Trade unions must become pioneers in promoting science and technology

On June 4, speaking to direct at the 14th Vietnam Trade Union Congress, General Secretary and President To Lam emphasized that the country needs a more modern, more courageous, and more creative working class (GCCN).

Lao Dong Newspaper reporter had an interview with Dr. Nguyen Hoang Bao Tran - Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology (Delegate of the 15th National Assembly) about the important points in the direction this time of General Secretary and President To Lam.

Madam, how do you assess the contents that General Secretary and President To Lam set out for the Vietnam Trade Union organization in the new period?

Dr. Nguyen Hoang Bao Tran: The speech of General Secretary and President To Lam at this Vietnam Trade Union Congress, in my opinion, is not only requirements for the Trade Union organization in a new term, but also strategic orientations for the future of the Trade Union organization in the new era of national development.

This is actually a question about the role, position and development model of the Trade Union organization in the context of a deeply changing working world under the impact of digital transformation, artificial intelligence, automation, green economy and international integration.

From a broader perspective, this is not only a story of innovation of the Trade Union organization, but also a story of preparing for the future of Vietnam's labor force in the digital age, the age of artificial intelligence and global competition.

In my opinion, the direction of trade union innovation in the coming time can be seen in many major aspects.

First, the Trade Union must shift from the main role of protection to the role of accompanying the development of workers.

For many years, the core task of the Trade Union has been to care for, represent and protect the legitimate and lawful rights and interests of employees. This function still retains its value but needs to be expanded in the new stage.

Today, workers not only need to be protected from risks of employment, income or working conditions, but also need support to develop capacity, improve qualifications, and adapt to the very rapid changes of the labor market.

A modern Trade Union organization should not only help workers overcome difficulties but also help them improve their competitiveness, have career development opportunities and improve their quality of life.

In other words, the Trade Union needs to shift from the mindset of "supporting when in difficulty" to the mindset of "accompanying for sustainable development".

Second, the Trade Union must become a pioneer force in building human resources for the digital economy and digital society.

The country is entering a stage of development based on science and technology, innovation and digital transformation. This is the most important driving force for growth in the coming decades.

In that context, the Trade Union needs to participate more deeply in building a learning society and promoting lifelong learning among workers and laborers.

If in the past, the Trade Union mobilized emulation for good labor, in the future, the Trade Union needs to strongly launch movements to learn digital skills, apply artificial intelligence, innovate and improve professional capacity.

One of the new missions of the Trade Union is to help workers not be left behind in the digital transformation and green transformation of the economy.

How do you assess the role of digital transformation in Trade Union activities in improving labor productivity? What digital solutions should be prioritized to both better serve workers and contribute to the goal of developing high-quality human resources for the country?

Dr. Nguyen Hoang Bao Tran: In my opinion, the Trade Union must strongly transform digitally to better serve employees.

I think this is a very important content in the message of the General Secretary and President when emphasizing that Trade Unions cannot be modern if they still mainly operate with paperwork, meetings and slogans.

Therefore, the Trade Union needs to build a digital ecosystem to serve union members and workers; form a unified union member database; develop digital platforms to receive petitions, legal advice, online training, welfare care and job connection.

The future of the Trade Union is not only in the headquarters or office but also must be present regularly in the digital space, where employees are living, studying and working every day.

Therefore, Trade Union levels thoroughly grasp the tasks, focusing on the goal of improving labor productivity and double-digit growth; innovation, practicing thrift, innovating working style, strongly applying science and technology, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence.

Thank you very much, Dr. Nguyen Hoang Bao Tran!

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