Illustrative image. (Source: VNA) Binh Duong (VNA) – The Labour Confederation of Binh Duong has asked for cooperation from the Binh Duong Furniture Association (BIFA) to pilot a project to develop a New Industrial Relations Framework (NIRF/ILO project) in the southern province.
It came following a meeting between representatives from the Labour Confederation of Binh Duong, the BIFA, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and timber producers from Tan Uyen town in the province on November 5.
The project ultimately aspires to promote the development of an effective legal and institutional foundation for a NIRF in Vietnam compatible with the International Labour Organisation (ILO)’s Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, with a specific focus on the ILO’s Convention 87 on Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organisation and Convention 98 on Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining and in full consideration of national conditions, according to national project coordinator Nguyen Ba Lam.
Its short-term objectives are to foster bipartite and tripartite social dialogues for the development of a NIRF through experience sharing and practical lessons and to enhance the engagement of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) in revising labour code and trade unions’ reforms.
It also aims to strengthen the capacity of trade unions in representing workers at all levels, especially in relation to collective bargaining and social dialogue, and improve cooperation among firms as well as employer-employee relationship in areas where the project is piloted.
The provincial Labour Confederation wanted the BIFA to help it find eight timber producers in Tan Uyen to take part in the project. In addition, the BIFA was asked to raise awareness among its members of benefits of the collective bargaining for both employers and employees, one of which is to reduce collective labour disputes and prevent labour instability.
The project will be expanded into other areas in the province if the pilot scheme proves effective in Tan Uyen.
Statistics show that 956 out of the 2,595 enterprises in Binh Duong, or 36.8 percent, have signed a collecting bargaining agreement.–VNA
VNA
