Opening Ceremony of the 11th Congress of the Vietnam Trade Union

On the morning of July 28th, the 11th Congress of the Vietnam Trade Union officially opened in Hanoi.

The Congress was honored to welcome: General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong; former General Secretaries Le Kha Phieu and Nong Duc Manh; President Truong Tan Sang; former President Tran Duc Luong; Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung; Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Sinh Hung; Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Huynh Dam, along with other leaders and former leaders of the Party and State.

900 delegates representing nearly 8 million trade union members nationwide attended the Congress.

Opening ceremony of the 11th Congress of the Vietnam Trade Union. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Over the past five years, amidst numerous difficulties and challenges facing our country due to the impact of the global financial crisis and economic recession, workers have also been significantly affected, particularly in terms of employment, wages, income, housing, and living conditions. However, with a dynamic and creative spirit, the trade union members and workers have continued to grow in both quantity and quality; trusting and supporting the Party's leadership and the State's policies and laws, they are determined to overcome difficulties in labor, production, and life, contributing to the fulfillment of the country's socio-economic development tasks as set forth in the resolutions of the Party, the National Assembly, and the Government.

Over the past five years, the Trade Union organization, in its role and functions, has undergone many innovations in content and methods of operation, achieving many results and accomplishments, and fulfilling the main tasks and targets set by the 10th National Congress of the Vietnam Trade Union. Most notably, trade unions at all levels have proactively gathered opinions from a large number of union members and workers to participate in the development and improvement of hundreds of legal documents, policies, and regulations directly related to workers, especially in researching and drafting the 2012 Trade Union Law, participating in the drafting of the 2012 Labor Code, and many specific policies and regulations on employment, wages, housing, social insurance, health insurance, unemployment insurance, etc.

Trade unions also clearly demonstrate their role in accompanying businesses in overcoming difficulties in production and business, taking care of the lives of union members and workers, representing and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of union members and workers, and building harmonious, stable, and progressive labor relations within enterprises.

The patriotic emulation movements organized by the Trade Union have made a significant contribution to the results of fulfilling the political tasks of the industry, locality, and grassroots level. A prime example is the collaborative emulation movement on key construction projects, such as the Dung Quat Oil Refinery, the Son La and Lai Chau Hydropower Plants, and the Ca Mau Gas-Electricity-Fertilizer Complex, which have benefited the country by thousands of billions of dong.

In addition, social activities, acts of gratitude and reciprocity, and assistance to workers in overcoming difficulties are regularly and extensively implemented within trade unions at all levels and among all cadres, workers, and employees, with diverse and rich content.

Trade unions are also a core force, leading in social and humanitarian campaigns through the establishment of funds such as: "Golden Heart Charity Fund", "For the Poor", "Gratitude and Repayment", "Poverty Eradication", "Trade Union Shelter"..., contributing to ensuring social security.

In his opening remarks at the Congress, President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, Dang Ngoc Tung, emphasized that the 11th Congress of the Vietnam Trade Union is a congress that demonstrates the determination of all trade union officials, members, workers, and employees, along with the entire Party, people, and army, to strive to lift our country out of underdevelopment and rise to become a modern industrialized nation.

With a sense of responsibility towards the working class and the trade union organization, at this Congress, delegates will continue to contribute more ideas and further clarify issues in order to achieve high consensus on the main contents of the Congress documents.

According to Chinhphu.vn – LT