Illustrative image. (Source: VNA) Binh Duong (VNA) – The Labour Confederationof Binh Duong has asked for cooperation from the Binh Duong FurnitureAssociation (BIFA) to pilot a project to develop a New Industrial RelationsFramework (NIRF/ILO project) in the southern province.
It came following a meeting between representatives fromthe Labour Confederation of Binh Duong, the BIFA, the Vietnam Chamber ofCommerce and Industry (VCCI) and timber producers from Tan Uyen town in theprovince on November 5.
The project ultimately aspires to promote the developmentof an effective legal and institutional foundation for a NIRF in Vietnamcompatible with the International Labour Organisation (ILO)’s Declaration on FundamentalPrinciples and Rights at Work, with a specific focus on the ILO’s Convention 87on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organisation andConvention 98 on Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining and in fullconsideration of national conditions, according to national project coordinatorNguyen Ba Lam.
Its short-term objectives are to foster bipartite andtripartite social dialogues for the development of a NIRF through experiencesharing and practical lessons and to enhance the engagement of the VietnamGeneral Confederation of Labour (VGCL) in revising labour code and tradeunions’ reforms.
It also aims to strengthen the capacity of trade unions inrepresenting workers at all levels, especially in relation to collective bargainingand social dialogue, and improve cooperation among firms as well asemployer-employee relationship in areas where the project is piloted.
The provincial Labour Confederation wanted the BIFA tohelp it find eight timber producers in Tan Uyen to take part in the project. Inaddition, the BIFA was asked to raise awareness among its members of benefitsof the collective bargaining for both employers and employees, one of which isto reduce collective labour disputes and prevent labour instability.
The project will be expanded into other areas in theprovince if the pilot scheme proves effective in Tan Uyen.
Statistics show that 956 out of the 2,595 enterprises inBinh Duong, or 36.8 percent, have signed a collecting bargaining agreement.–VNA
VNA
