Focus on core issues of trade union activities

The conference to collect comments from former leaders of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, former Chairmen, Vice Chairmen, members of the Standing Committee, members of the Executive Committee, heads and deputy heads of specialized committees of the Ho Chi Minh City Confederation of Labor at different periods, for the draft documents of the 1st Ho Chi Minh City Trade Union Congress, term 2025 - 2030 and the Draft amending and supplementing the Charter of the Vietnam Trade Union, was organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Confederation of Labor on November 12.

Strengthening training to meet trade union activities in the new context

At the conference, Mr. Bui Thanh Nhan - Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation - reported a number of situations on the organization and operation of the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Union since the merger (July 1, 2025) to date.

Many opinions at the conference commented that the current activities of the Trade Union are facing many difficulties, especially the Trade Unions of wards, communes, and special zones.

Mr. Nguyen Chi Dang - Head of the Trade Union Communications Committee of Binh Tan District (formerly) - commented that many union officials of new wards, communes and special zones have never participated in union activities before, so they lack practical experience. Therefore, the Ho Chi Minh City Trade Union needs to increase training and improve the qualifications of union cadres in wards, communes and special zones to meet the requirements and tasks in the new situation.

Agreeing with this view, Mr. Nguyen Viet Cuong - former Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation - said that the draft political report of the 1st Ho Chi Minh City Trade Union Congress, term 2025 - 2030 needs to clearly and effectively assess the difficulties of current trade union activities, especially trade unions in wards, communes, and special zones, when implementing the two-level government model, thereby finding a suitable and effective way to operate trade unions.

Mr. Cuong said that it is necessary to increase propaganda about legal consultation activities for union members and employees, thereby helping union members and employees understand the correct law to implement and protect themselves, at the same time, the union organization needs to strengthen the work of protecting union members and employees in court.

Trade unions must resolve new problems arising in life well

Ms. Hoang Thi Khanh - former Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, former President of the Ho Chi Minh City Confederation of Labor - suggested that trade union organizations should proactively research and forecast new situations, thereby responding and making timely and appropriate recommendations to competent authorities to ensure the stability, sustainability and development of trade union organizations.

Ms. Khanh suggested that trade union organizations should proactively train cadres so as not to be disappointed when there are changes. Ms. Khanh gave an example, there were many union officials in districts and towns before but when the apparatus was reorganized, they were assigned to do other work, while up to 80% of union officials in wards, communes and special zones had never been active in the union, which affected the quality of union activities.

Ms. Khanh said that union officials need to know the law, understand the law, study laws and policies to protect the legitimate rights of union members and workers and make appropriate recommendations because union activities must resolve new issues arising in life well, thereby attracting and gathering union members and workers.

According to Ms. Khanh, in the coming time, the Ho Chi Minh City Trade Union needs to focus, choose the most difficult stage, without needing to spread, to focus resources and human resources to create a breakthrough to make clear and positive changes in trade union activities.

Mr. Le Van Hoang - former Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation - said that it is necessary to focus on building collective labor agreements because this is a legal condition to harmonize the rights of employees and enterprises. Mr. Hoang also suggested that it is necessary to innovate propaganda and education activities in the union, and it is necessary to divide them into two clear areas, propaganda and education for union officials, other than propaganda for union members and employees.

In particular, Mr. Hoang said that the trade union organization needs to propose a mechanism to build trade union enterprises to contribute to boosting the trade union economy, creating a source of funding to care for union members and workers as the experience of many other countries.

Mr. Tran Doan Trung - former Permanent Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation - suggested that the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Union should promote the application of digital transformation in union member management and union activities.

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