After the merger, the Da Nang City Labor Federation manages 1,824 grassroots trade unions with 225,442 union members out of a total of 246,153 workers and employees; of which women account for nearly 60%. This is a large force, present in most socio-economic fields, directly contributing to the city's development.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Anh - Vice Chairwoman of Da Nang City Labor Federation - said that in the past time, city trade union levels have promoted the work of mobilizing female workers, especially female workers at enterprises; and at the same time, well performed the role of representing and protecting legitimate and lawful rights and supervising policies related to female workers.
Hai Chau Ward Trade Union - the unit managing 196 grassroots trade unions with 9,489 union members out of a total of 11,469 workers, in which female workers account for a large proportion, is a typical example of mobilizing female workers and employees.
Mr. Nguyen Dinh Trung - Chairman of Hai Chau Ward Trade Union - said: Many female workers are still facing difficulties related to income, working conditions, working hours, maternity benefits, childcare or a safe and friendly working environment. Therefore, promoting the role of the Trade Union organization in collective dialogue and negotiation is considered an important solution to protect the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of female workers.
According to Mr. Trung, the most important thing is to let workers, especially female workers, express their thoughts and aspirations through substantive dialogue channels.
Reality at many grassroots trade unions shows that the contents that female workers are interested in are often very close to daily life such as salaries, income, maternity benefits, suitable working hours, safe working environment or prevention and combat of harassment at work. If these issues are resolved promptly through dialogue, many conflicts and pressures in labor relations will be limited from an early stage.
Notably, collective bargaining of the Da Nang Trade Union is not only limited to minimum regulations according to the law. Many grassroots trade unions have proactively proposed additional benefits for female workers such as maternity support, gifts for March 8th and October 20th, in-depth health check-ups, support for union members in difficult circumstances and flexible work time arrangements. These supports, although not large in terms of material, have clear spiritual significance for female workers.
According to Mr. Nguyen Dinh Trung, when businesses and trade unions jointly recognize that caring for female workers is part of sustainable development, the effectiveness is not only for workers but also for businesses themselves.
Female workers, when well cared for, will be more assured of working, limiting resignation, and increasing attachment to businesses. That is also the foundation for building harmonious and stable labor relations," Mr. Trung said.
Representatives of the Da Nang Trade Union said that in the coming time, it is necessary to continue to innovate the content and form of dialogue in a more substantive direction, increase thematic dialogue sessions specifically for female workers so that women can boldly share their difficulties.
In addition, it is necessary to improve negotiation skills, legal knowledge and the ability to grasp the psychology of female workers for the team of trade union officials; and at the same time strengthen the application of information technology to receive feedback and recommendations from union members faster.
