Building trade unions, caring for and protecting workers

Trade Unions at all levels have made efforts and been creative in developing union members and establishing grassroots trade unions. This is a key task to build a strong trade union organization, thereby effectively performing the role of representing, caring for, and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of workers.

The Trade Unions at the grassroots level in Thanh Hoa province have increased contact with businesses and workers. Photo: Mai Lieu.

Developing union members and establishing grassroots unions is an important task to gather workers into the Trade Union organization, strengthen the representative role, and care for workers' lives both materially and spiritually. In 2024, the whole country will establish 10,976 new grassroots unions. Of which, the State sector will establish 4,332 grassroots unions, the non-State sector 6,139 grassroots unions, and the informal sector has 505 grassroots unions. The above results have increased the total number of grassroots unions nationwide to 127,357.

Through the development of grassroots trade unions, many provinces and cities have an increasing rate of union members, typically in Thanh Hoa province. According to Mr. Vo Manh Son - Chairman of the Thanh Hoa Provincial Federation of Labor (FFL), the work of developing union members in the province is always associated with strict management and improving quality and results. Up to now, the whole province has updated information of 292,011 union members on the union member management software. In addition, trade unions at all levels have coordinated with employers to promote propaganda for union members to self-study, improve professional qualifications, train the political qualities of the working class, introduce outstanding union members to the Party for training and consideration for admission.

“Implementing the direction of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, the Thanh Hoa Provincial Confederation of Labor has taken many measures to direct and implement the work of developing union members and establishing grassroots unions. In particular, it has directed trade unions at all levels to survey and grasp the situation of labor in the informal sector, mobilize union members and establish grassroots unions. In addition, the Provincial Confederation of Labor has proactively improved, supplemented and assigned specific tasks to grasp the situation of workers, labor relations and mobilize union members and establish grassroots unions,” said Mr. Son.

In Quang Nam province, in 2024, the province exceeded the target of developing union members and establishing grassroots unions despite major fluctuations in the labor market and businesses reducing production. According to Mr. Phan Xuan Quang - Chairman of the Quang Nam Provincial Federation of Labor, the Union is currently managing 1,868 grassroots unions with more than 149,000 union members. In addition to developing union organizations and union members, the unit focuses on improving collective labor agreements. By the end of October 2024, 347/396 enterprises organized negotiations and signed collective labor agreements, reaching 88%. Many collective labor agreements achieved many provisions higher than the provisions of the law for employees, in accordance with the capabilities and conditions of the enterprise. In particular, focusing on basic issues such as: wages, welfare regimes, working hours, etc.

Highly appreciating the outstanding results in the work of developing union members and establishing grassroots trade unions, Mr. Ngo Duy Hieu - Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor emphasized that the work of developing union members is currently a top priority, contributing to the successful implementation of the target of developing union members in the spirit of Resolution No. 02 of the Politburo on Innovation of organization and operation of Vietnam Trade Union in the new situation. Resolution 02 sets out requirements for the Trade Union organization by 2025, increasing the number of union members to 15 million. Therefore, to set the target, the Trade Union organization needs to continue to innovate propaganda work, approach, survey localities and units to mobilize the development of the Trade Union organization.

According to Mr. Ngo Duy Hieu, localities must focus on propaganda and mobilization work, promote propaganda of typical examples in Trade Union activities. Synchronously deploy many solutions such as organizing meetings with businesses and business associations. In addition, organize listening sessions and dialogues with businesses to propagate and explain the necessity and freedom of workers to establish Trade Union organizations in enterprises. Organize to thoroughly grasp and synchronously deploy solutions throughout the system, set the determination to strive, and together complete the content set out in the Resolution. Therefore, in 2025, Trade Unions at all levels must well implement the year's theme of activities, which is identified as "Focusing on developing union members, participating in building a clean and strong Party", practically welcoming the Party Congresses at all levels.

Source: https://daidoanket.vn/xay-dung-to-chuc-cong-doan-cham-lo-bao-ve-nguoi-lao-dong-10301451.html