members to the Party".

In addition, effectively organize activities to care for union members and workers; promptly develop and prepare plans and resources to implement the work of caring for union members and workers on the occasion of the Lunar New Year 2026. Improve the quality and effectiveness of signed cooperation agreements; maintain and replicate practical models of caring for the material and spiritual benefits of union members and workers, especially caring for union members and workers in difficult circumstances. In addition, strive to organize the groundbreaking of 4 social housing projects for workers and laborers to rent using union financial resources in Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Bac Ninh, and Bac Giang provinces in 2025.

The Vietnam General Confederation of Labor has determined that in the coming time, it will focus on propaganda, actively participate in performing tasks and serving Party congresses at all levels, the 14th National Congress of the Party; organize propaganda activities to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on September 2...

Trade unions at all levels have organized the work of collecting trade union finances according to the plan; strictly manage spending and save, serving the activities of the Trade Union organization well. Another key task is to continue implementing related contents on financial and asset management during the implementation of organizational and organizational restructuring; directing the restructuring and improving the operational efficiency of public service units, enterprises under the trade union...