Mr. Tran Van Dong - Chairman of the Ninh Thuan Provincial Federation of Labor - said: "The passing of the Trade Union Law (amended) is not only a common joy for the trade union staff but also the result of persistent construction from the voices of many union members and workers over the past time".
According to Mr. Dong, in 2023, Trade Unions at all levels organized hundreds of meetings to collect opinions from union members, workers, and union officials at all levels on the draft Trade Union Law (amended). Many enthusiastic opinions, lasting up to 4 pages, were sent to the Provincial Federation of Labor for proposal to all levels.
In particular, the issue of maintaining the 2% union budget is the "backbone" for organizing activities. The law passed with detailed regulations on this provision will help union organizations further promote the work of caring for union members and employees in a more sustainable way. Because in the new context, any competition requires resources. With the resources specifically stipulated in the Trade Union Law (amended), grassroots unions will have funding (75%) to organize regular care activities for employees during the year.
The revised Trade Union Law also adds a new provision that the payment of trade union fees can be considered for exemption, reduction or suspension in case the enterprise encounters difficulties due to natural disasters, fires, epidemics and has to temporarily suspend production and business, leading to the inability to pay trade union fees. According to Mr. Dong, this flexibility was drawn from the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the impact of natural disasters, epidemics, enterprises are in difficulty, union members and employees have lost their source of income, so the trade union must accompany them, but there are no regulations allowing it, so the already difficult situation for employees becomes even more difficult.
Sharing the excitement when the Trade Union Law (amended) was passed by the National Assembly delegates on the morning of November 27, Mr. Ngo Duy Thien - Chairman of the Trade Union of Hai Yen Company Limited - said: “This is the most anticipated bill in recent times, especially for the trade union staff. For us, the Trade Union Law (amended) will solve many problems from the new points stipulated in the law. First is the regulation allowing foreign employees working in units employing laborers in Vietnam to have the right to join and operate in the Vietnam Trade Union organization; regulations on 2% of trade union funds; flexible regulations on trade union financial spending…”.
According to Mr. Thien, this regulation reflects the reality that in recent times, the tourism labor market in Khanh Hoa and many localities has had a significant contribution from international labor forces. At Hai Yen Company Limited, the owner of Novotel Nha Trang Hotel and in the hotel system of Accor Group, there is regular cooperation with many experts and senior managers who are foreigners and Vietnamese people with foreign nationality. With this regulation of the Trade Union Law (amended), there is a guarantee of basic rights, fairness and equality for employees. The second regulation is the 2% trade union fee as before, while adding regulations on the exemption and reduction of trade union fee payment due to natural disasters, fires, etc., which is very flexible, creating conditions for businesses and employees to fulfill their obligations well. In addition, new, more specific regulations on the management of union financial revenues and expenditures - this is a new regulatory framework that creates a more solid legal basis, more firmly consolidating the task of organizing substantive activities to bring legitimate benefits to union members.
