Inspection and supervision of trade unions contribute to building harmonious and progressive labor relations.

Actively participate in inspection and supervision

In mid-August, the Provincial Federation of Labor (FFL) coordinated with relevant units to monitor the implementation of legal regulations on labor, trade unions, social insurance, and occupational safety and hygiene at Hao Hung Hue Company Limited. This is an enterprise operating in the fields of wood purchasing, wood material processing, and maritime transport. Through monitoring, it was shown that Hao Hung Hue Company Limited has been proactive in implementing legal policies and regimes related to employees. The settlement and payment of social insurance, occupational accident insurance, and compulsory occupational diseases for employees have been fully implemented.

The company established and issued regulations for the safety and hygiene network. Thereby, the inspection and maintenance of machines, equipment, factories and warehouses are in compliance with regulations. For workers doing heavy, toxic and dangerous work, they are entitled to the prescribed regime and are equipped with personal protective equipment for workers.

The grassroots union of Hao Hung Hue Company Limited proactively negotiated and signed collective labor agreements with employers, organized dialogues at the workplace, to have policies to care for and support union members and workers.

Mr. Tran Ngoc Duong, Vice Chairman of the Provincial Federation of Labor, Head of the monitoring delegation, highly appreciated the initiative of Hao Hung Hue Company Limited in implementing policies and laws related to employees, especially in caring for the lives, material and welfare regimes for employees. At the same time, he suggested that the company's board of directors should pay attention to further improving the quality of shift meals for workers, work on occupational safety and hygiene, and research and classify the list of periodic health check-ups for employees.

According to Mr. Tran Ngoc Duong, in addition to the above enterprise, the Provincial Federation of Labor also presides over and coordinates the organization of supervision at a number of other enterprises in the province. This supervision activity is carried out in accordance with Decision 217 of the Politburo on promulgating the Regulation on supervision and social criticism of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations. Through the KTGS, it aims to prevent, detect and recommend handling of violations of the law, affecting the rights and legitimate interests of union members and workers. "This is also an opportunity for us to listen, record the thoughts, aspirations and share the difficulties of enterprises and workers, as a basis for proposing and recommending competent authorities to consider and resolve," said Mr. Duong.

Aiming for professionalism

In addition to the inspection at enterprises, the Provincial Federation of Labor also focused on inspecting the implementation of the Charter of the Vietnam Trade Union at lower levels. In the first six months of the year, trade unions at all levels in the province conducted dozens of inspections on the implementation of the Charter of the Vietnam Trade Union, the use and management of finance, assets, and economic activities of the trade union.

Quality and effective labor inspection work contributes to affirming the position of the trade union organization. However, in reality, labor inspection activities at all levels still have limitations and difficulties. Some units have not been really proactive and active in coordinating implementation, the content of labor inspection is not deep, and there is no determination to recommend the government and competent agencies to handle violations of labor-using units. The work of monitoring and urging units to overcome limitations has not really received due attention.

According to Mr. Le Minh Nhan, Chairman of the Provincial Federation of Labor, to professionalize the inspection work of the trade union, one of the important solutions that the Provincial Federation of Labor focuses on is to improve the quality of the team of trade union inspectors. The team of trade union inspectors must have sufficient capacity, qualities, comprehensive knowledge in all fields, courage and boldness to fight against violations, meeting the requirements of tasks in the new situation. The Provincial Federation of Labor strengthens the direction of trade unions at all levels to promptly complete the team of trade union inspection committee officials at all levels, consolidate sufficient numbers, ensure conditions, standards, and correct composition, and have a sense of responsibility in performing assigned tasks.

Currently, the Provincial Federation of Labor has 750 inspection committees at all levels, with 5 full-time union officials doing inspection work and nearly 2,500 part-time members. To help this team perform well in inspection work, the Provincial Federation of Labor prioritizes training and coaching to improve the professional qualifications of grassroots union officials in general and inspection officials in particular.

Article and photos: HAI THUAN