Laos studies operation of trade unions in Ben Tre

Hanoi (VNA) – The Lao Federation of Trade Unions (LFTU) wishes to learn from the practical working experience of trade unions in Ben Tre, President Pan Noymany said at a working session in the Mekong Delta province on April 8.

According to the LFTU President, a slowdown in Laos’ economy has resulted in low incomes and the lives of working people has become increasingly difficult. The operation of trade unions here remains primitive and lacks the ability to develop within businesses.

He said his delegation would like to know the establishment procedure of a trade union in Ben Tre, what measures are used to address strikes, and what are the minimum wage and insurance payments.

Answering his guest, Le Van Quyen, head of the provincial confederation of labour, pointed to the fact that Ben Tre is a small province in the Mekong Delta with a smaller labour force and industrial scale compared with other regional peers.

According to Quyen, all local companies pay salaries higher than the minimum wage, with 16 percent of them having insurance debt. Trivial labour disputes take place occasionally, mostly over benefit conflicts. Trade unions often settle these cases through having discussions with both workers and their employers.

Nguyen Thi Thu Hong, Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour, said she welcomes meetings for experience exchanges like this, for the development of Vietnamese and Lao trade unions and stronger cooperation between the two sides.-VNA