Solutions for developing union membership and establishing grassroots trade unions.

Determined to exceed targets

Following the implementation of the Labor Code, which allows businesses to establish organizations representing workers, and the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (CPTPP), the Vietnam Trade Union will no longer be the sole organization representing workers. In light of this reality,Vietnam Trade UnionIt is understood that attracting union members, developing membership, and establishing grassroots trade unions inevitably involve competition and will face difficulties.

Trade union officials from the Southeast Economic Zone survey and assess the situation at businesses. Photo: Provided by the organization.

According to statistics, various types of businesses in Nghe An are developing rapidly. Many businesses in the textile, footwear, and electronics industries are investing in districts and industrial zones, creating a large demand for workers. In addition, non-state enterprises operating in the province are also growing rapidly in number, but are mainly small and medium-sized enterprises with a relatively small workforce. Many are family-owned businesses employing seasonal workers, and the majority of workers are young, come from rural areas, lack industrial work habits, and have limited knowledge of labor laws. Labor relations in this sector are still unstable in many aspects and prone to conflict.

Furthermore, some businesses have revealed many shortcomings in their labor policies, such as: failing to establish salary scales or having unreasonable ones; a relatively high percentage of employees not covered by social insurance; and many businesses violating working hours, rest periods, and working conditions. These are the main reasons for strained labor relations in some businesses, leading to labor disputes, work stoppages, and strikes, affecting the province's economic and social development environment and causing social disorder and insecurity.

The Education Sector Trade Union is one of two units that successfully carried out the task of establishing grassroots trade unions during Workers' Month in 2022. Photo: Provided by the unit.

Given the current situation with many unresolved issues, the development of the "Plan for the Development of Union Membership and Establishment of Grassroots Trade Unions in Enterprises for the period 2022-2025 and a vision to 2030" is absolutely necessary.

Assessing the situation in the coming period, Comrade Kha Van Tam - ChairmanLabor UnionThe province emphasized: “According to statistics, many businesses have yet to establish trade unions. In the coming time, with the province's investment promotion efforts, many new businesses with a large workforce will be granted licenses and begin operations. The Nghe An Trade Union needs to take full advantage of this golden opportunity to develop union membership and establish grassroots trade unions to ensure market dominance before other organizations representing workers are established. To achieve this, trade unions at all levels need to reorganize and strengthen activities directed towards the grassroots level in a way that is practical and based on real needs. Trade unions at all levels should coordinate with their counterparts in the professional field to develop strategies and specific measures to resolutely exceed the targets set in the project.”

Implement multiple solutions simultaneously.

To realize the set targets, the project "Developing union membership and establishing grassroots trade unions in enterprises in the period 2022 - 2025 and vision to 2030" has proposed many comprehensive solutions.

The Southeast Economic Zone Trade Union established a grassroots trade union during Workers' Month 2022. Photo: Provided by the Trade Union.

Accordingly, it is necessary to focus the leadership and guidance of the Provincial Federation of Labor's Executive Committee and Standing Committee, as well as trade unions at all levels, while also leveraging the leadership of Party committees at all levels and the coordination of specialized agencies and departments at all levels. Specifically, it is necessary to promote the role and responsibility of the Steering Committee for membership development and establishment of grassroots trade unions, members of the Provincial Federation of Labor's Standing Committee, and especially the responsibility of the Chairpersons of district-level Federations of Labor and industry-specific trade unions in the work of membership development and establishment of grassroots trade unions.

The district-level Labor Federation needs to coordinate with the government to advise on the establishment of a District-level Steering Committee for Union Membership Development, chaired by a leader of the District People's Committee. The industry-level Steering Committee for Union Membership Development should be chaired by a leader of the Department and include representatives from various departments at the Department level. In addition, a team of collaborators should be established, comprising individuals with positions and prestige at the district, commune, ward, and town levels, union officials in enterprises with a large workforce, dedicated retired union officials, and public opinion collaborators to assist in propaganda, mobilization for union membership development, and the establishment of grassroots unions. District-level union officials also need to...strengthen relationshipsWorking with the Provincial People's Committee and relevant departments and units to coordinate the direction and management of businesses and labor in the area.

Trade union levels need to innovate their methods of propaganda, mobilization, and persuasion to encourage workers to join the union. To achieve this, trade union officials need to clearly understand the situation and employment needs of businesses in the province, establish "core worker" groups in businesses and in residential areas to serve as a nucleus for identifying and mobilizing workers to join the union, and leverage the advantages of information technology platforms to support propaganda. For some businesses currently facing difficulties in mobilizing their directors, various other mobilization methods should be implemented.

To attract workers, the quality of trade union officials is a decisive factor. Therefore, it is necessary to focus on training and improving the skills of trade union officials involved in membership development. Accordingly, research should be conducted to propose that enterprises cooperate in assigning full-time trade union officials to enterprises with at least 1,000 union members whose salaries are subject to social insurance contributions. In addition, personnel management, the structure of the grassroots trade union executive committee in enterprises, and training and professional development programs also need to be addressed and improved.

By joining a trade union, workers are protected in terms of their legitimate rights and interests. Photo: Provided by the organization.

The plan also outlined solutions to innovate the content and improve the quality of trade union activities in enterprises, creating motivation.attracting workersJoining trade union organizations; Strengthening inspection and supervision work, focusing on preliminary and final reviews and awards; Linking the development of union membership and the establishment of grassroots trade unions with building strong grassroots trade unions and improving the quality of grassroots trade unions; Utilizing financial resources effectively, initially creating a distinction between union members and non-unionized workers, while resolutely protecting workers when their legitimate rights are violated.

Policy mechanisms for membership development will prioritize increasing financial support, building professional staff in membership development, and summarizing and replicating exemplary models. Accordingly, in the period 2022-2030, the Nghe An Trade Union will issue specific support mechanisms for membership development in 5 key areas of the province, including: the Southeast Economic Zone, Vinh City, Dien Chau, Yen Thanh, and Nghi Loc districts, with a main focus on...Southeast Economic Zone.