Good union bargaining, workers benefit
On September 10, nearly 1,500 employees of Nissei Electric Vietnam Company (Linh Trung Export Processing Zone) received their August 2024 salary with an increase of VND 100,000/person in their basic salary. Currently, the basic salary of employees at Nissei Electric Vietnam Company is VND 5,932,000/person/month, 20% higher than the highest regional minimum wage as prescribed by law. This is the result of the negotiation between the Trade Union and the company's board of directors.
Ms. Tran Thi Hong Van - President of the Trade Union of Nissei Electric Vietnam Company - said that at the beginning of the year, the company increased the salary for employees by 200,000 VND, which is higher than the new regional minimum wage from July 1, 2024 (4,960,000 VND/month).
When the State increased the regional minimum wage from July 1, 2024, the general mentality of workers still wanted a salary increase, no matter how little or much. The Union proactively negotiated with the board of directors to increase the salary for workers once more.
In addition, the Union also negotiated with the company's board of directors so that employees can enjoy many other benefits such as: 94 - 95 days off per year (at least 2 Saturdays off/month), 30 days off/year more than the State's regulations; support for 24/24 accident insurance packages for employees from January 2024, employees are entitled to 3 days off with full pay when having an occupational accident; female employees who have finished their maternity leave can request up to 2 more months of unpaid leave to take care of their children...
At Schneider Electric Manufacturing Vietnam Co., Ltd. (100% foreign invested capital, Ho Chi Minh City High-Tech Park), when a male worker's wife gives birth, in addition to the days off prescribed by the Law on Social Insurance, he is also entitled to an additional 24 days off with full pay within 4 months from the date of his wife's birth. Mr. Phan Thanh Nhan, a quality department worker at Schneider Electric Manufacturing Vietnam Co., Ltd. - who has just received this policy, happily said: "With these extra days off, I have more time to take care of my wife, children and family."
Ms. Le Thi Viet - President of the Union of Schneider Electric Manufacturing Vietnam Co., Ltd. - said that the above benefits are the result of negotiations between the Union and the company's board of directors and are recorded in the collective labor agreement (CLA).
Mr. Nguyen Tan Son - Head of the Department of Legal Policy and Labor Relations of the Thai Nguyen Provincial Federation of Labor (Department) shared that the Department has advised the Thai Nguyen Provincial Federation of Labor to develop a Plan on guidelines for assessing and classifying the quality of collective bargaining, signing and implementing collective labor agreements of trade unions at all levels to provide specific guidance to trade unions at all levels in the province; established a group of experts on provincial-level collective labor agreements consisting of 8 members to advise the Provincial Federation of Labor on activities to improve the quality, negotiation and signing of collective labor agreements in units and enterprises...
Up to now, in Thai Nguyen province, units have signed 43 new copies of the Collective Labor Agreement (exceeding the target of 23 copies); 320/392 have re-signed the Collective Labor Agreement - reaching 100% of units qualified to negotiate and sign the Collective Labor Agreement. According to Mr. Son, the Collective Labor Agreements focus on practical commitments that are more beneficial to employees in terms of wages, bonuses, allowances, shift meals, conditions for employees to study, etc.
Actively promote the importance of dialogue and collective bargaining
Recently, the Executive Committee of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor issued a program on "Improving the effectiveness of dialogue and collective bargaining in the period of 2023 - 2028". This program sets out the goal of improving the quantity and quality of dialogue, collective bargaining, and collective bargaining agreements; building, consolidating and promoting the role of trade union officials at all levels; investing sufficient resources to carry out dialogue and collective bargaining, contributing to creating sustainable jobs, improving wages, bonuses, working hours, rest hours, shift meal quality, ensuring occupational safety and hygiene for union members and employees, promoting sustainable business development and building harmonious, stable and progressive labor relations... Along with that, the program sets annual targets and by 2028.
To improve the effectiveness of dialogue and collective bargaining in the period of 2023 - 2028, Ms. Tran Thi Thanh Ha - Member of the Presidium, Head of the Labor Relations Department of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, said that trade unions at all levels need to focus on participating in developing policies, laws on labor, trade unions... Coordinate with media agencies to regularly and promptly propagate, report, and introduce the importance of dialogue and collective bargaining, typical examples and good models in dialogue and collective bargaining, signing and implementing the Collective Labor Agreement...
At Triple Vietnam Garment Company (Cu Chi district), the Trade Union also negotiated with the company's board of directors so that employees would receive a diligence allowance of VND500,000/person/month; gasoline and lodging allowance of VND600,000/person/month; when productivity exceeds the planned output, employees will be rewarded... In particular, the Trade Union also negotiated with the company to pay monthly preferential allowances for employees who have worked with the company for one year or more... At Kim Hang Aluminum and Plastic Joint Stock Company (District 8, Ho Chi Minh City), the Trade Union also negotiated with the company's board of directors and included in the Collective Labor Agreement a regulation that employees are entitled to a 13th month salary and innovation bonus...
