Hanoi (VNA) – Trade unions are not doing enough to protect the rights of workers, according to a conference in Hanoi on September 5.
Concern over the lack of help for dissatisfied workers from their unions comes as strikes are escalating across the nation.
Participants at the conference on labour protection solutions organised by the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour heard that trade unions across the nation should play a greater role in protecting the rights and interests of employees in order to limit the increasing number of labour disputes and strikes in Vietnam .
Reports tabled at the conference said strikes usually occurred at individual enterprises, as opposed to collective strikes by workers across an entire sector, and most strikes were not carried out according to official procedures. Under Vietnamese law, strike organisers must get official permission to launch a strike.
In 2007, there were 541 strikes across the country, 150 more than in 2006.
In the first three months of this year, there were nearly 300 strikes, many taking place without negotiations or legal procedures and orders.
The strikes always occurred at the time when the consumer price index experienced sharp rises, at the end of the solar new year and before and after lunar new year. At these times many labourers faced mounting difficulties including low pay, poor work conditions and a lack of adequate accommodation.
Director of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour’s Law Department, Le Thanh Khuong, said there were many reasons for the strikes, including the fact that employers had violated labour laws as well as commitments and agreements with labourers. In addition, there were still some shortcomings and weaknesses in the State’s management of the issue.
Khuong said labourers saw strikes as the first option rather than as an option that should only be considered after negotiation and dialogue fails. Many did not even wait for support from local trade unions before launching strikes, as local trade unions’ capacity to represent and protect labourers was still weak.
Deputy Chairman of HCM City Federation of Labour Truong Lam Danh, said broken promises on salaries, work hours and conditions had led to strikes.
The participants agreed that trade unions needed to do better in helping workers, and should boost dissemination and guidance on labour laws for labourers.
Participants at the conference also said labour unions needed to gain the trust of workers.-Enditem
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