Strengthening the role and capacity of trade unions in international relations

More proactive in protecting workers

In recent days, Ho Chi Minh City has actively implemented activities to collect public opinions on the draft amendments and supplements to a number of articles of the 2013 Constitution. Contributing opinions through SGGP Newspaper, Dr. Tran Hai Linh, member of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, Chairman of the Vietnam - Korea Business and Investment Association, expressed his agreement with the amendments and supplements to a number of articles of the Constitution to implement the policy of streamlining the organization and apparatus of the political system.

According to Dr. Tran Hai Linh, the amendment and supplement to Article 10 of the 2013 Constitution in the direction of adding the task of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor as the representative of workers at the national level in labor relations and international relations on trade unions is to suit the context of international economic integration. This content will have a profound and positive impact on the role, position and effectiveness of trade unions in the context of increasingly deep international economic integration.

Specifically, the recognition in the Constitution will help raise the legal status of the Vietnam Trade Union, consolidating its position as the sole representative organization at the national level for workers in labor, employment and welfare issues. This is especially important when Vietnam participates in many new-generation free trade agreements, such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans- Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the Vietnam - EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) ..., in which there are high requirements on freedom of association and social dialogue.

Ho Chi Minh City Trade Union takes care of workers in difficult circumstances. Photo: THAI PHUONG

In addition, when identified as representatives at the national level, trade unions will have a clearer position in tripartite institutions (State - employer - employee). This helps trade unions be more proactive in negotiating policies on minimum wages, working conditions, social insurance, occupational safety, etc.; especially in labor-intensive industries such as textiles, electronics, and seafood processing.

“The addition of the task of representing workers in labor and international relations is a strategic and proactive step of Vietnam in reforming labor institutions, aiming to enhance the position, role and effectiveness of Vietnam Trade Unions. This is not only an adaptation to integration requirements but also a basis for protecting workers’ rights in a more effective, modern and widespread manner,” commented Dr. Tran Hai Linh.

Lawyer Nguyen Van Hau, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association, said that this amendment is a necessary update, reflecting the current integration practices and the development of labor relations. This also paves the way for trade unions to promote collective labor agreements at the industry and national levels, contributing to creating a common ground on labor conditions and better protection for the majority of workers.

In international relations on trade unions, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor will be the official focal point representing the voice of Vietnamese workers at international forums, participating in the development of global labor standards; at the same time, strengthening cooperation to protect the rights of Vietnamese workers abroad and foreign workers in Vietnam, as well as learning from experience to improve the operational capacity of trade unions.

Specify the operating mechanism of the union

Commenting on the amendment and supplement to Article 10 of the 2013 Constitution, former Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, former Chairwoman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City Vo Thi Dung proposed to study the removal of the regulation on trade unions participating in state management, socio-economic management, and participating in inspection, supervision and monitoring of the activities of state agencies, organizations, units and enterprises on issues related to the rights and obligations of workers. In case this content is still maintained, it should be specified in the coordination regulations between the Government and trade unions.

Sharing the same view, Lawyer Truong Thi Hoa, Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Commercial Arbitration Center, Member of the Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, also proposed to remove the phrase “participating in state management” because trade unions cannot participate in state management. According to this expert, expanding the authority for trade unions to participate in state management will create complications when there are many organizations representing workers that are not trade unions.

Other forms of labor representation other than trade unions would be very complicated if they were allowed to participate in state management like trade unions. But if these organizations are not allowed to participate in state management, these organizations will argue that there is a distinction between trade unions and other organizations representing laborers.

Lawyer Nguyen Van Hau also agreed with the amendment and supplement to Article 10 of the 2013 Constitution, and proposed that the Trade Union Law (amended) should specify the operation mechanism of trade unions in the new relationship with the Vietnam Fatherland Front, ensuring that trade unions still maintain a proactive role and increasingly perform their functions of representing and protecting the legitimate and legal rights and interests of union members and employees. Especially in resolving issues arising from diverse and complex labor relations, along with labor disputes in the current digital transformation period.

DONG SON

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/tang-cuong-vai-tro-va-nang-luc-cua-cong-doan-trong-quan-he-quoc-te-post796415.html