Strengthening the legal framework and enhancing the representative capacity of trade unions.

Strengthening training and soliciting feedback on policies related to the Trade Union Law and the Employment Law will help trade union officials keep abreast of legal changes, enhance their ability to perform their duties, and strengthen their capacity to represent, negotiate, and protect workers in the context of a rapidly changing job market.

On the morning of December 9th, in Hanoi , the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor organized a training conference to disseminate the Law on Trade Unions and the Law on Employment, and to gather feedback on the draft Decree detailing some provisions of the Law on Trade Unions. The event took place in a hybrid format, combining in-person and online participation, with the involvement of leaders, legal policy officers, and labor relations officials from numerous trade union units within the system.

The need to enhance the capacity of trade union officials.

Speaking at the conference, Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor Ngo Duy Hieu emphasized that the Trade Union Law is an important legal foundation and a "weapon" for trade union officials to represent and protect the legitimate rights of workers. According to him, without a firm grasp of the law, trade union officials will find it very difficult to handle each case correctly, especially in the context of rapidly changing labor relations.

He also pointed out that the labor market is changing every day. Besides traditional industries such as textiles, mechanics, and electronics, many new types of jobs are emerging, especially in the digital economy .

Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor Ngo Duy Hieu speaks at the conference. (Photo: Provided)

The workforce of ride-hailing drivers alone numbers around 1 million people. While large, their stability is low, their social security risks are high, and they are vulnerable to fluctuations. Therefore, trade union officials need to understand these shifts in order to develop solutions and support that closely match their actual needs.

Based on those requirements, Mr. Ngo Duy Hieu spent considerable time analyzing the new points of the 2024 Trade Union Law, amended and supplemented in 2025. He clearly outlined the representative role of the Vietnam Trade Union, the right to collective bargaining in diverse labor relations, and the mechanism for protecting trade union officials in the performance of their duties. In the context of integration and digital transformation, these contents have become essential for trade unions to effectively fulfill their representative function.

In addition, representatives from the Department of Employment (Ministry of Interior) introduced the changes in the 2025 Employment Law, including adjustments to unemployment insurance, the labor market information system, and employment support policies for workers in the new economic model. These contents contribute to providing trade union officials with more basis for policy advice, while also supporting workers in adapting to job market fluctuations.

According to the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, the conference is not only an opportunity to provide legal knowledge but also an important preparatory step for trade union officials to enhance their capacity to perform their duties, especially in situations requiring quick and accurate handling at the grassroots level.

Future implementation plan

At the conference, delegates focused their discussions on the new points of the amended and supplemented Trade Union Law of 2024 (2025). Accordingly, the Law will take effect from July 1, 2025, and comprises 6 chapters with 37 articles, an increase of 4 articles compared to the 2012 Trade Union Law. Major changes include expanding the right to establish, join, and operate trade unions; adding the right of workers' organizations in enterprises to join the Vietnam Trade Union; refining the principles of organization and operation; and clearly defining the scope of international cooperation on trade unions.

Delegates focused their discussions on the new points of the 2024 Trade Union Law, amended and supplemented in 2025. (Photo: Provided)

The law also amends Articles 1 and 8 concerning the organizational system of the Vietnam Trade Union, affirming that the trade union is a large socio-political organization of the working class and laborers, directly under the Vietnam Fatherland Front and a member of the political system led by the Communist Party of Vietnam. Clearly defining the concepts of "Vietnam Trade Union" and "Vietnam General Confederation of Labor" is considered necessary to clarify the functions and tasks of each level. The trade union organizational system is also adjusted according to the policy of not having district-level organizations to ensure greater efficiency and effectiveness.

According to experts, this revision of the law closely reflects reality, providing trade unions with a broader legal framework for representing and protecting workers, while increasing their proactive role in collective bargaining. In the context of diverse labor relations and the emergence of many non-traditional employment models, perfecting the law is considered crucial for trade unions to continue fulfilling their role.

Besides improving the institutional framework, the conference also emphasized the need to enhance the skills of trade union officials. The rapid changes in technology, the emergence of digital and flexible labor, require trade union officials to continuously update their knowledge and improve their skills in engaging with workers. This is a key factor in ensuring that trade unions truly serve as a support system for workers in a competitive and volatile environment.

According to the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, continuing to maintain training and legal dissemination activities in the coming period plays an important role and is a key task to effectively implement the contents of the Trade Union Law and the Employment Law when the new regulations officially come into effect.

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/tang-nen-tang-phap-ly-cung-co-nang-luc-dai-dien-cua-to-chuc-cong-doan-218294.html