Developing harmonious,
stable and progressive
industrial relations:
THE ROLE OF THE
VIETNAMESE TRADE UNION
MOVEMENT
PhD Candidate DONG THI THUONG HIEN
INSTITUTE FOR WORKERS AND TRADE UNIONS
VIETNAM GENERAL CONFEDERATION OF LABOUR
thuonghienvcn@gmail.com
Vietnam Trade Union
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20 National industrial unions
63 provincial Labor Federations
115,000 workplace unions
7,5 million trade union members
65.22% of enterprises covered
with collective labor agreements
1. Some characteristics of labour relations in
Vietnam in terms of transformation and
integration
• The number of workers in the state sector is
declining while increasing in the non-state sector.
• The role of the state is changing.
• The parties are free, within the law, to establish
their rights and obligations through negotiation and
agreement.
• The property of employees as wage labourers has
become clearer and their right to strike has been
recognized.
1. Some characteristics of labour relations in
Vietnam in terms of transformation and
integration (cont.)
• Growing awareness of conflict of interest has led to
increased disputes. The settlement of disputes by
negotiation, mediation, arbitration and court proceedings is
increasingly common.
• Industrial relations are not only subject to national law, but
also the rules, conventions and practices of international
law.
• The role of foreign-owned companies in the economy has
become increasingly important and thus so has enterprises’
labour regulations and industrial relations practices.
2. Goals of developing labour relations
Building harmonious, stable and progressive labour
relations involves enhancing the position and
reputation of the trade union in the following issues:
- to guide and assist workers to sign labour
contracts with employers;
- to negotiate and sign collective labour agreements
on behalf of workers;
- to disseminate the strategies and policies of the
Communist Party and the laws of the State which
are relevant to the rights and obligations of
employees;
2. Goals of developing labour relations
(cont.)
- to inspect and supervise the implementation of the
law related to workers;
- to represent workers in negotiations with the
employers to present the requests and petitions of
workers;
- to protect workers’ legitimate rights and interests,
avoid violations of law, and to prevent labour
disputes.
3. Conditions for the development of
harmonious, stable and progressive labour
relations
• The legal system must be adequate, relevant and
progressive.
• There must be mechanisms to ensure and support labour
relations (including the mechanisms of the goverment and
tripartite mechanisms).
• There should be strong trade unions.
• Adherence to the basic principles of respect, cooperation,
negotiation, and self-determination among subjects of
industrial relations.
4. Strategy of the Vietnamese
government in labour relations
• Resolution No. 20/NQ-TW (28/01/2008) of
the Central Committee about “Continuing
to build the Vietnamese working class in
the period of accelerated industrialization
and modernization country”
• Directive No. 22-CT/TW (05/6/2008),
issued by the Central Committee, aims to
chart a path towards harmonious, stable
and progressive labour relations in the
enterprises
5. Legal position of the Vietnam trade
union movement in labour relations
• The constitution of the Socialist Republic
of Vietnam in 1992
• The Trade Union Law of Vietnam
• The Labour Code
6. The roles of trade union in Vietnam to
build up harmonious, stable and
progressive labour relations
• Theoretical study of labour relations and the role
of trade unions
• Organise education campaigns
• Participate in completing the institution of the
labour market, strengthening the basic
mechanisms of labour relations
• Develop trade unions in enterprises
• Provide services such as labour relations
centers, legal advice
6. The roles of trade union in Vietnam to
build up harmonious, stable and
progressive labour relations (cont.)
a. At national level
b. At industry and provincial level
c. District union, industrial zone unions or
equivalent
d. Work place unions at enterprises
7. Challenges for Vietnam Trade Union in
developing industrial relations
• CBAs are still underdeveloped
• Mechanisms for dialogue and cooperation in the
workplace are underdeveloped and inefficient
• The capacity and representativeness of the
social partners is still limited
• The settlement of labour disputes and strikes is
problematic
• The management role of the goverment is
flawed
8. Our ways ahead
• Further promote to recruit more trade union members
and promote the influence of trade unions, especially in
the non-state sector.
• Focus on the implementation activities to better perform
the representative functions to protect workers,
especially workers in the non-state sector.
• Together with promoting and improving the quality of the
implementation of various measures to protect workers
• Improve the quality of participating in policy formulation,
legislation and inspection and monitoring of the
implementation of laws and policies
• Operation focused on overcoming the limitations of
labour relations
• Build the strong team of trade union officers
PhD Candidate DONG THI THUONG HIEN
INSTITUTE FOR WORKERS AND TRADE UNIONS
VIETNAM GENERAL CONFEDERATION OF LABOUR
thuonghienvcn@gmail.com