Trade unions adopt new approach to communicate with workers

 

Thanh Hoa (VNA) – Representatives from 24 trade unions at grass-roots level from Nam Dinh, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An provinces studied new approaches to communication with trade union members at a training workshop on June 21.

The event was co-held by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) and the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) in the central province of Thanh Hoa.

During the workshop, attendees discussed challenges in communicating with workers in the old way, when trade unions had to ask for permission from employers in order to meet and talk with workers for the establishment of a trade union at workplace. The activities will be impossible if the employers disapprove or refuse to cooperate.

The content of talks with workers in the past usually focused on theoretical matters, for example the history of trade union, its roles, functions and significance, which does not catch workers’ attention.

Therefore, activists were advised to approach workers outside the workplace, such as at their houses or through group activities in cultural centres or clubs.

In addition, the workers should be given brief and more comprehensible overview of issues of their interest, for example, wage, allowance and social welfare.

The trade union activists were also trained in how to guide the workers to cooperate and protect each other, and help them establish workplace trade unions.

VGCL Vice President Tran Van Ly said Vietnam has signed a number of free trade agreements that require high commitments to implement the International Labour Organisation (ILO)’s conventions. Therefore, Vietnamese trade unions must change to meet the demand of workers and labourers.-VNA