The Vietnam General Confederation of Labour and the Australian Council for Trade Unions inked a memorandum of understanding to boost their cooperation in improving workers’ living and working conditions.

Signatories were Dang Ngoc Tung, President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour and Ged Kearney, President of the Australian Council for Trade Unions in Hanoi on May 15.

The two sides agreed that protecting labourers’ rights, improving their living and working conditions, reducing unemployment and eliminating poverty are urgent issues needed to be addressed.

The two sides will boost cooperation in effectively implementing the Labour Code and the Trade Union Law to ensure and promote labourers’ right and interests in line with international standards as well as guaranteeing salary and good working conditions for labourers through collective negotiations at grassroots and sectoral levels.

They will also cooperate in carrying out educational, vocational training and social welfare programmes for the benefits of labourers and their families.

The two sides affirmed the necessity of sharing information on labour market and policies in their respective countries so as to raise the efficiency of trade union operations and boost international solidarity.

The Australian Council for Trade Unions pledged to continue supporting Vietnamese trade union as well as activities of the Union Aid Abroad (APHEDA) in Vietnam .

Earlier, the two sides held talks on the operation of trade unions, agreeing to boost exchanges of visits by trade union delegations and enhance coordination at regional and international forums./.