Difficulties, challenges and possibilities of Vietnam's accession to Convention 87

In the context of increasingly deep international economic integration, joining Convention No. 87 on freedom of association of the International Labor Organization (ILO) has become an urgent requirement for Vietnam.

In the context of increasingly deep international economic integration, joining Convention No. 87 on freedom of association of the International Labor Organization (ILO) has become an urgent requirement for Vietnam. (Source: ILO)

This convention not only aims to meet international labor standards but also demonstrates Vietnam's strong commitment to protecting workers' rights. Currently, Vietnam has ratified 7/8 fundamental conventions of the ILO, and Convention No. 87 is the last remaining convention.

Convention 87 clearly provides for the freedom of association and union membership for workers, allowing them to freely decide on their own organization without interference from the government. This is very important in protecting the legitimate rights of workers and creating a fairer working environment. However, Vietnam needs to carefully consider the country’s specific political and social factors before proceeding with its accession.

The process of internalizing Convention No. 87 can be carried out in two main ways: one is to directly apply the provisions of the convention into the national legal system, and the other is to record and adjust the provisions in current legal documents. Accession to the Convention will require amending a number of articles in the Labor Code and the Trade Union Law to ensure compatibility with international regulations.

While ratification of Convention 87 brings many benefits, including expanding markets and strengthening protection of workers' rights, it also poses many challenges to the current trade union system.

The current trade union system in Vietnam is closely linked to the leadership of the Party and allowing the emergence of many new workers' representative organizations can lead to disruptions in labor relations. If not well managed and coordinated, competition between organizations can cause instability in the labor environment.

The formation of independent trade unions could lead to "union pluralism," which would divide the ranks of workers and weaken the role of formal trade unions. This could threaten the country's political stability and social security.

History has shown that uncontrolled workers' movements can lead to serious consequences, as happened in some Eastern European countries.

In addition, in the face of plots to exploit workers' representative organizations to sabotage the Party and the State, it is necessary to strengthen propaganda and education for workers about the purpose and significance of participating in official trade unions. It is necessary to help them clearly understand the risks of participating in organizations of unknown origin, as well as be vigilant against invitations from reactionary forces.

In preparation for the process of joining Convention No. 87, Vietnam needs to develop a specific and detailed roadmap. This roadmap not only includes assessing the impact of accession on labor relations and trade union organizations, but also considers the effects on the country's political stability.

In addition, amending and supplementing legal regulations is very important to facilitate the establishment of organizations representing workers in accordance with the requirements of the Convention.

In addition, strengthening and developing the current trade union system is also an indispensable factor. Trade union organizations need to be strengthened to attract workers to participate, while playing an important role in protecting their rights. If well organized, the Vietnamese trade union system can still dominate in representing workers, even when new organizations appear.

In the context of globalization, the recognition and application of international labor standards is an irreversible trend. Vietnam needs to clearly define specific goals and roadmaps to effectively implement the accession to Convention No. 87, while still ensuring domestic political and economic stability.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/nhung-kho-khan-thach-thuc-va-kha-nang-gia-nhap-cua-viet-nam-doi-voi-cong-uoc-87-292784.html