Transcript Vietnamese Trade Unions in brief

Vietnamese
Trade Unions
in Brief
Vietnam General Confederation of Labor (VGCL)
Overview of Viet Nam
Area
331,951.4 km2
Population 86,927 million
Men
42,990 million 49.4%
Women
43,937 million 50.6%
Rural
60,703 million 70.1%
Urban
26,224 million 29.9%
Literacy rate for population
aged 15 years & over 93.5%
Overview of Viet Nam
Workforce aged 15 yrs & over
50.6 million as at 9/2011
Agriculture & Forestry & Aquaculture Sector
Industry & Construction Sector
Services Sector
Unemployed rate
Urban areas
Rural areas
2.18%
3.49%
1.63%
Underemployment rate 3.15%
Urban
1.72%
Rural
3.74%
24.8 million
10.6 million
15.2 million
Vietnamese Trade Unions
Established
28 July 1929
Membership
7,331,832 (May 2011)
Women
3,635,637
Number
of Workplace Unions 108, 302
Vietnam General Confederation of Labour
National
Sector Unions
Corp.
Unions
Workplace
Unions
Note:
Corp.
Unions
Workplace
Unions
City/ Province
FOL
Corp.
Unions
Workplace
Unions
Workplace
Unions
Direct guidance;
Coordination in guidance
District
FOL
Workplace
Unions
Local
Sector
Unions
Workplace Workplace
Unions
Unions
Co-guidance (same level)
Vietnamese Trade Unions
 Membership by sector

State sector



Public agencies
State-own enterprises
Non-state sector



Non-public agencies
FDI enterprises
Domestic enterprises
3,821,431
2,606,332
1,215,099
3,510,401
79,734
1,473,286
1,957,381
Vietnamese Trade Unions
 Workplace unions
108, 302
 By sector

State sector



Public agencies
State-own enterprises
Non-state sector



Non-public agencies
FDI enterprises
Domestic enterprises
76,016
72,009
4,007
32,286
3,338
4,060
24,888
Vietnamese Trade Unions
Union Structure
By Geography
63 Province/City Federation of Labour
Membership
5,750,525
Workplace unions
101,852
By Sector
20 Sector Unions
Membership
1,581,307
Workplace unions
6,450
Vietnamese Trade Unions
 VGCL has the following main functions
 to represent and protect the lawful and legitimate rights
and interests of workers, office employees and other
working people
 to participate in State affairs’ governance, socioeconomic management, and monitoring and oversight
of the operations of State agencies and economic
organizations
 to educate and motivate workers to bring into play their
right as masters of the country, fulfill their citizens’
obligations, and build and defend the country of
Vietnam.
Challenges for TU
 From 1986, the country pursue renovation and market
economy. In that context, TU faces many challenges. Apart
from advantages: more opportunies economic growth,
improved living standard…
 New problems arised:
- Gap between rich and poor
- Inequalities, environment degradation, social problems…
- Labor migration
- Labor exploitation
- Job unsecurity
Challenges for TU
- Complex labor relations: increasing labor undress and
disputes (from 1995-2008: more than 2700 strikes and
industrial actions)
- Violation of labor Law and regulations by employers
(wage, type of work, social security, OHS…)
- Culture clash, anti- union attitude
- Weakness of part of trade unions reps who have difficulties
to adjust themselves to market economy
- Problems from workers themselves (education,
understanding of law, industrial working style)
Top priorities for future actions
(Set fourth by 10th national Congress of VGCL)
 Renovating union activities
 All for workplaces, for workers and union members
 Focus on representation and protection of workers’ rights
and interests
 Building sound and constructive labor relations at work.
 Building strong unions through strengthening union
capacity, TU training, international solidarity and
cooperation
 Participation in decision making (policies for workers,
revision of labor and trade union laws)
Specific targets by 2013
 Recruiting 1.5 mil new members
 Unionizing 70% workplaces
 Reaching union density 60%
 70% workplaces covered with CBA
 Reducing labor accidents
 Having 65% wage earners covered with social insurance
 Making sure 100% TU representatives get TU training
 70% workers get vocational training (now 30%)
Facts and figures about FDI
enterprises in the Industrial Zones
 6 Indsutrial Zones and 1 high-tech Park with 200
companies and 60,000 wage earners, including 60
FDI enterprises employing 40,000 workers
 Number of enterprises by investors:
From Europe: 8
From Japan: 24
From China: 8
From Taiwan: 10
From Korea: 6
From Malaysia: 4
Trade Unions in the Industrial
Zones
 98 company unions, including 37 from FDI
sector, 5 from Korea-invested companies
operating in textile & garment and motorbike
& automobile spare parts manufacturing
industries
 Union membership: 34,881 (83.93%)
Challenges and urgent issues in the
IRs
 Low wages: from $100 – 125, especially in
textlie & garment, footwears, marine products
processing
 Violation of workers’ policies, benefits and
rights by employers
 Language barriers leads to the
misunderstanding in the communication
process between workers and employers
 50% of workers are migrant and their housing
and living needs are not satisfied
Wages and welfare policy
 Every year, 2 times of minimum wage
increase
 Average wages: $100/person/month
 Other benefits (housing, transport
allowance,…): $50/person/month
Labor disputes and settlement
measures
 In 2009: 7 cases
 In 2010: 3 cases
 In 2011: 3 cases
 Mainly in FDI sector
 Causes: Violation of labor legislation and
workers’ rights & interests
 Prevention measures: EPZs Union provides
training and education on legal knowledges for
workers, employers and trade union officials;
training on bargaining, communication and
consultation skills for shopstewards;
Thank you