Mr. Ngo Duy Hieu, Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, said that currently, the payroll for local trade union organizations is provided in the general payroll package of the Party, the Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations.

In the context of international integration and the development of enterprises, workers, and union members, the tasks of the union are increasingly heavy but the payroll is very small.

By March 2024, the total number of local union positions will be 5,119, a number that is lacking compared to actual needs.

Mr. Hieu said that many grassroots unions now have to accept that business owners recruit union officials themselves because they do not have full-time officials. These officials are paid by the employers, so it is difficult for them to have an independent, strong voice.

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Union officials need to have an independent voice to protect the legitimate rights of workers. Illustration photo: Le Anh Dung.

Faced with this reality, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor proposed that enterprises with 1,000 or more employees should arrange full-time union officials paid by the union.

This specialized union officer will work under a labor contract to facilitate the handling of personnel and salary issues, in accordance with the general level of the enterprise.

Many opinions on amending the Trade Union Law agree with this provision, saying that it is necessary for the General Confederation of Labor to decide on the number of full-time trade union officials working under labor contracts in the context of continuous development of union members and trade union bases.

Play a good role in protecting workers' rights

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Khang, President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, said that the revised Trade Union Law is a difficult law, ensuring both the role of the trade union as a socio-political organization and its role as a representative and protection of workers.

The Vietnam General Confederation of Labor has coordinated with relevant agencies to receive and complete the draft Law and report to the National Assembly Standing Committee. It is expected that the draft Law will be reported to the National Assembly on October 24 and approved on November 26.

The draft revised Trade Union Law is expected to meet new requirements, ensure workers' rights, and help Vietnamese Trade Unions develop in an international competitive environment when organizations representing workers outside the Vietnamese Trade Union system are gradually emerging.