Together for the benefit of workers

JOIN HANDS TO OVERCOME THE PANDEMIC

Many opinions say that, with the severe impacts of the Covid-19 epidemic on people's lives, workers, and production and business situations, 2021 has become the year of support and the most mentioned subjects in these programs are workers. In order for the Government and State's attention to reach workers, it is indispensable to have coordinated programs between the Provincial Federation of Labor, Social Insurance and the Department of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs.

Workers complete procedures to receive support from the unemployment insurance fund. Photo: DT

Evaluatejoint programbetween the three sectors in 2021, Ms. Hoang Thi Thu Huong - Head of the Department of Legal Policy - Labor Relations, Provincial Federation of Labor shared: "In addition to having many support packages from the State and organizations deployed, 2021 is also the first year of implementing the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, organizing the election of National Assembly deputies and People's Councils at all levels, the first year of the Socio-Economic Development Plan for the period 2021 - 2025, has received the attention of leadership and direction of the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, Provincial People's Committee, effective coordination of departments, branches, sectors, unions from the province to the grassroots... Those factors create favorable conditions for the program of coordination between the Provincial Federation of Labor, Provincial Social Insurance, Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to achieve many results, contributing to promoting the completion of political tasks of the sectors and stabilizing social security, promoting the socio-economic development of the province".

Specifically, the highlight of the 2021 coordination program is the implementation of Resolution No. 68/NQ-CP and Resolution No. 116/NQ-CP to support employers and employees facing difficulties due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Immediately after the implementation instructions were issued, the joint sector of Social Insurance - Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs - Provincial Labor Federation has drastically, effectively and promptly implemented support policies, creating favorable conditions for employers and employees to enjoy support policies quickly and promptly.

Employees of MLB Yen Thanh Company Limited were encouraged by receiving much attention and support during the epidemic. Photo: DT

Recalling the difficult period of the enterprise in 2021, Ms. Nguyen Thi Yen - President of the Trade Union and Manager of MLB Yen Thanh Co., Ltd. said: “We were able to access the support package for enterprises and workers very early, through propaganda from the higher-level trade union, via zalo and facebook groups. Trade union officials at all levels also enthusiastically advised, calculated, and guided us through the related procedures to receive support. The support from the Unemployment Insurance Fund under Resolution No. 116/NQ-CP and Decision No. 28/2021/QD-TTg has truly lifted the spirit and provided economic support for workers in general and businesses in particular.”

Mr. Hoang Quang Phuc - Head of Social Insurance Collection Management Department of Nghe An province noted: "During the process of implementing support programs, the Provincial Labor Federation has supported the agency a lot in propaganda, dialogue, and policy dissemination, contributing to bringing this support to workers and businesses in the most accurate and timely manner".

Since Resolution 68/NQ-CP, 7,149 employers have had their contributions to the Occupational Accident and Disease Insurance Fund reduced, equivalent to 165,576 employees, with a reduction of more than VND 26.5 billion by January 20, 2022 (expected to decrease by more than VND 41.7 billion/12 months). Temporarily suspend contributions to the Pension and Death Fund for 17 employers, equivalent to 889 employees, with a total amount of suspended contributions of more than VND 5.7 billion.

From Resolution 116/NQ-CP, the provincial Social Insurance has reduced the unemployment insurance contribution for 7,567 units, equivalent to 180,765 employees with the amount of unemployment insurance contribution reduction being more than 32.5 billion VND (expected to reduce 7,645 units, equivalent to 188,626 employees with the estimated amount of unemployment insurance contribution reduction from October 2021 to September 2022 being approximately 101,347 million VND); resolved support for 199,950 employees participating in unemployment insurance and 20,203 people who have stopped participating with the total amount of support from the unemployment insurance fund being more than 545 billion VND...

The above amount can be measured in material value but it is difficult to measure them in spiritual value. With a lot of attention, responsibility and sharing, the 3 sectors have come together to form a “high mountain” to bring the Resolution to the workers, to be a support for the workers in the most difficult times.

BUILDING A HARMONIOUS WORKING ENVIRONMENT

Many coordination programs between the Social Insurance - Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs - Provincial Labor Federation are all aimed at building a harmonious working environment, ensuring benefits for workers. This is clearly demonstrated in the coordination of inspection and supervision of the implementation of the Labor Law, the Social Insurance Law and the settlement of complaints and denunciations of citizens, the development and registration of labor regulations and the signing of Collective Labor Agreements, coordination in reviewing and managing beneficiaries of unemployment benefits and resolving problems related to the regime for workers, labor safety and hygiene, implementing democratic regulations and preventing and resolving strikes.

Leaders of the three units signed a program to coordinate the implementation of social insurance and health insurance policies and laws for the period 2021-2025. Photo: DT

Specifically, the three sectors have coordinated to disseminate and guide the effective implementation of the Labor Code, the Social Insurance Law, the Labor Safety and Hygiene Law, the Trade Union Law, etc. and documents guiding the implementation to change the awareness and sense of law compliance of employees and employers in the province. The provincial Social Insurance Department coordinated with the provincial Labor Federation to organize conferences to disseminate and dialogue on social insurance and health insurance policies directly with businesses and employees in mountainous districts such as Thanh Chuong and Ky Son. The Trade Union's information page has focused on disseminating new information and policies on wages, social insurance and health insurance in a complete and timely manner.

In 2021, the three sectors coordinated to develop a plan for inter-sectoral inspection, supervision and monitoring of the implementation of the Labor Law and the Social Insurance Law at enterprises in Nghe An province and to resolve complaints and denunciations from citizens. Specifically, inter-sectoral inspection of compliance with the provisions of the Labor - Labor Safety - Social Insurance Law at 3 construction works in Vinh city, reviewing the situation of outstanding social insurance and unemployment insurance debts across the province, advising the People's Committee to direct the settlement of salary and social insurance debts of employees at Joint Stock Company 423, organizing work with 92 employers who owe large amounts of social insurance, unemployment insurance and health insurance, with long debt periods, coordinating in resolving complaints related to the regime and policies of employees in the area, investigating and resolving the regime for 28 fatal labor accidents, etc.

Coordination between the three sectors plays an important role in resolving the strike. In the photo, representatives of Nghe An Trade Union negotiate with leaders of VietGlory Company Limited. Photo: PV

Especially in the situationlabor relationsIn recent complicated times, the coordination of 3 sectors has helped resolve 6 strikes at 6 enterprises: Dong A One Member Co., Ltd., VINATEX Hoang Mai Garment Joint Stock Company, Viet Glory Dien Chau Co., Ltd., Nam Thuan Nghe An Joint Stock Company, Chau Au Plastic One Member Co., Ltd., Song Lam Cement Joint Stock Company. As a result, after the strike, basically the recommendations of the workers such as salary, allowances, working conditions, corporate culture... have been overcome.

“From the information provided by the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs and the provincial Social Insurance agency, we have more data to work with businesses, pointing out the rights, wrongs, shortcomings and limitations of businesses. This contributes to the success of dialogues and negotiations during strikes,” said Mr. Nguyen Chi Cong - Vice Chairman of the Provincial Federation of Labor.

Conference to evaluate the results of the 2021 coordination program and deploy tasks for 2022 between the Provincial Federation of Labor, Provincial Social Insurance, Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs. Photo: DT

Sharing his wishes for the coordination program in 2022, Mr. Hoang Quang Phuc - Head of the Social Insurance Collection Management Department of Nghe An province said: “In the past time, the coordination program between the three sectors has been effective, contributing to the implementation of each sector's specific tasks and together aiming for common targets. In 2022, we hope that the three sectors will work together to resolve the social insurance arrears - this is a difficult problem after the time affected by the pandemic. In addition, other coordination programs such as inter-sectoral inspection, dissemination and propagandalegal policy,Organizing dialogues… also needs to be specified with criteria to get the best results.”

Regarding labor relations, it is expected that in 2022, the Provincial Federation of Labor will coordinate with the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs and relevant agencies to advise on the development of the Project "Strengthening leadership and direction to build harmonious and stable labor relations; limiting illegal strikes in Nghe An province in the period of 2022 - 2030" and organize a dialogue conference between provincial leaders and workers; the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs will take the lead in coordinating and advising on the effective implementation of the Project "Vocational training, job creation for workers"; coordinate with the Southeast Economic Zone and localities to support businesses in recruiting workers to work in businesses in the province"...