Vietnam trade unions to reform towards worker-centered approach

The Vietnam General Confederation of Labor (VGCL) will work to enhance its capacity to protect rights of laborers and their social welfare interests and take a more active role in formulating policies for workers and balancing the employee-employer relationship from 2018 – 2023, VGCL President Bui Van Cuong told the press on the threshold of the 12th VGCL Congress, which will open on September 24. VGCL President Bui Van Cuong Talking about the VGCL’s performance over the last five years, Cuong said its biggest success was to hold annual dialogues between the Prime Minister and workers since 2016. To date, three dialogues have been held, during which workers had their opinions and proposals heard by the government leader, thus contributing to increasing trust and ties between the Party, State and the working class, he noted. The VGCL has carried out various programs to benefit its members. It has cooperated with nearly 1,160 groups, corporations and businesses to provide goods and services for workers at softer prices. It has also given free bus rides to disadvantaged workers across the country to help them reunite with their families during the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday in a program named “Tet Sum Vay” (Reunited Tet). The program, worth over VND 8.5 trillion (USD 364,600), has benefited more than 8 million workers so far, according to Cuong. From 2013 – 2018, the VGCL has spent over VND 500 billion on building or repairing houses for more than 20,000 impoverished employees, he added. As many… [Read full story]