Why isn't it a "pillar of support" yet?

(Baonghean)In recent years, the rapid development of businesses in our province, especially non-state-owned enterprises, has contributed to creating jobs for many workers in the province. However, the relationship between labor and employers is very complex; workers' rights are not yet guaranteed. Establishing a trade union as a support system for workers is an urgent requirement for the workers...

Sewing production line for export garments at Nam Sung Vina Co., Ltd. (Dien Chau). Photo: Mai Hoa

In recent times, trade unions in some enterprises have performed this task quite well, a prime example being Hoang Mai Cement Joint Stock Company. The company currently has nearly 1,000 employees, all of whom are union members. Over the years, the company's Trade Union Executive Committee has actively participated with the Board of Directors in restructuring the organizational model, reorganizing the workforce, developing production, creating jobs, and improving the material and spiritual lives of the workers. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Hai, a cement packaging worker at the company, said: “Thanks to the attention of the trade union, in recent years, the average income of us workers has been higher each year, and salaries and benefits have been paid promptly. In addition, we are provided with full personal protective equipment, have health insurance, and receive organized trips, tours, and hardship allowances.”

In addition, some grassroots trade unions in enterprises have proposed many good ways to work with businesses to develop production and improve the income and living standards of workers. For example, the Trade Union of Quynh Luu Forestry Company Limited mobilized all employees to contribute to a fund to provide loans to disadvantaged households. To date, 19 workers have received loans totaling over 75 million VND, helping them overcome difficulties. Similarly, the Trade Union of Van Phan Seafood Joint Stock Company has encouraged its workers to share difficulties, mobilized capital from staff to build infrastructure, invest in additional equipment, and upgrade workshops. They have also launched many emulation movements in labor and production, promoting initiatives and technical improvements that benefit the enterprise. As a result, the Van Phan fish sauce brand is increasingly establishing its reputation and quality, creating stable jobs for nearly 100 workers…

Despite achieving some of the aforementioned results, the activities of grassroots trade unions in enterprises still have many limitations. Many grassroots trade union organizations in enterprises have not yet fully played their role in protecting the legitimate rights and interests of workers, thus the situation of business owners violating the rights and interests of workers still occurs. Specifically, many private enterprises have not seriously implemented the regime of paying health insurance, unemployment insurance, and social insurance for workers, and some enterprises even show signs of circumventing the law in signing labor contracts to avoid fulfilling their obligations to workers.

In 2013, many units still owed large amounts of social insurance contributions, such as the 24th Irrigation Construction Investment Joint Stock Company, Nghe An Shipbuilding Company, Nghe An Bridge and Road Company, and the 2nd Sea Dredging Company… As of the end of November 2013, the debt of units managed by the provincial Social Insurance agency was 82 billion VND, of which 65.2 billion VND was social insurance debt for 6 months or more; and 199.5 billion VND was health insurance debt. In addition, currently, no enterprises in industrial zones have built housing for their workers; the dormitories for workers in industrial zones do not meet living conditions. Some foreign-invested enterprises (FDI) lack minimum conditions to ensure the living conditions of their workers, such as canteens, toilets, and allowances…

This is also one of the causes of collective strikes. In 2013, four strikes occurred in the province at Prex Vinh Garment Company (Do Luong), BSE Electronics Company (Nam Cam Industrial Park), Hanosimex Garment Company (Nam Dan), and Khai Hoan Garment and Embroidery Company (Anh Son), including strikes with a large number of workers participating, such as at Prex Vinh Garment Company and BSE Electronics Company (approximately 1,000 workers).

According to Mr. Nguyen Chi Cong – Head of the Policy and Legal Affairs Department (Provincial Labor Union): “Through these strikes, one thing that is easily noticeable is that although 3/4 of the units with striking workers this year have labor unions, the role of these organizations is extremely weak, failing to act as a ‘bridge’ between businesses and workers. This is because grassroots union officials are still dependent on the economic and operational management of the businesses, making it difficult for them to stand up and protect the legitimate rights and interests of workers. Union officials have tried to analyze the situation, but the businesses don’t care. If they continue to speak up to protect workers, the risk of losing their jobs is very high.”

While the Trade Union Law clearly stipulates the staffing quota for full-time trade union officials in enterprises with 500 or more members, due to obstacles in the mechanism for allocating and managing trade union staff at various levels of authority, many grassroots trade unions in large enterprises have yet to be assigned full-time officials. Furthermore, according to the Trade Union Law, grassroots trade unions operate independently from the enterprise, possessing their own seal and bank account; however, in reality, very few units actually implement this, with the majority of grassroots trade union funds depending on the enterprise. Many enterprises do not seriously implement the 2% contribution of the total payroll for social insurance and health insurance to the trade union, making it difficult for grassroots trade unions to organize activities. Another limitation is the limited qualifications and capabilities of grassroots trade union officials; most hold multiple positions, lack legal knowledge, negotiation skills, and organizational skills, and personnel frequently change, resulting in insufficient time allocated to trade union activities.

Mr. Nguyen Tu Phuong – Vice Chairman of the Provincial Labor Union, stated: "To ensure that grassroots trade unions live up to their role as representative organizations fulfilling the function of caring for and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of workers, in the coming time, the Provincial Labor Union will strengthen propaganda activities to employers about the meaning and importance of trade union organizations for the stability and sustainable development of enterprises; strengthen guidance and supervision of grassroots trade unions to innovate the content and form of organization in a way that is close to the grassroots and suitable to the practical conditions of each unit; focus on training and fostering the capacity and skills of organizing movements, cultivating political acumen, and building a team of grassroots trade union officials who are knowledgeable, dynamic, creative, courageous, and dedicated to their work."

In addition to the above measures, the Provincial Labor Union should promptly research and propose to the competent authorities an increase in the number of full-time trade union officials in enterprises that meet the requirements of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor. Furthermore, in the long term, it is necessary to promote the development of Party organizations within enterprises to better lead the activities of mass organizations, including trade unions, while simultaneously building ideal goals for outstanding union members to strive for, creating motivation for officials and union members to focus on labor and production, cultivate qualities and ethics, and exemplary fulfill their assigned responsibilities.

Minh Quan