“Protecting labor rights is the priority”. Mr. Dang Ngoc Tung – Chairman of Vietnam General Confederation of Labor (CL)

In CL activities alone. Dong Nai CL had really focused on the basis, organizing many practical activities for all labors’ life, in which, focusing on encouraging employers to fully provide their labors with medical insurance and unemployment insurance. Dong Nai CL had also well handled the negotiation, sign and implementation of the Labor Agreement. However, there were still some drawbacks such as the CL standard fee in Dong Nai CL is still lower than the national average; some difficulty still occur in CL fee collecting in Labor section outside the CL.

*R: One of the most important mission that Dong Nai CL focused on last year was the quality strengthening in negotiating, building and signing the Labor Agreement in businesses.What is your comment on this action? Sir.

- Mr. Dang Ngoc Tung – Chairman of Vietnam General CL: The workplace conversation improvement and CL discussion and negotiation operation to encourage labors to sign the Labor Agreement is the most important thing to do to protect the labor right. In the past time, Dong Nai CL had trained highly skilled workforce to negotiate with employers but there were still some difficulties beside. In many businesses, Chairmen of Grassroot Level Trade Union Base made good negotiations and and had the Labor Agreement signed with more beneficial terms for the labors than according to the National law of provision. However, there were some other Chairmen of Grassroot Level Trade Union who still had limitations and were not encouraging enough to negotiate for the most basic labor rights. That was also one of the reasons for the labor disputes to happen.

One of the examples is the labor disputes which happened at Pouchen company in the early of 2016. Decision no. 122/2015/NĐCP-CP of the government states the minimum wage by region and obliges all businesses to follow. But at that time, the company applied their own management method that resulted in the disputes from the labors; such thing is not yet acceptable. The company should have the CL supervise the new method. When the CL did not ratify the method and the company still performed it, which means the company did not follow the order of chairman of CL then the labor disputes was the result. I think a “smart” company is a company that respects and follow the CL’s orders, discusses specifically with CL and especially improves their negotiation. These are only for the company’s own good to develop. After the labor disputes happened at Pouchen Company, I think the experience that the all the companies in Dong Nai province in particular and throughout the country in general should learn is to respect their labor force, improve the negotiation skill with the labors and encourage them to sign the Labor Agreement. That is also the essential way to build a good relationship with the labors in business.

*R: Sir, 2016 is considered by Vietnam General CL to be the year for the Trade Union members to develop.It is also the first year to integrate deeply to WTO. What solutions should Vietnam General CL in general and Dong Nai CL in specific focus on to attract more Union member joining in and develop the organization?

- Mr. Dang Ngoc Tung – Chairman of Vietnam General CL: 2016 is stated by Vietnam General CL to be the year for the Trade Union members to develop. And in order reach the target, General CL shall implement the missions to take better care of the labor living and protect their right first. The Trade Union members will only develop if the CL do their best to protect the labors’ right. Following that, this year, Resolution  General CL gave new Resolution in which, there is an content stated that the meal break between each shifts for the labors to be better taken care of. Accordingly, throughout the country in general and in the province in particular, the CL organization shall negotiate with the employers to provide their labors with quality and safe meal breaks, in which, the company shall spend at least 15000vnđ per set of meal for their labors. In case there are still many companies in Dong Nai who still spend less than 15000vnđ per meal for their labors, the CL shall negotiate with that companies for them to agree to spend at least 15000vnđ per set. If the negotiation can not be done, the Trade Union shall dispute following the right procedure and method to be effective. If any company lets food poisoning happen in their canteen, the union have the right to sue the company in the court of law. On this occasion, we request all directors of all companies in Dong Nai province to manage their Trade Union well and take better care of their labors, for the development of our country in general and of each company in particular. A good meal is priority to keep the labors healthy and strong so that they can work productively for the companies.

*R: Thank you sir!

Hoang Bich

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