Vice President of Vietnam General Confederation of Labor Ngo Duy Hieu:

On the occasion of this important event, Hanoi Moi Newspaper had an interview with Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor Ngo Duy Hieu about the main contents and activities implemented by the Trade Unions at all levels.

Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor Ngo Duy Hieu. Photo: Hai Nguyen

Encourage workers to actively study and improve their qualifications

- Dear comrade, the theme of this year's Workers' Month is "Vietnamese Workers Pioneer Entering a New Era". Could you please tell us the meaning of this theme?

- Recently, our Party, headed by General Secretary To Lam, has determined that with the position and strength accumulated after nearly 40 years of renovation, our country will officially enter a new era of development - the era of the Vietnamese people's rise. The goal of this era is to develop our country strongly, with high speed and quality, sustainably, inclusively, successfully building socialism with a rich people, strong country, democratic, fair, civilized society; the people have a prosperous, free, and happy life; stand shoulder to shoulder with the world's great powers; firmly protect the socialist Fatherland of Vietnam, actively contribute to peace, stability, and sustainable development of the world, and have increasingly high prestige and international position.

Thoroughly implementing the Party's policy, promoting the historical mission of the working class - Workers' Month 2025 takes the theme "Vietnamese workers take the lead in entering a new era" to continue affirming the role and position of the working class in the cause of building and defending the Fatherland; representing the most advanced production force, being the pioneer force in the cause of national innovation, industrialization, modernization and international integration. With this theme, we continue to encourage workers to actively study, improve their qualifications and skills, change careers, approach modern labor trends, adapt to the context of international integration and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and prepare for a new stage of development of the country.

- Dear comrade, what is special about Workers' Month 2025?

- Since 2012, Workers' Month has become an annual activity of the Trade Union organization and has shaped many typical activities with the goal of being a peak month for union members and workers to best enjoy activities to care for and ensure their material and spiritual benefits. Through organizing Workers' Month, it has contributed to raising awareness and responsibility of the whole society in caring for and protecting the legitimate and legal rights and interests, improving the lives and working conditions of workers. At the same time, it promotes efforts to study, innovate and continuously improve workers' professional skills. Each year, Workers' Month has a theme that closely follows the Party's policies and the country's socio-economic development orientation. Workers' Month in 2025 focuses on implementing and concretizing the theme "Vietnamese workers take the lead in entering a new era".

Along with traditional activities that have been and are being effective, the new highlight of Workers' Month 2025 is that trade unions at all levels will organize the program "Creative workers, confidently entering the new era" with many activities to promote the intelligence and enthusiasm of workers, the highlight of which is "Creative Labor Festival" and the Forum "Party with workers - Workers with the Party".

- The Vietnam General Confederation of Labor aims to have over 55% of grassroots trade unions in all types of enterprises organize at least one activity in response to Workers' Month, and over 35% of grassroots trade unions in the administrative and public service sectors carry out activities in accordance with reality. Up to this point, how is the progress of implementing Workers' Month 2025, sir?

- Up to now, 100% of provincial and municipal Labor Federations and central trade unions have developed plans and organized activities for Workers' Month 2025, the Month of Action on Occupational Safety and Hygiene, and guided subordinate trade unions in implementing them. In particular, many places have selected subordinate trade unions to direct activities; grasp the thoughts and aspirations, focus on resolving and recommending competent authorities to resolve legitimate and reasonable proposals of union members, workers and civil servants. Since mid-April, many grassroots trade unions have organized care activities and launching ceremonies.

Implementing Workers' Month 2025, many good models and creative ways of doing things have been promoted. The Hanoi City Labor Federation will organize a conference to meet and dialogue between the Chairman of the City People's Committee and workers; launch worker cultural activity spots, trade union activity spots, union relaxation corners...

Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation launched the program "Millions of gifts - Thank you to workers" to honor 50,000 union members who have made efforts to overcome difficulties and are outstanding in labor production and union activities; organized a recuperation vacation for 5,000 workers and laborers in 2025...

The Hai Phong City Labor Federation aims to have at least 100 topics and innovative solutions to propose to the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor to award the Creative Labor Certificate; launch a health care consultation hotline for workers on the consultation hotline and on the Huong Cong App at the Workers' Month Launch Ceremony... Initiatives in organizing and implementing activities to care for workers clearly demonstrate the spirit of continuous innovation for workers of trade unions at all levels, the 3 units mentioned above are typical of many typical examples that the General Confederation is highly appreciating.

Free health check-ups for workers at the launching ceremony of the Month of Action on Occupational Safety and Hygiene and Workers' Month 2025 in Hanoi.

Prepare position and strength for new development stage

- The plan to organize activities for Workers' Month 2025 of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor shows the proactive spirit of workers in the digital age, technological transformation and international integration. Can you elaborate on this content?

- One of the 7 strategic orientations to bring the country into a new era - the era of national growth is digital transformation, which clearly states that "Digital transformation is not simply the application of digital technology to socio-economic activities, but also the process of establishing a new, advanced and modern production method - "digital production method", in which the characteristic of the productive forces is the harmonious combination of humans and artificial intelligence; data becomes a resource, becomes an important means of production; at the same time, production relations also have profound changes, especially in the form of ownership and distribution of digital means of production".

From this perspective, the Union recognizes its important role - representing and gathering workers, the most important productive force of the economy. The program "Creative workers, confidently entering the new era" in Workers' Month is a testament to the initiative and creativity of the Union in actively participating in the era of national development, the digital era and beyond.

Through the program, it aims to promote and mobilize union members and workers to study and improve their professional skills; cultivate their mettle, innovate their working style, and improve their integration skills; encourage union members and workers to innovate, have many initiatives, improve techniques, and apply modern technology to production, contributing to increasing labor productivity, work efficiency, and developing enterprises, industries, localities, and the country.

- Could you please tell us about the opportunities and challenges facing the Trade Union in taking care of workers in particular and laborers in general, especially in the context of mergers and streamlining the apparatus?

- Science, technology, innovation and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, especially digital technology and artificial intelligence, are developing rapidly, making breakthroughs, having profound and multi-dimensional impacts, creating major changes in labor, employment and labor relations, changing the operating environment, gathering objects and operating methods of trade unions. In addition to the positive impacts, a part of workers face the risk of losing their jobs when they cannot meet the requirements of the labor market; vulnerable workers, if not given proper attention, are at risk of being left behind; sustainable social security for workers faces many challenges. In the context of the new situation with complex, rapid and unpredictable developments as well as the increasing needs and aspirations of workers, it requires the flexibility and quick adaptation of all levels and trade union cadres.

Implementing the Party's policies and resolutions on innovation and reorganization of the political system, the General Confederation of Labor has directed trade unions at all levels to step up propaganda, enhance understanding of the thoughts and aspirations of cadres, civil servants, public employees, union members and workers, regularly report and reflect to the Party committees, leaders of agencies and units to have appropriate handling plans. Trade unions at all levels have done a good job of ideological work, raising awareness and responsibility, creating high consensus among cadres, civil servants, public employees, union members and workers on the urgency and necessity of innovation, reorganization of the organization, apparatus, and streamlining of staff to serve development requirements; promoting the role of trade unions in participating in reorganization and streamlining of the apparatus, ensuring the rights of union members and workers...

Thank you, comrade!

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/pho-chu-cich-tong-lien-doan-lao-dong-viet-nam-ngo-duy-hieu-phat-huy-nhieu-mo-hinh-hay-cach-lam-sang-tao-trong-thang-cong-nhan-699659.html