Social housing and the rights of union members

Mr. Le Dinh Quang - Deputy Head of the Department of Legal Policy and Labor Relations (Vietnam General Confederation of Labor) - said that Chapter II is one of the most important chapters of the 2024 Trade Union Law, specifically regulating the rights and responsibilities for each field of activity of the Trade Union on the basis of the functions of the Vietnam Trade Union. On the basis of inheriting the provisions of the 2012 Trade Union Law and adding a number of rights and responsibilities, the 2024 Trade Union Law has more specifically stipulated 10 groups of rights and responsibilities of Trade Unions. At the same time, it stipulates more specifically the rights and responsibilities of union members.

The rights and responsibilities of union members in the 2024 Trade Union Law (Articles 21 and 22) are basically inherited from the 2012 Trade Union Law, with amendments and supplements to ensure that the rights and responsibilities of union members are clearly, specifically, synchronously and consistently regulated.

Regarding the rights of union members, Article 21 has 12 clauses (an increase of 5 clauses compared to the Trade Union Law 2012) specifically stipulating the rights and groups of rights of union members. The increase in this item is due to separating some rights of union members that have been stipulated by the 2012 Trade Union Law (but merging them into one item) and adding the following additional rights: To enjoy the social housing rental policy of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor; to be commended and rewarded for achievements in labor, production and trade union activities; other rights according to relevant laws and the Charter of the Vietnam Trade Union.

In addition, Clause 2, Article 31 of the 2024 Trade Union Law stipulates that one of the tasks for which trade union finances are used is: Investing in building social housing for union members and workers to rent; related cultural, sports and technical infrastructure works to serve union members and workers according to the provisions of law.

This is the task for which trade union finances are used, supplemented in the Trade Union Law (amended) compared to the Trade Union Law 2012.

Clause 1, Article 29 of the Trade Union Law (amended) stipulates that the source of trade union finances includes: Union fees paid by union members according to the provisions of the Vietnam Trade Union Charter; trade union funds paid by agencies, organizations, units, enterprises, cooperatives, and cooperative unions equal to 2% of the salary fund used as the basis for compulsory social insurance contributions for employees; State budget support; other revenue from cultural, sports activities, and economic activities of the Trade Union; from projects assigned by the State; from legal aid and funding from domestic and foreign organizations and individuals according to the provisions of law.

The Government shall prescribe the method, duration and source of trade union fee payment; cases of failure to pay or late payment of trade union fee; the content of state budget support provided as prescribed in Point c, Clause 1 of this Article.