 The 12th Congress of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor opens in Hanoi on September 24, 2018 |
Vietnam has more than 10 million trade union members who have been playing an increasingly important role in national industrialization and modernization and the 4th Industrial Revolution.
Challenges
The 4th Industrial Revolution has affected the production and lives of workers posing both opportunities and challenges. This has forced the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor to reform its activities and expand its role of caring for its members’ interests and protecting their rights. Bui Van Cuong, President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, said: “The Vietnam General Confederation of Labor will face many challenges during the 2018-2023 tenure because Vietnam has joined many new Free Trade Agreements. We will focus on realizing Party resolutions promoting trade union activities.”
Strengthening the working class
The Resolution of the 12th National Party Congress points out the need to focus more on training and fostering the working class, improving workers’ political stance, professionalism, work methods and discipline, accommodation, and social welfare. The resolution emphasizes the importance of revising policies on salary, and of social, health, and unemployment insurance to better protect workers’ rights and improve their lives.
The Vietnam General Confederation of Labor plans to increase communications and training for Vietnamese workers and strengthen their capacity in the context of national industrialization and modernization and international integration. The organization will also enhance the patriotic emulation movement to encourage Vietnamese workers to contribute to national construction and defence. Mr. Cuong said: "We will reform our activities to focus more on members’ interests and improving our role as their representatives. We will also strengthen our capacity and the capacity of trade union leaders, especially in the private sector.”
In the context of the 4th Industrial Revolution, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor aims to help workers fulfill their vanguard role and acquire new knowledge.