Building a fair, progressive and sustainable future
Comrade Nguyen Dinh Khang - Member of the Party Central Committee, President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, Vice President of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) emphasized in his welcoming speech at the WFTU Presidium Conference, which took place on the morning of March 4.
The conference was attended by Comrade Mzwandile Michael Makwayiba - President of WFTU; Comrade Pambis Kyritsis - General Secretary of WFTU.
Comrade Do Van Chien - Member of the Politburo, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Fatherland Front, Central Trade Unions, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front; Comrade Nguyen Dinh Khang - Member of the Party Central Committee, President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, Vice President of the WFTU; Comrade Thai Thu Xuong - Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor attended the conference.
Speaking at the conference, Comrade Nguyen Dinh Khang - Member of the Party Central Committee, President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, Vice President of WFTU expressed his pleasure at welcoming the delegates to attend the Conference of the Presidium of the World Trade Union Federation on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the founding of the World Trade Union Federation.
"This is the third time we are honored to be assigned to host this important conference. On behalf of 12 million union members of Vietnam, I would like to respectfully send my warmest greetings to the Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, leaders of the World Trade Union Federation, and delegates and express the sincere and hospitable feelings of union members and workers of Vietnam to international friends" - comrade Nguyen Dinh Khang expressed.
According to the President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, this conference took place in the context of many fluctuations and challenges in the world situation: Strategic competition between major countries and armed conflicts in many regions; economic crisis, disruptions in the world value chain have not really recovered; Governments of countries have strengthened measures to control economic crises; climate change and non-traditional security challenges; the rapid development of science and technology... affecting the lives and jobs of workers in many places around the world.
Trade unions around the world also face many difficulties in developing union members and performing tasks of representing and protecting the rights and interests of workers, promoting collective bargaining to improve working conditions, protect jobs, and policies for workers, especially in the global supply chain.
"Such a volatile and challenging context is also an opportunity for us to promote solidarity and unity among trade union organizations, towards building a fair, progressive future and sustainable development for all workers. Therefore, the presence of union delegates from all over the world in Hanoi today is a clear demonstration of the strong interest and commitment to this common goal" - President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor said.
In the context of a complex and unpredictable world, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor expressed its appreciation for the efforts of the World Trade Union in overcoming difficulties and challenges, implementing many annual international movements, enhancing the WFTU's presence at international forums, successfully organizing regional and international congresses and conferences, organizing solidarity activities, protecting the rights and interests of workers... Thereby contributing to the implementation of the directions and tasks set forth by the 18th World Trade Union Congress.
"The success of the World Trade Union Union over the years is thanks to maintaining the class struggle, solidarity, cooperation and consensus among trade union organizations around the world. We can be proud of our continuous efforts in fighting to protect the rights of workers" - said the head of the Vietnam Trade Union.
Continue to strengthen the position and role of the Vietnam Trade Union
Comrade Nguyen Dinh Khang affirmed that over 96 years of establishment and development, the Vietnam Trade Union has continuously grown, always closely associated with the historical process of the country, making worthy contributions to the great victory of the revolution, contributing significantly to building the Vietnamese working class to grow stronger.
2024 is an important year with many development milestones for Vietnam Trade Union. The Vietnam Trade Union has concretized the Resolution of the 13th Congress of the Vietnam Trade Union, continuing to implement the orientations in the Rome Declaration in 2022, achieving encouraging results.
In the past year, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor admitted more than 1.2 million new union members, bringing the total number of union members to 12 million people. Collective bargaining work has been promoted, creating conditions for workers to benefit more than the provisions of the law. In particular, the work of participating in the development of policies and laws has been promoted; The Trade Union Law (amended) drafted by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor has been approved by the National Assembly, with many new points, such as expanding the subjects of union membership, adding the right to supervision and social criticism of trade unions, adding and clarifying prohibited acts, such as discrimination, intervention, manipulation of trade union activities...
These new points aim to further strengthen the role of trade unions in protecting the legitimate rights and interests of workers, while promoting harmonious, stable and progressive labor relations in Vietnam.
In addition, the Vietnam Trade Union has implemented and expanded many welfare programs and care for workers. These efforts demonstrate the deep concern of the Vietnam Trade Union for the material and spiritual life of union members and workers, thereby continuing to strengthen the position and role of the Vietnam Trade Union in performing the task of representing, caring for and protecting union members and workers.
The above results have contributed positively to the country's socio-economic development achievements.
Currently, Vietnam is focusing on implementing the country's development goals until 2030 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam and by 2045 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the country, bringing the country to a breakthrough development era. Vietnam Trade Union is making efforts to innovate organization and activities to continue affirming its role in building a strong working class, actively contributing to building a prosperous and happy developing country.
Focus on implementing solutions to develop union members
Comrade Nguyen Dinh Khang affirmed that the Vietnam Trade Union always attaches importance to promoting and expanding relations with national trade union organizations around the world and always fulfills its membership obligations, actively contributing to international trade union forums organized by the World Trade Union Federation.
In the context of many changes in the world, the role of trade unions becomes more important than ever in representing and protecting workers. To promote the sustainable development of the international trade union movement and further strengthen and enhance the role of the World Trade Union Federation, the head of the Vietnam Trade Union proposed 3 recommendations to the conference:
Focus on implementing solutions to develop union members. Accordingly, there should be specific solutions to expand the network of union members, especially in private and informal economic sectors. Increasing the number of union members not only helps to improve collective strength but also contributes to strengthening the position of trade unions in the negotiation process and protecting workers' rights.
Build a transparent and fair mechanism to enhance the responsibility for financial contributions of member organizations to ensure the sustainable development of WFTU, and more effectively implement programs to support workers globally.
Continue to promote communication, enhance WFTU's presence on international media platforms; organize more events to raise workers' awareness of the role of WFTU, thereby attracting more attention and participation from trade union organizations around the world.
"I deeply believe that, with the high sense of responsibility and the wise direction of the Conference Presidium, this Conference will be a Conference of action, turning ideas and resolutions into concrete and practical actions, contributing to further enhancing the role and prestige of the World Trade Union Federation in solving global workers' problems" - Comrade Nguyen Dinh Khang expressed.
