A worker is sewing flip flops. Photo: VNA A three-day workshop opened in Ho Chi Minh City on August 13, highlighting the building of trade unions in garment and footwear sectors.
Participating experts focuses on reviewing the union’s structure, strategies to boost membership and the outlook for the two sectors, among other focal points.
According to Tran Van Ly, Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL), there are 5,000 garment-textile and 800 leather and footwear companies nationwide, employing about 3.5 million labourers.
Vietnam’s recent signing of several trade agreements regionally and globally is expected to help the two sectors thrive and expand their workforce.
As such, it is necessary for trade unions to effectively protect workers’ rights and benefits, Ly noted.
Erwin Schweisshelm, a representative from the German non-profit organisation FES in Hanoi, said improved organisation can help trade unions increase their power and boost the quality of collective agreements.
Monika Kemperle, Assistant General Secretary of the IndustriALL Global Union, stated that enhancing union operations supports the sectors’ stable growth and fosters a positive image of the VGCL.-VNA
