On the morning of October 24, the National Assembly discussed in the hall a number of contents with different opinions of the draft Law on Trade Unions (amended).
Speaking, delegate Nguyen Thi Viet Nga (Hai Duong Delegation) said that currently the allowance level for grassroots trade union officials is very low, causing difficulties in operations and attracting human resources to participate in grassroots trade union organizations.
According to the delegate, although the draft law does not specifically stipulate standards, norms, and financial spending regimes for trade unions, it is recommended that the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor pay attention to and raise the allowance level for grassroots trade union officials to match their responsibilities and the current situation.
Regarding ensuring the operation of the Trade Union, delegate Tran Kim Yen (Ho Chi Minh City Delegation) said that the provisions in the draft law have stipulated the organization, apparatus, staff, material and financial conditions. These are necessary conditions to ensure the operation of the Trade Union organization.
According to the delegate, some of these contents in the draft law are not comprehensive, so there should be a clear division of the organization of the Trade Union apparatus and the finance and assets of the Trade Union.
Regarding full-time union officials, the delegate said that there are regulations that full-time union officials are paid by the union from the union's financial resources. It is necessary to stipulate the initiative in terms of staffing, the number of full-time union officials according to the number of grassroots unions, union members and the ability to pay salaries from the union's financial resources.
The delegate cited that there is a district-level Trade Union that manages more than 2,000 grassroots Trade Unions and nearly 150,000 Union members, but with only 13 Union officials, it will be very difficult for operations and quality.
The delegate said that the draft law stipulates investment in social housing, cultural and sports facilities, and related technical infrastructure to serve union members and workers. This is a new content assigned to the union by the National Assembly and the Government.
However, according to the delegate, if it is only briefly stated in the draft law and not specified in more detail, it will be very difficult for the Trade Union organization to implement it. "Thus, if we do it, we will have to ask the ministries and branches to extend the time and slow down the implementation progress," the delegate said.
Delegate Duong Van Phuoc (Quang Nam Delegation) said that currently the number of positions assigned to the Trade Union is small, while the number of Trade Union members, civil servants, and workers is constantly increasing, and labor federations continue to develop. Thus, management is not guaranteed and does not meet the requirements of the task if more specialized Trade Union officials are not assigned.
Delegates proposed that the draft law retain the provision that gives the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor the right to decide the number of full-time trade union officials who work under labor contracts in specialized agencies of trade unions and grassroots trade unions.
Regarding the rights of union members, delegate Duong Van Phuoc said that the draft does not yet stipulate the rights of union members to enjoy cultural, sports and technical infrastructure.
Delegates proposed to add this right and write it in the direction that union members are entitled to policies on care, welfare, housing rental, and related cultural and sports institutions.
