PM urges VGCL to accelerate trade union institution building

PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the working session (Source: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) to push forward the building of trade union institutions, especially those regarding housing for workers.

The PM made the request at a working session between the Government and the VGCL in Hanoi on July 25 which reviewed the recent coordination between the two sides and set out orientations for future collaboration.

He said all-level trade unions should continue to constructively participate in finalising institutions, step up administrative reform, and improve the efficiency of State management in employment and social affairs.

PM Phuc emphasised the need to promote the development of the labour market, prevent workplace accidents, and care for the material and spiritual lives of its employees.

All-level authorities and trade unions were also asked to improve their efficiency in settling pressing issues that relate directly to labourers.

Reviewing the country’s socio-economic development in the first few months of 2018, PM Phuc attributed such achievements to great efforts made by the Party, army, and people – in particular, labourers and trade union officials across the country.

Thanks to activities launched by the VGCL and its chapters, employees have supported the Party and Government’s changes in economic management and corruption prevention, he said.

The PM, however, pointed out shortcomings regarding employees’ income, social insurance payment, housing, unemployment, late salary payment, and in particular workplace accidents, citing the nearly 9,000 cases with about 9,000 victims, including 928 deaths, in 2017.

VGCL President Bui Van Cuong reported that in the past time, the agency has constructively participated in building institutions and gathering social feeback towards policies on labourers and trade unions, contributing to building a transparent, trusted Government that spurs growth and serves people and businesses.

The Government, ministries, and agencies have paid due attention to the operation of trade unions, he said, recalling the dialogue between PM Phuc and nearly 2,000 workers in the central key economic zone, and another dialogue of the Government leader with close to 1,000 employees in industrial parks in the Red River Delta region in 2017 and the first six months of 2018.

Following the dialogues, the PM dispatched a working group to the southern province of Dong Nai to inspect the implementation of policies towards labourers in the locality, he said. –VNA