Workers of a production chain at Viet Nam DaeShin Electronics (Song Khe commune).

The city is home to nearly 1,000 enterprises. However, about 200 businesses have yet established trade unions. Chairman of the municipal Labour Federation Bui Van Khuoc said there are still many difficulties in encouraging businesses and employees to join trade unions. The main reason is owners of businesses are not fully aware of the role of trade unions, hence showing no interest to take part in. Many businesses gave the reason that trade unions are built voluntarily and most of their workers are seasonal, so they have delayed the establishment of trade unions and refused to meet with trade union officials.

Given these difficulties, the city’s trade unions at all levels have worked to increase communications among employers and employees. In fact, it is impossible for trade union officials to reach workers without the support of business leaders. For example, the trade union at Vinahan Joint Stock Company in Song Mai commune encouraged over 100 workers to join the union last year. “We told business leaders and employees about the benefits of establishing trade unions. For workers, their legitimate rights and interests will be protected. They will feel secure to work and contribute more to businesses’ development,” Khuong said.

Implementing well the role of taking care of and protecting the interests of trade union members is considered an effective way to draw employees. With the motto of ensuring rights and interests and creating better social welfare for workers, trade unions in the city have carried out a number of activities in line with the situation of each business. 

Leaders of Bac Giang city’s Labour Federation congratulate the executive board of the trade union at the Construction No.10 Joint Stock Company on its establishment.

Annually, the city’s Labour Federation directs trade unions at the grassroots level to coordinate with leaders of businesses to organise periodical dialogues with cadres, public servants, officials and workers. Employees are able to contribute their opinions on building regulations of their businesses, participate in negotiations and sign collective agreements with terms that are most beneficial to themselves.

When the agreements come into force, the trade unions will promote the supervisory role to ensure members’ rights and interests. Viet Nam DaeShin Electronics Co., Ltd. in Song Khe commune, which came into operation in 2011, has generated jobs for over 300 workers with average income of over 7 million VND (307 USD) each per month. The Republic of Korea-owned company has always been listed among the best companies of taking care and ensuring interests of members. 

Members of grassroots trade unions join workers’ festival.

In particular, such beneficial conditions for employees as attendance bonus, and subsidised commuting expenses, meals and house renting, and productivity bonus (300,000-500,000 VND per person per month (23 USD) stipulated in the collective agreements have been maintained for many years, helping improve living standards of trade union members. Annually, the company’s trade union calls on business leaders to spend billions of Vietnamese dong presenting gift packages to workers on the occasion of Tet holiday, supporting disadvantaged employees, and organising cultural and sports exchange activities for workers. Ms Do Thi Thanh, a worker from the company, shared that “My husband has passed away, so I have to take care of my parents and two children alone. Thanks to the attention of business leaders and trade union, my income and other social welfare benefits are ensured. This helps me feel more secure to work.”

To continue attracting more trade union members and establishing trade unions in businesses, the city’s Labour Federation has paid attention to training and arranging officials responsible for this task and promoting legal awareness raising for trade unionists and employees so that they can proactively protect their interests.

The federation has also signed and inspected the implementation of collective labour agreements to ensure interests of trade union members while coordinating with relevant agencies to examine the implementation of legal policies on labour and promptly address disputes in labour relations.

Tuong Vi