On December 14th, the Labor Relations Department of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor announced that the Confederation is currently soliciting opinions from union members, workers, and trade union levels nationwide on the draft revised and supplemented Charter of the Vietnam Trade Union, to be submitted to the 14th Congress of the Vietnam Trade Union, for the 2026-2031 term.
According to the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, the process of revising the charter adheres to the following viewpoints and principles: promptly concretizing new regulations of the Party and State laws; ensuring the principles of organization and operation of the Vietnam Trade Union; and aligning with the international workers' movement, trade union activities, and international conventions and treaties to which Vietnam is a signatory. Content that is stable and effective will continue to be inherited; only content that is inadequate, problematic, or arises from practical requirements will be amended or supplemented. The revision will be carried out cautiously, systematically, openly, democratically, and with broad consultation.
One notable point in the draft is the proposal to change the name of the leadership body of the Vietnam Trade Union from "Presidium" to "Standing Committee". This name change aims to avoid duplication with the "Presidium of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front," and also aligns with Decision No. 304-QD/TW dated June 10, 2025, of the Politburo on the functions, tasks, and organizational structure of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front.
The draft also amends the Preamble in accordance with Resolution No. 203/2025/QH15 of the National Assembly and the 2024 Trade Union Law (amended and supplemented in 2025), which defines the Vietnam Trade Union as “the sole representative of workers at the national level in labor relations and international trade union relations” and “directly under the Vietnam Fatherland Front”.
Regarding eligibility for union membership, Article 1 has been amended to reflect the policy of not including officials, civil servants, and public employees whose salaries are 100% funded by the State budget into the Vietnam Trade Union. The rights and responsibilities of union members have been supplemented and clarified, including the duty to "participate in building progressive, harmonious, and stable labor relations."
Regarding the organizational system, the draft adjusts the wording and adds the model of "specialized trade unions," including trade unions of central government agencies, national universities, and regional universities; trade unions of industrial zones; trade unions of economic groups and corporations; and trade unions of communes, wards, and special zones. The grassroots level trade unions are defined as including basic trade unions, basic professional unions, and trade unions of specialized trade union departments and units.
Notably, the draft adds new provisions regarding trade unions in industrial zones, economic group trade unions, corporations directly under the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor or under provincial/city labor federations, central industry trade unions; and commune/ward/special zone trade unions. These regulations aim to address the gap left after the end of the model of higher-level trade unions directly supervising grassroots unions, ensuring the representative and supportive role of grassroots trade unions in enterprises, especially in industrial zones with complex labor relations.
Regarding trade union finances, the draft proposes reducing the membership fee from 1% to 0.5% of salary; clearly stipulating that trade union funds, contributed by enterprises and units not receiving 100% of salaries from the State budget, should be 2% of the wage fund used as the basis for mandatory social insurance contributions, in accordance with the current Trade Union Law. Simultaneously, a new provision on the inspection, auditing, and supervision of trade union finances and assets is added.
According to the guidelines of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, feedback is collected through various forms such as sending written documents, organizing conferences and seminars, and publishing drafts in the mass media. Feedback must be specific to each article and clause; clearly stating agreement, disagreement, or proposed amendments. The results of the feedback collection are compiled and reported at the congresses and conferences of trade unions at all levels and to the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor.
Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/lay-y-kien-doan-vien-nguoi-lao-dong-ve-du-thao-dieu-le-cong-doan-viet-nam-sua-doi-post828648.html
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