Part 2: Genuine Listening, Effective Action
How can elected representatives truly listen to, understand, and promptly reflect the opinions and aspirations of their constituents? From specialized constituent outreach meetings to the two-level outreach model, the National Assembly and People's Council delegations at all levels in Nghe An province have been pioneering innovative ways of engaging with constituents, creating closeness, effectiveness, and building strong trust between representatives and the people.
Current Affairs and Politics Reporting TeamNovember 19, 2024
How can elected representatives truly listen to, understand, and promptly reflect the opinions and aspirations of their constituents? From specialized constituent outreach meetings to the two-level outreach model, the National Assembly and People's Council delegations at all levels in Nghe An province have been pioneering innovative ways of engaging with constituents, creating closeness, effectiveness, and building strong trust between representatives and the people.
On the afternoon of October 11, 2024, at the Sangwoo Vietnam Co., Ltd. meeting hall in the VSIP Nghe An Industrial Park, Mr. Thai Thanh Quy - Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Deputy Head of the Standing Committee of the Central Economic Committee (at that time the Secretary of the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee), and Head of the Nghe An Provincial National Assembly Delegation, along with other members of the Nghe An Provincial National Assembly Delegation, met with 200 voters who are workers, representing nearly 100,000 union members and workers throughout the province. The meeting was attended by Mr. Phan Van Anh, Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor.
Voters were thrilled to have the opportunity to interact with elected representatives for the first time and raised many macro-level issues regarding housing policies, wages, and worker insurance.
Mr. Vuong Dinh Tuan, a worker at Lushare-ICT Company, shared the aspirations of most workers: to have stable housing so they can work with peace of mind. "Currently, many workers have to rent accommodation, and their children have to be sent back to their hometowns," Mr. Tuan said, and suggested that National Assembly representatives consider reducing the interest rate on loans from the current 6.5% for the government's 120 trillion VND social housing credit package to make it more accessible. In addition, he and many other workers stated that information about social housing projects and the procedures for buying or renting is very limited, so they requested that information and awareness campaigns about social housing be conducted more effectively.
Sharing the concerns of workers, especially regarding housing, the Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Nghe An province affirmed: The province has "understood" this issue and will continue to focus more attention and direction on attracting investment in social housing projects; at the same time, it will take into account workers' feedback to the Government regarding the high interest rates on the 120,000 billion VND social housing loan package.
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Immediately after the meeting with constituents, to better understand the living conditions of workers, the Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Nghe An province and the Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor went directly to the workers' dormitory area in Nghi Kim commune, Vinh city to visit, encourage, and listen to the opinions of the worker constituents.
Through this voter outreach conference, the Head of the National Assembly Delegation of Nghe An province thanked the workers and laborers for their participation and heartfelt opinions. Following the success of this conference, the National Assembly Delegation of the province will continue to hold more similar conferences to listen more comprehensively to diverse aspirations and concerns; to better understand their work and living conditions; and to grasp more of the thoughts and desires of worker-voters.
Commenting on the first-ever thematic meeting with workers, Mr. Kha Van Tam, Chairman of the Nghe An Provincial Labor Union, shared: “Today’s meeting with voters is also an opportunity for National Assembly delegates to better understand the thoughts and aspirations of workers, providing a basis for compiling and reflecting them to the National Assembly and relevant agencies and organizations for research, development, amendment, supplementation, and improvement of policies and laws for workers, ensuring feasibility and practicality in order to care for and protect the legitimate rights and interests of union members and workers, build harmonious, stable, and progressive labor relations in enterprises, and contribute to promoting socio-economic development and effectively implementing social security activities.”
“Compared to other forms of voter outreach, thematic voter outreach is both welcomed by voters and helps representatives understand many practical issues, enabling them to contribute opinions in the National Assembly forum. This allows representatives to gather in-depth opinions on macro-level mechanisms and policies, as well as specific issues of concern to them. Furthermore, it provides an opportunity for voters to voice their opinions to relevant authorities, addressing their concerns and aspirations in specialized areas. This approach has also invited many voters with specialized expertise to participate and contribute their opinions,” shared Ms. Hoang Thi Thu Hien, Standing Vice President of the Nghe An Provincial Women's Union and National Assembly representative from Nghe An province. She added: “Thematic voter outreach is also flexibly integrated by the Provincial National Assembly Delegation into thematic oversight activities, consultations on lawmaking, and working sessions with the Provincial People's Committee and relevant departments and agencies.”
Targeted voter outreach has many similarities to thematic outreach. The Nghe An Provincial National Assembly Delegation flexibly selected specific target groups to listen closely to their thoughts, aspirations, and opinions related to each field. These voter groups included: officials, civil servants, and members of the armed forces; women's association members; education and health sector officials; youth union members; ethnic minorities; residents affected by hydropower and irrigation projects; and fishermen in coastal areas. Notably, the delegation also organized outreach sessions outside the province, such as in Dak Lak, where many Nghe An residents have migrated for economic development, in order to understand the situation and listen to the voices of their compatriots living far from home.
In addition, the Provincial National Assembly Delegation also organized several meetings with constituents, particularly those who are Party members, by combining these meetings with participation in Party branch activities. Specifically, the Provincial National Assembly Delegation and the Standing Committee of the Provincial Fatherland Front Committee organized meetings between National Assembly representatives and constituents, combined with participation in the National Unity Day celebrations in residential areas. This is a very meaningful form of constituent engagement, providing an opportunity for representatives to share the joy of national unity with their constituents, thereby strengthening the bond between elected representatives and voters.
Since the beginning of the term, the National Assembly delegation of Nghe An province has organized 9 thematic meetings with voters, including on: socio-economic development planning, linked with land use planning and compensation for land clearance; regulations of the draft amended Land Law related to land for ethnic minorities and agricultural and forestry land; the draft amended Cooperative Law; social insurance; thematic meetings with voters who are workers, laborers, officials, members, women; and officials, civil servants, and public employees…
Not only do National Assembly deputies from the province focus on engaging with constituents, but People's Council representatives at all levels in Nghe An also pay close attention to innovating the forms of constituent engagement through flexible methods, especially integrating constituent engagement at two levels, including: National Assembly deputies and provincial People's Council deputies; provincial and district People's Council deputies; and district and commune People's Council deputies.
Mr. Chu Duc Thai, Head of the Culture and Social Affairs Committee of the Nghe An Provincial People's Council, said: "As a member of the Provincial People's Council elected in Dien Chau district, I have had the opportunity to interact with constituents at both levels, along with representatives from the District People's Council. I find that this has facilitated the arrangement of suitable times and locations for local communities, reducing inconvenience. Furthermore, it helps to better categorize constituent opinions and forward them to the appropriate authorities, clarifying which opinions fall under the jurisdiction of the Central Government, the province, and the district. Interacting with constituents at multiple levels also serves as a channel for voters to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and responsibility of the representatives they elected."
In a mountainous border region like Que Phong district, with its predominantly hilly terrain, difficult transportation, and uneven levels of awareness and education among voters, Mr. Luu Van Hung, Vice Chairman of the People's Council of Que Phong district, Nghe An province, assessed: "Organizing voter outreach activities at multiple levels has facilitated local authorities by reducing the need for numerous meetings and minimizing travel for voters. In reality, at the grassroots level, voters often struggle to distinguish which level of authority is responsible for which issue, leading to multiple requests at various levels. Furthermore, voters gain access to more information, both national and provincial, or provincial and district, and district and commune levels."
In practice, two-level voter outreach is a truly effective form of engagement. Through voter outreach, elected representatives maintain contact with their constituents, contributing to strengthening the relationship between representatives and voters; at the same time, it helps representatives listen to, record, and address the concerns, thoughts, and suggestions of the people more effectively. Furthermore, through these voter outreach sessions, especially informal meetings, representatives gain a better understanding of the lives of the people in their constituencies, thereby fostering empathy for the thoughts and aspirations of their constituents.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Luong, a voter from Vinh City, said: “Participating in voter outreach meetings with both provincial and city People's Council representatives allowed me to express my thoughts and aspirations to both the provincial and city levels. This gave me a more comprehensive and holistic view of the implementation of policies and guidelines. Furthermore, many voter requests that were beyond the city's authority were acknowledged and addressed by provincial representatives; thus, the voter outreach meetings were more effective and of higher quality.”
Innovations in the methods of engaging with constituents by the National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels in Nghe An province are not only solutions to enhance the substance and effectiveness of oversight activities but also a strong bond connecting elected representatives and the people. From specialized conferences to deeply listen to the opinions of each group of constituents to flexible two-level contact methods, representatives not only acknowledge but also promote the resolution of urgent constituent requests in a practical and realistic manner.
Genuine listening and effective action have contributed to enhancing the people's trust in elected representatives, promoting policies that are increasingly aligned with the needs of daily life. These meetings go beyond simply listening; they also open opportunities for dialogue, empathy, and collaborative problem-solving to build a better future. This is clear evidence of the responsibility of elected representatives, affirming their role as a bridge between the people and legislative and governmental bodies.
This journey of innovation has affirmed Nghe An as one of the pioneering localities in building a close relationship between representatives and voters, creating momentum to promote socio-economic development and ensuring the rights and happiness of the people. A strong belief has been sown, spread, and become the driving force for representatives to continue contributing and accompanying voters on the path of national development.
