According to data at the workshop "Collecting opinions on draft regulations on organization and operation of grassroots trade unions" organized by the VGCL in Ho Chi Minh City recently, Vietnam currently has about 33 million to 35 million people of working age, of which about 20 million to 22 million workers are in the formal sector. The rest, if subtracting the number of workers in the agricultural sector, will have about 10 million people working in the commercial and informal sectors. Therefore, it is necessary to gather this force into the organization to be managed, cared for, and contribute to the socio-economic development of Vietnam.
Currently, the VGCL is managing 1,023 grassroots trade unions with nearly 85,700 trade union members.
Mr. Luu commented: Article 19 of the draft Charter of the Vietnam Trade Union has quite fully stipulated the conditions for establishment, structure and tasks of grassroots trade unions. However, if looking at the actual operation of current freelance trade unions such as technology drivers, shippers, motorbike taxi drivers, seasonal workers, it is necessary to strengthen the role and functions of grassroots trade unions to attract workers in this field.
According to Mr. Luu, the Charter of the Vietnam Trade Union needs to clearly stipulate the natural representative role of trade unions for union members so that grassroots trade unions have a legal position to represent and protect the rights of union members.
Reality shows that, in the process of operation, many union members participating in technology platform activities have their accounts locked, leading to job loss, lack of income, and affecting their lives. At this time, it is very necessary for grassroots trade unions to have a representative role to protect the rights of workers. Or the role of representing union members to work with platform businesses on discount policies, bonuses, insurance, occupational safety, social security mechanisms...
On the other hand, grassroots trade unions are different from grassroots trade unions in enterprises and units when there are no trade union funds, so the resources to care for union members and workers when facing difficulties, illnesses, accidents... are very few. Therefore, there needs to be a separate trade union financial mechanism for trade unions to promptly support union members.
Resolution No. 02-NQ/TW dated June 12, 2021 of the Politburo "On renovating the organization and operation of the Vietnam Trade Union in the new situation" has set out key tasks and solutions, including "Consolidating and developing industry trade unions, improving the efficiency of local trade union activities; having appropriate models to attract, gather, and protect workers in the informal sector".
