Help millions of union members and workers reduce difficulties
Ms. Tran Thi Thanh Ha - Member of the Presidium, Head of the Labor Relations Department of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor - said that taking care of union members and workers has been organized regularly and continuously over the years. Programs such as "Tet Sum Vay", "Tam Ve Nghia Tinh", "Day Hoi Hanh La - Phien Cho Nghia Tinh", "Mai Am Cong Tu" ... implemented by the union organization have helped millions of union members and workers to enjoy and reduce difficulties in life. The "Welfare for union members" programs widely implemented throughout the country have become the brand of the union organization and are supported by businesses, union members and workers...
The care for union members and workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and the reduction of orders by businesses has been highly appreciated by Party and State leaders, union members, workers, business owners and the community.
However, in the new situation, care requires a long-term, fundamental program for union members and workers, as advised by the late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong when giving a speech at the 13th Congress of the Vietnam Trade Union: "The Vietnam General Confederation of Labor needs to pay attention to researching and developing long-term welfare programs; focusing on caring for and providing comprehensive support for union members and workers, especially those in difficult circumstances, those who have had work-related accidents, occupational diseases, or long-term illnesses."
Resolutely require businesses to pay full union fees
The representative of the Da Nang City Labor Federation proposed to increase the percentage of union members who are fully informed about the policies and welfare programs of the union organization to 100%; the program of the union at the level directly above the grassroots level organizing "Tet Sum Vay" to 50% and the number of labor cases filed in court that the union supports and participates in litigation and protection when requested to 100%.
Sharing this view, Mr. Pham Chi Tam - Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation - said that currently, 100% of the direct superior unions at the grassroots level in Ho Chi Minh City have organized the "Tet Sum vay" program, so it is also necessary to increase the percentage of direct superior unions at the grassroots level organizing the "Tet Sum vay" program. At the same time, he agreed with the proposal that 100% of labor cases filed in court will be supported by the Union and participate in litigation when requested, because according to current regulations, the Union has the right to pay for lawyers to protect union members and workers. In the near future, the establishment of counseling and support centers for workers will create more resources to protect workers.
Mr. Tam also recommended that the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor should organize its own e-commerce trading floor, including incentives for union members and workers when purchasing goods on this trading floor. The Vietnam General Confederation of Labor should have a support policy for preschool teachers who have to leave early and return late to look after children of workers in export processing zones and industrial parks who are sent to schools and childcare groups.
Mr. Tam also added that currently, Ho Chi Minh City is very determined in requiring the direct superior trade union to collect trade union fees.
In particular, Mr. Nguyen Huu Giang - Vice Chairman of the An Giang Provincial Federation of Labor - shared that in An Giang, there is a company that owes union fees from 2006 to 2023 over 30 billion VND. The union has repeatedly requested the company to pay the full union fees but the company has not done so. The union has met with the provincial authorities and requested the provincial Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to conduct an unscheduled inspection. During the inspection, a record was made and the company was given reasonable time to correct the situation. However, the company still did not do so.
“By the time the union prepares to sue the company, the company will have to pay the full amount of union dues by the end of 2023. Therefore, there needs to be a drastic solution for companies that do not pay or are late in paying union dues,” Mr. Giang suggested.
On the same afternoon, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor also summarized 10 years (2015 - 2024) of implementing the "Tet Sum vay" program. The report at the conference said that by February 2024, there were 186,944 "Tet Sum vay" programs organized at all levels of the union, attracting over 33 million union members and employees to participate. At the programs, gifts were given to over 26.2 million union members and employees in difficult circumstances with a total amount of over 10,617 billion VND, of which nearly 5,847 billion VND was mobilized from socialized sources (accounting for 55%).
