Listening to workers' opinions
(Baonghean.vn) - The need to be listened to is one of the needs that union members, workers and laborers want to meet. From that listening, problems have the opportunity to be resolved, policies have the opportunity to be perfected and workers and laborers themselves can affirm their position.
“General picture” from recommendations
At the conferencevoter contactworkers and laborers recently held in Dien Chau district, the National Assembly delegation of Nghe An province recorded many opinions and recommendations from 130 workers and laborers. This is the second time the thematic voter contact conference between National Assembly deputies and workers and laborers in the province.
In her speech, worker Ta Thi Diem (WooinVina Co., Ltd.) said: “Currently, the economic situation is very difficult, workers have lost their jobs, reduced working hours, affecting their lives. I hope that the authorities will take measures to help us stabilize our lives. In addition, I request that all levels and sectors soon have policies to build social housing and kindergartens for workers' and laborers' children so that they can feel secure in production.”
Worker Tran Thi Thuy (MLB Yen Thanh Co., Ltd.) worried: “As far as I know, the draft revised Law on Social Insurance has 2 options for withdrawing social insurance at one time. However, we, the workers, do not want to withdraw social insurance at one time. Because of difficult circumstances, low salaries, not enough to live on, we are forced to withdraw to cover our immediate living expenses. I propose that the National Assembly study regulations on withdrawing social insurance at one time in accordance with the needs and wishes of workers.”
Also at this forum, Mr. Ho Duc Chuong (VietGlory Company Limited) frankly said: “Currently, some enterprises have a situation where employers do not fully comply with labor laws, violate the rights of employees, and do not listen to the thoughts and wishes of employees. This leads to labor conflicts, collective work stoppages, and illegal strikes. We request that competent authorities give strong direction to limit violations of labor laws by employers in enterprises.”
The above are 3 of 18 opinions and recommendations of union members and workers that were enthusiastically discussed at the event. From those opinions, we can visualize the overall picture of the lives of a large number of workers and laborers who are still facing difficulties. The needs for housing, cultural facilities, and kindergartens for workers' and laborers' children have not been met, some policies and regimes have not been guaranteed, and there are still problems in the implementation process. Many workers have lost their jobs and their income has decreased while market prices continue to increase, making the lives of workers and laborers difficult and arduous. On the other hand, the situation of social insurance, health insurance, and unemployment insurance arrears still occurs. The issue of employment, wages, working hours, and working conditions of workers in some units and enterprises has not been implemented in accordance with the provisions of the law.
In addition, the education level, professional expertise, and professional skills of workers and laborers have not met new requirements, and the implementation of democratic regulations in some places is not good, leading to collective work stoppages still occurring, affecting the production and business situation as well as the general development of the province. In the current context of attracting investment, this situation is becoming more and more inappropriate.
Sharing after this forum, Mr. Nguyen Manh Tuan - Vice ChairmanLabor FederationYen Thanh district said: “All 18 opinions raised are issues that are close and directly related to workers’ lives. This shows that, in recent times, despite the attention of Party committees, authorities, departments, branches, unions and businesses in the province, the lives of workers and laborers still have many shortcomings. Among them, there are shortcomings that have existed for many years but have not been thoroughly resolved.”
Small Forum - Big Meaning
Not only at the voter contact conference, during this year's Workers' Month, listening and sharing forums have been and are being strongly deployed by trade unions at all levels.
Also on this occasion, in Nam Dan district, the District Labor Federation coordinated with the District Social Insurance to organize a dialogue conference on social insurance, health insurance, unemployment insurance, labor laws, and occupational safety and hygiene for workers and employees at Haivina Kim Lien Company Limited. At this forum, workers and employees were informed and introduced to the main contents of insurance types, regulations on the responsibilities of employers and employees; policies and regimes for employees working at units and enterprises. More than 20 recognized opinions were presented at the conference, focusing on the following contents: Procedures and order of resolving early retirement; What benefits are enjoyed when paying health insurance for 5 consecutive years; In which cases are employees entitled to unemployment insurance; Maternity leave; State regulations on heavy and toxic work, one-time insurance withdrawal, policies and regimes for employees are stipulated in the Labor Law...
After participating in this forum, Ms. Pham Thi Thuy - a worker at Haivina Kim Lien Company Limited said: "The dialogue took place in a very exciting and effective atmosphere. We, the workers, felt happy when representatives of the District Labor Federation and the District Social Insurance answered specific, clear and correct questions in accordance with the newly issued law. I have accumulated a lot of useful knowledge."
In Tan Ky district, a similar forum also directly addressed the difficulties and problems of workers and promptly supplemented knowledge about policies, raising awareness of law compliance of employers and workers. To prepare for the dialogue conference, the organizing committee reviewed and compiled opinions and recommendations related to the regime and policies that workers were interested in. In addition to the opinions that were compiled and answered before, the conference recorded 25 more opinions from union members and workers, which shows that the need to share and access information of workers and laborers is very high.
As someone who regularly conducts dialogue programs and provides direct legal advice to union members and workers, Ms. Hoang Thi Thu Huong - President of the Southeast Economic Zone Trade Union shared: “One of the biggest difficulties in organizing forums for workers is time. During the working days of the week, it is very difficult for workers to leave the factory and participate in dialogues organized by the grassroots trade union, and it is also very difficult for the enterprise itself to support. However, once organized, this is a valuable opportunity to get closer to the workers, listen directly to their thoughts and aspirations, and understand more about their lives…”.
With more than 13,000 operating businesses, 230,000workersNghe An workers need more forums to speak, to be listened to, to share and to be supported./.