At the conference, Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor Huynh Thanh Xuan presented the Proposal on the issuance of the Working Regulations of the Steering Committee of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor on preventing and combating corruption, waste and negativity. This Regulation was issued to replace the Operating Regulations of the Steering Committee on preventing and combating corruption of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor issued under Decision No. 1830/QD-TLD dated October 26, 2018 of the Presidium of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor). Delegates unanimously approved this content with the addition of anti-waste content.
Draft Report on the results of union member development, establishment of grassroots unions in 2024 and implementation of tasks in 2025 presented by Mr. Tong Van Bang - Head of the Organizing Committee of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor.
Accordingly, the Presidium of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor has chosen 2025 as the "Year of Union Member Development". Therefore, the target is to strive to have at least 13.5 million union members nationwide by the end of 2025. The number of union members needed to increase by 2025 is 1,648,388, of which 100,000 new union members will be admitted to the informal sector. Strive for most enterprises with 20 or more employees to establish a grassroots union organization.
Other agencies, units and organizations that meet the conditions under the Charter of the Vietnam Trade Union shall establish grassroots trade union organizations, but focus on improving the quality of union members and activities of grassroots trade unions. Enterprises that do not have a representative organization of workers shall gather the majority of workers and participate in the activities of the Vietnam Trade Union.
Commenting on this issue, Mr. Pham Quang Thanh - Chairman of the Hanoi City Labor Federation - analyzed that the assignment of targets must be calculated separately for each locality because each place has its own characteristics. Mr. Thanh said that a formula should not be used to assign targets. Also from reality, Mr. Thanh expressed concern about management when the number of grassroots unions was established too quickly.
Colonel Nguyen Dinh Duc - Head of the National Defense Trade Union - discussed the fact that the number of union members has increased but the number of losses is also large. Therefore, strong measures are needed to achieve the set goals. The National Defense Trade Union has implemented very well the policies, instructions and directions of the General Confederation during the fight against COVID-19, natural disasters, storms and floods, taking care of Tet, and Workers' Month activities... so the activities of caring for and protecting union members and non-union forces have been highly appreciated by the leaders and commanders of all military units as well as officers and soldiers. From there, there has been support for the Union and more union members.
Other opinions focused on analyzing how to assign targets reasonably; how to implement them in the spirit of "even if it's difficult, we have to do it". Some solutions regarding people, methods of doing, calculating space, coordination, etc. were also proposed and analyzed.
Concluding this issue, President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor Nguyen Dinh Khang affirmed that the target of developing union members and establishing grassroots unions is a legal target. Therefore, a solution is needed and must be implemented thoroughly. If there are difficulties in resources, proposals should be made to higher levels. Flexibility and innovation in the implementation process are needed here.
Regarding the establishment of trade unions, the President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor emphasized that it is necessary to adhere to the five contents that Uncle Ho taught when establishing the Red Trade Union. One of them is to protect workers. This protection is carried out on the basis of the specific industry of the trade union. In addition, the President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor directed that immediately after the Conference, a research team on trade unions should be established.
