National Assembly Delegate Ho Thi Minh discusses the draft revised Trade Union Law.

This morning, June 8, the National Assembly discussed in groups the draft Law on Trade Unions (amended). Speaking at the discussion session, delegate Ho Thi Minh, Deputy Head of the Ethnic Minorities Committee of Quang Tri province, agreed that amending the Law on Trade Unions is necessary because after many years of implementation, the current Law on Trade Unions has revealed a number of shortcomings and limitations in response to the requirements of the new situation, the scope of regulation is still narrow compared to the rapid and diverse development of the labor force and the requirement to improve the effectiveness of trade union activities.

Regarding the regulations on Vietnam Trade Unions, delegates suggested that the Drafting Committee consider and supplement the right to "social criticism" of the Trade Union Organization in this draft Law to comply with the provisions of Article 4, Decision No. 217/QD-TW dated December 12, 2013 of the Politburo on promulgating the Regulations on supervision and social criticism of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations.

Regarding the right to establish, join and operate trade unions, delegates agreed with option 1 and said that this option ensures the principle of voluntariness and democracy in trade union activities; it stipulates that the subjects admitted to Vietnam's trade unions are more extensive than option 2, including: "workers without labor relations" and "workers who are foreign citizens working in labor-using units in Vietnam".

According to the delegate, in reality there is a very large workforce of freelance workers, informal workers without labor contracts, without labor relations but have the need, desire and voluntarily join the trade union organization.

Along with the trend of international integration, the number of foreign workers working in Vietnam is increasing. They need to be cared for and protected like other workers. At the same time, they also need to participate in movement activities, culture, arts, physical education and sports organized by the union to improve their material and spiritual life, create solidarity, sharing and harmony...

Therefore, they should not be excluded from the common activities of the union, which will create inequality. If they have the need and desire, admitting them into the union will strengthen, expand the force to build a strong union.

National Assembly Delegate Ho Thi Minh discusses the draft revised Trade Union Law.

National Assembly Delegate Ho Thi Minh speaks at the discussion of the draft Trade Union Law (amended) - Photo: CN

Also through the trade union organization, the work of propagating and educating the law for foreign workers will be more convenient and practical.

Regarding the protection of the rights of union officials, delegates are concerned about the regulation that the executive board of the grassroots union is the subject of protecting the rights of non-professional union officials in cases where their labor contracts are unilaterally terminated, they are fired, forced to quit their jobs, or transferred to other jobs... because grassroots union officials are employees recruited, paid, assigned work by employers, and are dependent on them, so they often follow the opinions of their managers, making it difficult for them to openly express opposing views.

Therefore, the delegate proposed to remove the subject of the grassroots trade union executive committee and replace it with the subject of the superior trade union executive committee.

Therefore, the draft needs to be adjusted in the direction that issues related to personnel of the grassroots trade union executive committee need the agreement and opinion of the higher-level trade union. And this is an independent organization, not dependent on the employer, so their opinions will be more objective and comprehensive.

Regarding trade union finance, the delegate suggested that the drafting committee should consider and regulate that trade union funds of non-state organizations and enterprises should be voluntarily contributed. The delegate explained that: The regulation of the contribution level of 2% of the salary fund as the basis for social insurance contributions for employees of state agencies, organizations and enterprises is appropriate.

However, for non-state organizations and enterprises, voluntary contributions should be used. If mandatory, many organizations and enterprises either do not establish or do not create conditions for trade unions to operate at the enterprise; the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor has agreed to set a ceiling.

On the other hand, to ensure consistency with the provisions of Clause 1, Article 6 of this draft Law, it stipulates that the organization of employees at enterprises joins the Vietnam Trade Union on the principle of voluntariness.

Cam Nhung

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