Through the Trade Union Law (amended): Better implementation of activities to care for workers

Supplementing the right of the Trade Union to supervise and provide social criticism

The Trade Union Law (amended) was passed with 6 chapters and 37 articles, an increase of 4 articles compared to the current law. The law takes effect from July 1, 2025.

The Trade Union Law (amended) continues to maintain the trade union fee contribution rate at 2%. Along with that, amend and supplement regulations to clarify the principles of management and use of trade union finances; amend and supplement expenditure tasks of trade union finances; supplement regulations on the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor to decentralize the collection and distribution of trade union funds; the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor to promulgate standards, norms, spending regimes and management and use of trade union finances after reaching agreement with the Government.

The law adds the right of trade unions to supervise and provide social criticism. The law stipulates that Vietnamese workers (workers) working without labor relations in Vietnam have the right to establish, join and operate trade unions; supplement the right to join and operate trade unions at grassroots trade unions (without the right to establish and not become trade union officials) of foreign workers working in Vietnam; supplement the right to join the Vietnam Trade Union of workers' organizations at enterprises...

In addition, the law adds cases of exemption, reduction, and suspension of trade union and government fund payment to regulate these cases after reaching an agreement with the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor; adds the responsibility of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor to periodically report to the National Assembly every 2 years on the situation of collection, expenditure, and management and use of trade union finance. At the same time, supplement the responsibility of the State Audit, every 2 years, conduct audits of the management and use of trade union finances and conduct surprise audits as required by the National Assembly and the National Assembly Standing Committee.

Presenting a summary report on the reception, explanation and revision of the draft Law on Trade Unions (amended), Ms. Nguyen Thuy Anh, Chairwoman of the National Assembly's Social Committee, said that the exemption, reduction and suspension of trade union funds have a direct impact on the balance of trade union finances, ensuring necessary resources for the entire trade union system, and distributing funds of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor.

Therefore, the National Assembly Standing Committee has directed the review and implementation of the consensus on the subjects exempted from, reduced, and suspended from paying trade union fees, and supplemented the regulation "The Government agrees with the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor" when regulating the exemption, reduction, and suspension of trade union fee payment.

Maintaining union funds to better care for employees

Speaking to Lao Dong Newspaper reporters right after the Trade Union Law (amended) was passed, delegate Nguyen Hoang Bao Tran (Binh Duong Delegation) affirmed that the Trade Union Law (amended) to maintain a 2% union fund is an important basis for trade union organizations to have resources to care for, represent and protect the legitimate and legal rights of union members and workers. This regulation is also consistent with Resolution 02-NQ/TW dated June 12, 2021 of the Politburo on innovation of the organization and operation of Vietnam Trade Union in the new situation, emphasizing: " Maintain existing resources; collect union funds and encourage the socialization of resources for trade unions to perform well their assigned tasks".

In addition, continuing to maintain the 2% union fee is a solid legal basis, favorable for the majority of enterprises to implement, especially foreign-invested enterprises, and meets the aspirations of union members and employees, creates social consensus, contributes to socio-economic development and effectively implements social security policies.

In addition, the regulation that trade unions have the right to proactively supervise helps trade unions not only perform their roles according to the requirements of employees or only when an incident occurs, but can also proactively inspect and detect potential problems in the process of implementing policies and laws related to employees at units and enterprises. Proactive supervision will promptly detect, identify and promptly resolve violations of employees' rights, such as: Unpaid wages, late payment of wages, improper payment of wages, unsafe working conditions or violations of labor contracts... This contributes to limiting labor disputes or prolonged conflicts.

This regulation also creates deterrence and promotes awareness and responsibility for compliance with the law of enterprises, including regulations on labor contracts, social insurance, labor safety, working hours and rest... creating fairness for all parties, combating discrimination and harassment, ensuring a safe working environment, in order to build harmonious, stable and progressive labor relations...

Also discussing this content on November 27, delegate Vo Manh Son - Chairman of the Thanh Hoa Provincial Federation of Labor - said that the passing of the Trade Union Law (amended) is a great joy for the trade union team nationwide, creating very good conditions for trade union activities. According to the delegate, the contents of the Trade Union Law (amended) have met the expectations of union members and employees.

Union officials are also very happy that the regulation on 2% union funds is maintained. This is a very important condition for trade unions at all levels to organize well activities to care for workers - the delegate shared.

The delegate added that the right to supervision is also an important content. Up to now, as a socio-political organization, the Trade Union has participated with other socio-political organizations to exercise supervision rights. When it is legalized like this, it is a favorable condition for the Trade Union to proactively organize supervision activities, especially supervision of current labor laws in enterprises - the delegate said.