Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor Thai Thu Xuong: Trade union organizations strengthen propaganda and mobilization work in the new situation
It is necessary to do a good job of propaganda and education for union members and workers. The content should focus on raising political awareness about the Party, the Trade Union, the working class; mastering the Party's guidelines, the State's policies and laws; the tasks of the unit and the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor.
Promote communication of trade union activities to build and protect the image of the Vietnam Trade Union as "an organization of workers, by workers and for workers". Organize and propagate the significance of major holidays and important events of the country, especially the results achieved by the resolutions of the Party Congresses at all levels and the 14th National Congress of the Party; thoroughly grasp throughout the system the results of implementing Resolution 18 of the Central Executive Committee on a number of issues on continuing to innovate and reorganize the apparatus of the political system, streamlining, operating effectively and efficiently, and on saving and fighting waste in the field of financial management and trade union assets. In addition, it is necessary to regularly grasp the situation of the legitimate thoughts and aspirations of union members and workers, promptly reflect and resolve them.
The concretization and creative application of the General Secretary's guiding ideology on "New Era - Era of national rise", implementing the goals set out in the Resolution of the 13th Congress of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor on "Building a modern, strong working class, contributing to realizing the aspiration for national development, prosperity and happiness", being the vanguard and mastering science and technology... need to be concretized into concrete actions. It is necessary to thoroughly grasp and implement the Trade Union Law (amended). Actively research, propose and participate in the development of policies and laws related to the rights of workers, focusing on the Law on Employment (amended), documents guiding the implementation of the Trade Union Law (amended), and the Law on Social Insurance (amended).
Continue to direct trade unions at all levels to perform well the task of representing and protecting the legitimate and legal rights and interests of union members and workers; actively participate in the development of policies and laws related to workers and trade union organizations. Improve the effectiveness of implementing democratic regulations, focusing on dialogue and resolving issues of concern to union members and workers. Improve the quality of negotiation, signing and implementation of collective labor agreements; organize activities to care for the material and spiritual life of union members and workers. Thoroughly implement the Charter and Guidelines for implementing the Charter of the Vietnam Trade Union (term XIII), especially new points to all trade unions at all levels. Thoroughly implement solutions in the Resolution to promote the development of union members and the establishment of grassroots trade unions in non-state enterprises by 2028, with a vision to 2033 to all trade unions at all levels, striving to cover grassroots trade unions in all qualified enterprises.
In the new situation, the Trade Union organization needs to strengthen propaganda and mobilization work, gather workers into the Trade Union organization. Continue to innovate the organizational model, content and form of operation; build a team of grassroots trade union chairmen to meet the requirements of the task. Carry out the work of introducing outstanding union members to the Party for consideration of admission. In addition, well carry out the work of inspecting and supervising the implementation of the Trade Union Charter, the management of revenue, expenditure and use of trade union finance and assets, well carry out women's work and people's foreign affairs work.
Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor Ngo Duy Hieu: The birth of the Trade Union Law recognizes the efforts of the entire Vietnam Trade Union system.
On November 27, 2024, with 92.48% of the delegates in favor, the 15th National Assembly passed the Trade Union Law (amended) at the 8th Session. The Trade Union Law (amended) has thoroughly grasped and institutionalized the Party's viewpoints and innovation guidelines; in accordance with the 2013 Constitution, ensuring the unity and synchronization of the current legal system; has many new points to facilitate trade union activities, ensuring that the Vietnam Trade Union, the socio-political organization of the working class and laborers, grows stronger and operates effectively, attracting a large number of workers and labor organizations at enterprises to join the Vietnam Trade Union.
The Trade Union Law (amended) takes effect from July 1, 2025. The promulgation of the Trade Union Law recognizes the efforts of the entire system, especially the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor under the direction of the Party Delegation and the Presidium of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor in researching and preparing to collect extensive opinions from trade union officials, union members and workers nationwide to submit to the National Assembly for approval a scientific, rigorous law with many new points and high feasibility.
The Law on Trade Unions (amended) was passed, creating an important legal basis for trade unions to continue to perform their functions and tasks well, enhance their position, affirm their role and effectiveness in the socialist-oriented market economy and increasingly deep international integration. The Law on Trade Unions (amended) has added the right to establish, join and operate trade unions for "workers without labor relations"; stipulated the right to join and operate trade unions for "workers who are foreign citizens" (without the right to establish). Added regulations on joining the Vietnam Trade Union for workers' organizations at enterprises; specified more specifically the organizational system of the Vietnam Trade Union and international cooperation on trade unions; supplemented and clarified prohibited acts.
The Law on Trade Unions (amended) maintains the regulation that agencies, organizations, units, enterprises, cooperatives, and cooperative unions of all economic sectors, regardless of whether a trade union has been established or not, must pay trade union fees equal to 2% of the salary fund as the basis for compulsory social insurance for employees. The law also adds regulations to ensure publicity and transparency, further strengthen the inspection, examination, auditing, and supervision of competent authorities in the management and use of trade union assets and finances, while ensuring the principle of financial autonomy of trade unions.
According to the Law on Trade Unions (amended), employers are not allowed to unilaterally terminate labor contracts, employment contracts, dismiss, force employees to quit or transfer them to other jobs without the written consent of the “direct superior trade union”. The trade union is responsible for “legally representing” the case in court to protect the legitimate rights and interests of the trade union employee when the employer terminates the labor contract...
Vice President of Vietnam General Confederation of Labor Phan Van Anh: Activities to care for union members and workers are being promoted
In 2024, activities to care for union members and workers will continue to be promoted by trade unions at all levels, especially during the Lunar New Year and Workers' Month in 2024. Over 10.5 million union members and workers have benefited from Tet care activities organized by the Trade Union, with a total amount of more than 7,000 billion VND (an increase of 28% in the number of people and 15% in funding compared to 2023).
2024 also marks the 10th anniversary of the "Tet Sum vay" program. After 10 years of implementation, more than 168,000 programs have been organized, attracting more than 29 million union members and workers to participate with a total amount of more than 17,000 billion VND. "Tet Sum vay" has truly affirmed its value, becoming an activity bearing the mark of the Trade Union organization every time Tet comes, Spring comes, receiving the attention and recognition of the Party Committee, the attention and coordination of the government, agencies, units, enterprises, and positive evaluations of union members, workers and the whole society.
Faced with the heavy loss of life and property caused by storm No. 3 in the northern provinces, trade unions at all levels promptly accompanied, cared for, supported, and shared difficulties with union members, workers, and affected people. By the end of October 30, 2024, trade unions at all levels had directly visited and supported 274 union members and workers who were injured, died, had relatives who died, and 20,968 cases of collapsed or completely collapsed houses or houses with unroofed roofs, flooded houses, and damaged property, livestock, crops, etc. with a total amount of nearly 78 billion VND. Trade unions at all levels mobilized, donated, and transferred to the accounts of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committees at all levels more than 1,128 billion VND.
In the coming time, Trade Unions at all levels need to strengthen the inspection and supervision of labor law compliance for employees; focus on supervising the implementation of regimes and policies for employees on social insurance; food safety and hygiene, shift meal quality and policies to improve professional qualifications for employees. Effectively implement the Program "Improving the effectiveness of dialogue and collective bargaining, period 2024 - 2028"; Resolution on "Focusing resources on taking care of the welfare of union members and employees in the new situation". Proactively implement solutions to create favorable conditions for grassroots trade unions to conduct negotiations and collective bargaining, focusing on wages, bonuses, working hours, rest hours, occupational safety and hygiene, etc.
Vice President of Vietnam General Confederation of Labor Huynh Thanh Xuan: Focus on developing union members in the non-state sector
In 2024, the work of developing union members and establishing grassroots unions will be focused on with many drastic solutions implemented throughout the system. With the outstanding efforts of unions at all levels, the total number of union members nationwide will increase to 11,851,612, including 91,946 union members in the informal sector.
Currently, trade unions at all levels are focusing on implementing projects and action programs to implement the Resolution of the 13th Vietnam Trade Union Congress, term 2023-2028, focusing on 3 breakthroughs:
The first is to promote dialogue and collective bargaining, focusing on wages, bonuses, working hours, rest hours, and occupational safety and hygiene. The target by the end of the term is that at least 83% of enterprises and units with trade unions that meet the conditions prescribed by law will be able to negotiate and sign collective labor agreements in accordance with the law.
The second is to focus on developing union members and establishing grassroots unions in non-state enterprises. The target by the end of the term is to have 15 million union members nationwide and establish grassroots organizations in 100% of enterprises with 25 or more employees.
Third is to build a team of grassroots union chairmen that meet the requirements of the task, especially union chairmen in non-state enterprises. The target is that 100% of newly elected grassroots union chairmen receive appropriate training and development.
Vice President of Vietnam General Confederation of Labor Nguyen Xuan Hung: Actively launching emulation movements
In 2024, emulation movements to achieve achievements to celebrate the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam Trade Union launched by the trade union, focusing on the Good Labor and Creative Labor movements, actively responding to emulation movements launched by the Prime Minister, took place enthusiastically, attracting a large number of workers, civil servants and laborers to participate. According to incomplete reports from trade unions at all levels, to date, more than 2,900 products and projects have been recognized with a total value of more than 149 billion VND, more than 123,000 initiatives have been recognized and applied in practice with a total value of more than 1,345 billion VND.
The Vietnam General Confederation of Labor in coordination with the Vietnam Electricity Group launched the Emulation Movement to build the 500KV line circuit 3 from Quang Trach (Quang Binh) to Pho Noi (Hung Yen), contributing to the completion of the project in a record time of more than 6 months. During the construction process, the Trade Unions at all levels organized hundreds of delegations to visit, encourage and present gifts to workers at the construction site with a total amount of nearly 20 billion VND. At the inauguration ceremony, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor placed a sign on the project to celebrate the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam Trade Union, and awarded nearly 300 collectives and individuals.
2025 is a year of special importance, the final year to make a breakthrough to complete the targets and tasks of the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress and the socio-economic development plan for the period 2021-2025, and at the same time, it is the year of Party congresses at all levels towards the 14th National Party Congress, the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, along with many important events of the Party and the country...
Trade unions at all levels need to innovate the organization of patriotic emulation movements in a practical, effective, and appropriate manner, focusing on each target, focusing on the grassroots, creating a driving force to promote innovation, improve labor productivity and work efficiency. Summarize and evaluate the effectiveness and spread of emulation movements to adjust, improve, and ensure focus and key points. Strengthen guidance, urging, and supervision of the implementation of emulation movements so that the movements are maintained regularly and continuously. Specify the content to have a form of organizing emulation movements suitable for each type of trade union organization and practical conditions associated with the tasks of agencies, units, and enterprises; clearly define the goals, targets, content, and criteria of emulation. Continue to develop and affirm the core role of the movement "Good workers, Creative workers", specify the content, launch emulation campaigns associated with promoting the improvement of national labor productivity.
(Posted on the special edition of Lao Dong Xuan At Ty)
