Ho Chi Minh City needs appropriate social housing policies to retain workers

Promoting the achieved results, overcoming limitations at the grassroots level

At the meeting, delegates focused on discussing and contributing opinions on the results of implementing the Congress Resolution for the 2023-2025 period, and at the same time proposing solutions and directions for the new term.

Mr. Huynh Van Tuan - Member of the Standing Committee of the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation (HCMC Labor Federation) - assessed that the City Labor Union has been proactive and creative in performing its function of representing, caring for, and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of workers, contributing to significantly reducing labor disputes compared to the previous term. He suggested that in the coming time, the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation should increase training, fostering skills, expertise and political courage for grassroots union cadres, especially in wards, communes, and special zones, new forces lacking practical experience.

Regarding the target of developing union members, Mr. Tuan said that the goal of increasing 2 million union members is a big challenge, requiring flexible solutions and models to attract workers in the informal sector. At the same time, he proposed that each year, 2%-3% of outstanding union members be admitted to the Party, in order to improve the quality of the team, affirming the role of the working class in Ho Chi Minh City.

Mr. Nguyen Trung Ngan - Member of the Standing Committee of the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation - suggested that the report clarify the content of negotiations and signing of collective labor agreements, emphasizing the provisions that bring practical benefits to workers. He also noted that occupational safety and hygiene work needs to be assessed more comprehensively, closely following the direction of the Secretariat on protecting and taking care of the health of union members.

Mr. Ngan said that some major indicators in the draft need to be reviewed and adjusted based on the actual operation and resource capacity of the trade union organization, ensuring feasibility and efficiency when implemented in the coming term.

Social housing, a foundation for retaining workers

Mr. Cu Phat Nghiep - Chairman of the Trade Union of PouYuen Vietnam Company - said that social housing policies need to be considered a top important factor to stabilize workers' lives and develop union members. According to him, the target of building 50,000 social housing units in the new term is necessary, but it is necessary to clearly identify beneficiaries and implementation methods to ensure efficiency.

"If we only build houses for rent, it will be difficult to attract workers, because there are many cheap rental houses. What workers need is a stable place to live, long-term attachment to the workplace, said Mr. Nghiep.

Mr. Nghiep proposed that Ho Chi Minh City should develop a model of selling social housing in installments instead of just renting, helping workers have stable housing, " settle down" and stay with the enterprise for a long time. Many localities such as Dong Nai and Long An have effective workers' housing policies. If Ho Chi Minh City does not have a breakthrough incentive, workers will consider leaving, Mr. Nghiep shared.

Speaking at the conference, Permanent Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation Vo Khac Thai acknowledged the contributions of delegates, affirming that the targets in the draft are specified from the resolutions of the City Party Committee and the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor. Mr. Thai said that although the target of developing union members is high, it is completely feasible if the entire union system is determined to innovate the method of operation.

"This is a vital issue for the trade union organization. If workers cannot be gathered, other organizations will do it instead, Mr. Thai emphasized.

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