Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chairs the Conference on evaluating the implementation results of the Regulation on the working relationship between the Government and the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour – Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac
Chairman of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour, Nguyen Dinh Khang, co-chaired the conference. The conference was also attended by Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung, Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung, Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son, and leaders of ministries, sectors, and central agencies.
Reports and opinions at the conference unanimously assessed that in 2023, the Government and the Presidium of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour actively and proactively coordinated to ensure the efficiency of tasks according to the coordination regulations, as well as sudden and urgent tasks according to the leadership and direction of the Politburo and the Secretariat and practical requirements.
Among them, the two sides continued to coordinate in researching and building mechanisms, policies, and laws on social security and welfare for labourers, improving labourers’ lives; promptly resolving labourers’ needs, legitimate wishes, and legal rights; building a contingent of trade union officials to meet the requirements of tasks, building a strong Vietnamese trade union, a modern and large working class, and a Government of “discipline, responsibility, proactiveness, creativity, and sustainability.”
Chairman of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour, Nguyen Dinh Khang, speaks at the conference
The Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Ministers, and other government members have participated in trade union activities; visited and encouraged trade union members and labourers at production facilities, factories, and industrial parks on the occasion of Workers’ Month. During the Lunar New Year, government leaders and leaders of ministries and sectors directed and participated in many activities to take care of the Tet holiday for labourers.
Notably, at the conclusion of the previous coordination conference, the Prime Minister assigned 11 tasks to ministries and agencies. Up to now, eight tasks have been completed, one task has been and is being coordinated to be implemented, and two tasks have not been implemented.
At the conference, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour proposed to the Government, ministries, sectors, and localities 12 contents, which were discussed and answered by ministries and sectors. They included contents related to: Paying attention to the rights and interests of labourers and trade union activities when building guidelines, policies, and laws; inspecting, checking, and strictly handling enterprises that violate labour, trade union, social insurance, and occupational safety and health laws; proposing to reduce the normal working hours for labourers to less than 48 hours per week; policies to support preschool education; considering the titles of “Agency meeting the cultural standard”, “Enterprise meeting the cultural standard”, and “Unit meeting the cultural standard”; educating workers about cultural knowledge and vocational skills; allocating the budget for the development of medical examination and treatment facilities in places with a large number of labourers, etc.
The delegates also proposed that the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour coordinate to raise awareness and skills for trade union members, workers, and labourers in the digital environment; and apply digital technology in management, education, training, and exchange and interaction between management agencies and workers and labourers.
Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung speaks at the conference – Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac
Substantive, proactive, and effective coordination
Speaking at the conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasised the requirement to speak and act truthfully, without formality, and without being flamboyant; “say what you mean, and do what you say”, and there must be inspection and evaluation so that the coordination between the two sides becomes increasingly close and effective, contributing to bringing legitimate benefits to labourers.
Regarding the results of coordination between the Government and the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour in 2023 and the first months of 2024, the Prime Minister appreciated that the two sides actively and proactively coordinated to comprehensively and effectively implement the tasks according to the coordination regulations, both regular and sudden and urgent tasks.
The coordination contents were implemented closely, comprehensively, effectively, and practically, going into specific contents to solve housing problems for labourers, and building cultural, medical, educational, and sports institutions, as well as taking care of and improving labourers’ spiritual and physical life according to the Party’s guidelines and the State’s laws.
Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung speaks at the conference – Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac
The Vietnam General Confederation of Labour has promoted its role in participating in the building and implementing mechanisms, guidelines, and policies directly related to employment and wages; proactively grasping the situation of the implementation of regimes and policies related to the rights and interests of labourers.
It has also participated in building policies and laws, such as the Law on Housing, the Law on Social Insurance, the Law on Land, the Law on Employment, the Law on Vocational Education, and the Law on Occupational Safety and Health.
The Vietnam General Confederation of Labour has organised and launched emulation movements, proposed measures to promote the full potential of officials, public employees, and labourers; mobilised officials, trade union members, and labourers to be innovative and creative, promote initiatives and technical improvements, improve labour productivity, work efficiency, and develop agencies, units, and businesses.
Taking a specific example, the Prime Minister said that in 2023, there were more than 600,000 initiatives and solutions that brought a value of nearly VND30.8 trillion. The programme “1 million initiatives – striving to overcome difficulties, be creative, and determined to win against the COVID-19 pandemic” launched by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour in the 2022-2023 period attracted nearly 2.1 million initiatives, reaching more than 200% of the target. The Vinh Quang Viet Nam (Glorious Vietnam) programme continued to create a strong resonance in society.
Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son speaks at the conference – Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac
The emulation movement “Promoting the development of synchronous and modern infrastructure; practising thrift and fighting waste” was widely responded to, encouraging the working class and labouring people to be eager to join emulation movements and make achievements. Along with that, there was the emulation movement to deploy the 500 kV power line, the third route, from Quang Binh to Hung Yen.
The Government, ministries, sectors, and local governments have actively coordinated with the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour to build and perfect many projects and programmes to implement the tasks of the 13th National Party Congress and Resolution No. 02-NQ/TW of the Politburo; coordinate to implement solutions to prevent and resolve labour disputes and stoppages as directed in Directive No. 37-CT/TW of the Secretariat; and coordinate to successfully organise trade union congresses at all levels and the 13th National Congress of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour.
Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and Government agencies have closely coordinated with the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour to resolve or report to the Prime Minister for consideration and resolution of issues. Provincial-level trade unions have advised and proposed organising meetings between National Assembly deputies and voters before the National Assembly sessions, attracting the attention of public opinion and having positive impacts on policy building and implementation.
The Prime Minister emphasised that the coordination between the two sides was carried out under the leadership of the Party, directly and regularly by the Politburo and the Secretariat, headed by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, in compliance with the Party’s guidelines and the State’s policies and laws. The increasingly close, qualitative, substantive, proactive, and effective coordination between the Government and the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour has actively contributed to the country’s overall achievements in the past time and helped each agency perform its assigned functions, tasks, and powers.
The Prime Minister emphasises one central task, three concerns, and five promotions in the orientation of coordination in the coming time – Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac
On behalf of the Government, the Prime Minister warmly applauded, highly appreciated, and thanked the close and effective coordination of the Vietnam Trade Union, trade union members, and labourers nationwide in the past time, making an important contribution to the country’s overall achievements and helping each agency perform its assigned functions, tasks, and powers.
One central task, three concerns, and five promotions in coordination
According to the Prime Minister, 2024 is a breakthrough year to successfully achieve the socio-economic development goals for 2024 and the 2021-2025 period.
The Prime Minister affirmed that the Party and the State always pay attention to building a modern and large working class and a strong trade union, considering this a prerequisite for ensuring the success of the country’s renewal, industrialisation, modernisation, and international integration. The role, position, and mission of the Vietnam Trade Union are clearly defined in the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress and Resolution No. 02-NQ/TW, dated June 12, 2021, of the Politburo. Accordingly, it is necessary to build a comprehensive strong Vietnam Trade Union, capable of adapting and effectively dealing with issues arising in the new situation.
The orientation of coordination in the coming time basically agrees with the report of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour, the Office of the Government, and the speeches of delegates, and the Prime Minister emphasised some additional contents, including one central task, three concerns, and five promotions.
The central task is to further improve the quality and effectiveness of coordination between the two sides.
The three concerns include:
First,
pay more attention to listening and grasping the aspirations and wishes of the working class through surveys, dialogues, meetings with voters, etc.; and reflect them to the Party, the Government, and businesses in a timely manner to have measures to remove and resolve them.
Second,
pay attention to taking care of the material and spiritual life of labourers. Promote dialogue and collective bargaining, focusing on wages, bonuses, working hours, rest time, and occupational safety and health; take care of vulnerable subjects and those in difficult circumstances, in remote, border, and island areas. The Prime Minister emphasised that special attention should be paid to housing for labourers.
“Housing is one of the biggest issues of humans, ‘a stable home makes it easier to build a successful career’, and housing can be bought, rented, or rent-to-own,” said the Prime Minister, emphasising that there must be a breakthrough in housing for labourers in the coming time.
Third,
pay attention to protecting the legitimate rights and interests of labourers according to the Constitution, law, and the guidelines and policies of the Party. Strengthen inspection, examination, and supervision of the implementation of policies and laws related to the rights and interests of trade union members, labourers, and trade unions; promptly detect and propose strict handling of violations; and implement them incorrectly; and take advantage of policies to undermine.
The Prime Minister gives opinions on 12 proposals and recommendations of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour – Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac
Regarding the five promotions,
the Prime Minister clarified that,
first of all,
it is necessary to promote the research, development, and perfection of laws, mechanisms, and policies on labour and create favourable conditions for labourers and trade unions.
Accordingly, coordinate and advise the Politburo and the Secretariat to strengthen the leadership and direction of Party committees and authorities at all levels to research, study, and thoroughly implement the directives and resolutions of the Party on building the working class and the Vietnam Trade Union.
Advise the Party and the State to direct the review, supplement, and complete policies and laws on labour and trade unions, focusing on submitting to the National Assembly for amendment of the 2012 Trade Union Law (both protecting the interests of trade union members and promoting the healthy development of trade unions and contributing to national construction and defence)…
Proactively research, propose, and participate in building mechanisms, policies, and laws, especially social security and welfare policies for labourers…
The Prime Minister noted that ministries, sectors, and agencies must consult the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour and affected subjects on building mechanisms, policies, and laws related to trade unions and labourers. The spirit is that policies should be open; infrastructure is smooth; and management is intelligent.
Second,
