Focus on social housing and living conditions of workers

To achieve the goal of developing 400,000 more union members, the Ho Chi Minh City trade union organization needs to focus on the living conditions of workers. At the same time, it is necessary to perform well the function of representing and protecting the legal and legitimate rights of union members, contributing to reducing labor disputes.

Specific solutions to develop union members

On November 7, the Ho Chi Minh City Confederation of Labor (HCMC Confederation of Labor) held a conference to collect comments on the draft documents of the 1st HCMC Trade Union Congress, term 2025-2030; and the draft amendments and supplements to the charter of the Vietnam Trade Union.

At the conference, members of the Standing Committee, Executive Committee, Inspection Committee of the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation; representatives of affiliated economic and public service units and trade unions of wards, communes and special zones discussed the results of implementing the Congress Resolution for the 2023-2025 period and directions and tasks in the new term.

Commenting on the goal of developing 400,000 more union members each year, Chairman of the Union of PouYuen Vietnam Company Cu Phat Nghiep said that this is a target that needs to be considered at the present time, because in reality many units and businesses are lacking labor.

From the reality of workers' lives, Mr. Nghiep suggested that the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation study and implement a program of 50,000 social housing units in the direction of installment sales instead of renting. Because when workers have a stable place to live and a good income, attracting, retaining workers and developing union members will be easier. This is also a fundamental solution for Ho Chi Minh City to compete for labor resources with neighboring provinces in the coming time.

In addition, Mr. Nghiep recommended that the city's trade union organization reconsider the way it sets the target of 60% of grassroots trade unions completing their tasks well, in which it is necessary to specify specific regulations according to the type of enterprise.

Workers of Dai Dung Construction and Trading Mechanical Joint Stock Company (Tan Vinh Loc Commune, Ho Chi Minh City) buy goods at the mini supermarket located in the company at preferential prices.

Also related to some targets and breakthrough programs, especially related to the target of developing union members, Mr. Huynh Van Tuan, member of the Standing Committee of the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation, commented that the target of increasing union members by 2 million is a big challenge, especially in the informal sector, where workers are scattered. To complete this target, he proposed that the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation develop specific programs, mechanisms and solutions, possibly applying the model of collaborators and union volunteers to coordinate with localities to mobilize workers to join the organization.

Also giving his opinion on this target, Mr. Nguyen Trung Ngan, member of the Standing Committee of the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation, said that the target of increasing the number of union members by 2 million in 5 years is very high in the current context. Therefore, Mr. Ngan suggested that the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation should conduct a practical and scientific survey to ensure that the target can be achieved when it is set.

Increase the proportion of workers who are party members

At the conference, most delegates commented that in the new context, the City Trade Union has been proactive, adaptive, and performed well its function of representing and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of union members, contributing to a significant reduction in labor disputes compared to previous terms. At the same time, they basically agreed with the direction and tasks of the new term as stated in the draft document.

Delegates also proposed to promote training, fostering skills, knowledge, and political courage for union cadres in wards, communes, and special zones to meet the requirements of integration and international commitments on labor. Along with that, innovate care methods in the direction of focusing on programs that bring long-term benefits, improve skills, take care of health, create conditions for workers to study, support workers' children... Mr. Huynh Van Tuan proposed that the draft document should boldly set a target of 2%-3% of outstanding union members being admitted to the Party each year, in order to increase the proportion of workers who are Party members.

Standing Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation Vo Khac Thai acknowledged the comments of union officials. Standing Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation emphasized that all targets set out in the draft document are specified from the resolution of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee and the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor. Regarding the target of developing union members, he shared that although the target is high, it is not impossible if the entire union system is determined in organizing and implementing it.

Regarding health care targets, Permanent Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation Vo Khac Thai affirmed that this is a content associated with the Resolution of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee on health screening for the entire population.

Mr. Vo Khac Thai emphasized: “This is a matter of survival for the trade union organization. If we cannot gather workers, other organizations will do it for us. Therefore, each trade union official needs to be dedicated, responsible and take concrete actions to achieve the set goals.”

Thai Phuong

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/chu-trong-nha-o-xa-hoi-dieu-kien-song-cua-nguoi-lao-dong-post822395.html