Nurture resources to care for workers

Every year, trade unions at all levels allocate significant resources to support union members and workers through gift-giving, visits during illness, and the construction of union-sponsored housing...

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Khang - Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, presents gifts to workers of Hanoi Urban Environment Company Limited. Photo: Quang Hung.

That funding comes from union fees. Therefore, in the amended Trade Union Law, union fees continue to be maintained to ensure resources for caring for the lives of union members and workers.

Every year, during holidays, Tet (Lunar New Year), or when employees in the enterprise experience accidents, illnesses, etc., trade union officials are always the first to visit and encourage union members and workers. In the past five years alone, over 30 million union members and workers have received care and support totaling nearly 28,000 billion VND. Besides ensuring the rights and benefits of union members, caring for the lives of union members and workers is a regular and continuous task of trade unions at all levels. In addition to the activities mentioned above, trade unions also organize activities such as rewarding and encouraging the children of cadres, workers, and employees with outstanding achievements; organizing holidays for women; and giving gifts to children on the Mid-Autumn Festival and International Children's Day (June 1st)... The funding for these activities mainly comes from union fees contributed annually by union members.

Regarding the use of trade union funds, currently 75% of trade union funds are retained at the grassroots level to care for the lives of union members. To further enhance the role of trade unions in caring for the lives and protecting the rights of workers, at the 8th session of the 15th National Assembly , the amended Trade Union Law was discussed and opinions were gathered from delegates, leading to its official adoption. Among the issues discussed, the trade union fee was of particular interest to many delegates. The majority of National Assembly delegates agreed that maintaining the 2% trade union fee is appropriate given the current situation.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Khang, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, emphasized that the amendment of the Trade Union Law must ensure the thorough understanding and institutionalization of the Party's reform viewpoints and guidelines related to national construction and development; be consistent with the 2013 Constitution; ensure the uniformity and consistency of the current legal system; and guarantee the absolute and comprehensive leadership of the Party over the Trade Union organization. The amendment of the Trade Union Law must ensure that the Vietnam Trade Union, a large socio -political organization of the working class and laborers, grows stronger, operates effectively, and attracts a large number of workers to participate.

Furthermore, the amendment of the Trade Union Law needs to inherit and retain the contents that have proven their rationality, stability, and effectiveness in the past implementation. The amendment should refer to and selectively incorporate international experience; ensuring its suitability to the political system, the requirements of developing a socialist-oriented market economy, and international integration under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam. Specifically, Resolution 02 dated June 12, 2021, of the Politburo "On renewing the organization and operation of the Vietnam Trade Union in the new situation" clearly states the need to build a sufficiently strong financial source to effectively perform the functions and tasks of the Trade Union organization, emphasizing: "Maintaining existing resources; collecting trade union funds and encouraging the socialization of resources to enable the Trade Union to effectively perform its assigned tasks." Caring for and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of union members and workers are the two pillars of trade union activities. However, caring for workers is not just about providing moral support and sharing words; it absolutely requires financial resources. Therefore, union dues have long been almost the sole resource for trade unions to fulfill their responsibility of caring for workers.

Therefore, when trade unions at all levels have sufficient and stable resources from union fees, the work of caring for the material and spiritual lives of union members and workers, as well as building harmonious, stable, and progressive labor relations in each enterprise, will certainly be carried out better and more effectively. This is a fundamental financial resource that enables trade unions to grow stronger, attract more workers to join the organization, and create trust, support, and strong emotional bonds to keep workers loyal to their organization.

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From the trade union's financial resources, models for caring for union members and workers continue to be developed and perfected, bearing the distinct mark of the trade union organization, such as "Tet Reunion," "Workers' Month," and "Trade Union Shelter," spreading strongly and deeply to the grassroots. For example, Workers' Month, implemented alongside the Action Month on Occupational Safety and Health, organized visits, encouragement, and gift-giving to over 3.8 million workers in difficult circumstances, those who suffered work accidents, occupational diseases, or serious illnesses, with a total amount of thousands of billions of dong. Ensuring trade union funding means ensuring resources for the trade union to practically support workers.

Source: https://daidoanket.vn/nuoi-duong-nguon-luc-de-cham-lo-nguoi-lao-dong-10293228.html