The Vietnam General Confederation of Labor selected the theme “Trade Unions accompany enterprises’ sustainable growth for the sake of workers’ lives” for this year’s Workers’ Month. The theme is in response to the Party resolution on strengthening the Vietnamese working class while boosting national industrialization and modernization.

2015 Workers’ Month aims at workers

As organizations to protect workers’ rights, trade unions have contributed to building a harmonious and stable relationship between workers and employers. Nguyen Van Ngang is Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor: “This year, Workers’ Month is organized in a different way and with more specific activities being implemented at the grassroots level. The Vietnam General Confederation of Labor has issued a number of guiding documents and measures to promote models that improve the role of trade unions and workers in society”.

The Vietnam General Confederation and Labor and trade unions at various levels have helped poor workers stabilize their lives. They have also launched emulation movements to help localities and sectors fulfill their tasks. Mr. Ngang again:“Trade Unions have paid special attention to disadvantaged workers, especially female workers, in industrial zones, who are facing difficulties in housing and accessing cultural and sports activities. Trade unions have worked with local authorities to help workers participate in culture and sport activities after work”.

Activities in response to 2015 Workers’ Month

Several activities have been implemented across cities and provinces in response to 2015 Workers’ Month to improve workers’ material and spiritual lives. Victims of labor accidents, occupational diseases, and workers who live in disadvantaged circumstances receive special attention from trade unions. The activities help enterprises develop a stable relationship with workers. As a result, the number of trade unions and trade union members in the non-state sector has increased. So has the quality of trade union activities. Tran Tuan Anh is President of the Confederation of Labor in Dak Lak province: “This year, we have organized several activities before, during and after workers’ month. We had organized dialogues between workers and employers and sports and cultural activities to improve workers’ spiritual lives”.

The Confederation of Labor in Hanoi inspected the implementation of regulations and policies for workers and labor contracts. It organized a meeting between municipal leaders and workers, and granted allowances for disadvantaged workers. Ms Nguyen Thi Huong works for the Yamaha Motor Vietnam Company: “This year, our company launched a number of movements, organized cultural and sports exchanges, and gave gifts to disadvantaged workers. These activities keep us with the company”.

In Da Nang city, there are more than 1,300 trade unions with nearly 130,000 members. The municipal Confederation of Labor held workshops on trade union activities and launched competitions between workers. Nguyen Duc Thanh is Vice President of the Da Nang Confederation of Labor: “We focus on strengthening trade union organizations and mobilizing laborers to participate in our organizations because our activities are for trade union members and workers”.

The Vietnam General Confederation of Labor attribute the sustainable growth of trade unions at the grassroots level to their achievements in ensuring workers’ rights, generating stable jobs for workers, and helping workers boost their incomes and improve their living conditions.