International organizations promote the role of Vietnamese Trade Unions

On July 28, the 11th Congress of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor was honored to welcome delegations of regional and international trade unions, bringing to the working class and the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor solidarity, friendship, and valuable support from the working class and the world trade union movement in the common struggle for peace, national independence, trade union rights and workers' interests, people's rights, democracy, and social progress.

International Trade Union delegates attending the Congress. (Photo: Trong Duc/VNA)

Representatives of international organizations highly appreciate the role of the Vietnam Trade Union in the cause of the working class worldwide.

Deputy Secretary General of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) Mahadevan Hariharan said: The World Federation of Trade Unions is the oldest trade union organization in the world today, gathering 84 million union members from 126 countries around the world. For the Asia-Pacific region, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor is an important member, considered a pillar of the WFTU in this region.

Vietnam Trade Unions have grown up from the struggles for national liberation and nation building. Since then, the Trade Union has experienced and understood all the difficulties of workers in Vietnam. In the activities of WFTU in the region, Vietnam Trade Unions have always taken the lead, ready to support WFTU programs. Vietnam Trade Unions are a model for the activities of trade union organizations in the region. WFTU hopes that Vietnam Trade Unions will support more in the activities of world trade unions.

Over the past five years, the position and role of the Vietnam Trade Union has also been greatly enhanced with successes such as: taking care of improving living and working conditions, protecting the interests of workers, rapidly developing union members in both quantity and quality, and diversifying in form. The Vietnam General Confederation of Labor has also participated in the process of building policies and laws, including important laws such as the Labor Code and the Trade Union Law. Over the past time, Vietnam has made a lot of progress and achieved important achievements.

Appreciating the role of the Vietnamese trade union organization, WFTU Deputy General Secretary Mahadevan Hariharan affirmed that he will continue to support the trade union activities in Vietnam that are being and will be implemented in the coming time.

Ms. Kathleen Koe, Head of External Relations and International Cooperation of the International Confederation of Trade Unions in Asia and the Pacific (ITUC-AP) expressed her emotion at being present in Hanoi to attend the 11th Congress of the Vietnam Trade Union.

Attending for the first time, she was really impressed by the professional organization of the Congress Organizing Committee. She said: The International General Confederation of Labor in the Asia-Pacific region is present in 56 countries in the region; the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor always actively and enthusiastically participates in activities launched by the International General Confederation of Labor in the Asia-Pacific region.

Appreciating the role of the Vietnam Trade Union in implementing the National Decent Work Program in Vietnam 2012-2016, Mr. Gyorgy Sziraczki, Director of the International Labor Organization (ILO) Office in Vietnam expressed: The role of the national trade union in the Decent Work Program is extremely important. Especially in strengthening the capacity of the grassroots to represent the legitimate rights and interests of workers in the workplace.

Currently, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor is taking a steady step towards this goal, improving the capacity of grassroots trade union organizations as well as enhancing the role of trade unions at all levels from the central to the grassroots level to perform the task of representing and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of workers. The sustainable employment program is a national program, with the direct participation of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor.

This programme has three main components: ensuring employment, improving social security and enhancing social dialogue. For Vietnam’s development, building harmonious relationships is very important. The Vietnam General Confederation of Labour plays a special role in this process. The ILO will continue to support Vietnam’s trade unions from the central to local levels in building their capacity.

Mr. Chiristopher Ng, Secretary of the Asia-Pacific International Trade Union Network (Uni-Apro) expressed pride that Uni-Apro is one of the first international trade union organizations to conduct cooperation programs with the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor for nearly 20 years.

Mr. Chiristopher Ng believes: With the important decisions made at the 11th Congress in protecting the legitimate and legal rights and interests of workers, the Vietnam Trade Union is making innovative steps to meet the changes in the process of international integration.

Mr. Christopher Ng hopes that the Vietnam Trade Union will not only be a strong domestic trade union but also a strong partner in the international trade union movement. Under the leadership of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, all levels of Vietnam Trade Unions will work with international trade union organizations to bring practical benefits to workers.

Mr. Chiristopher Ng added: Vietnam Postal Union is the first trade union in Vietnam to join Uni-Apro. Not only is it a member union of Uni-Apro, the Postal Union also participates in the leadership of Uni-Apro.

The current President of the Vietnam Postal Union is a member of the Regional Executive Committee of Uni-Apro. Mr. Christopher Ng affirmed that the Vietnam Trade Union not only has influence in making policies for the International Trade Union organization but also has many positive contributions to promoting social benefits in the globalization process./.

According to VNA - LT