Vietnam, Spain share trade union experiences

The Spanish Trade Union (STU) has shared its experiences with the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) in building trade union organisations and protecting workers’ rights in the context of economic crisis.

At talks between VGCL President Dang Ngoc Tung and visiting STU Secretary in charge of international affairs Javier Doz in Hanoi on Nov. 4, Tung affirmed the STU delegation’s working visit to Vietnam would contribute to promoting the friendship and cooperation between the two trade unions and their workers.

He said he hoped both sides would exchange information on trade union activities as well as experiences and the skills to organise negotiations on labour contracts in private and foreign-invested businesses.

The two sides should organise training courses to increase trade unionists’ knowledge and set up ties between trade unions of the two countries’ localities, he said.

While in Vietnam from Nov. 4-9, the Spanish delegation will hold working sessions with the trade unions of Hanoi , the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh , Vietnam Industry and Trade and Vietnam Garment and Textiles trade unions. They will also tour a number of Vietnam ’s historical relics and sites./.

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Trade union development gets Danish support

A programme supported by Denmark to assist the private business sector to strengthen capacity for trade unions, beginning in 2005, has brought remarkable results, said the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) on Oct. 26.

At a sum-up of the implementation of the programme’s second component, the VGCL assessed the programme after five years as having helped trade unions in Nghe An, Khanh Hoa and Lam Dong provinces attract more members and set up grassroots trade unions.

The programme also helped trade unionists improve capacity in negotiating, signing and supervising collective agreements on labour safety and hygiene, and settling disputes.

After five years, the three provinces’ trade unions admitted 30,500 members, set up 751 grassroots branches, and signed 238 new collective agreements.

The quality of these agreements was also improved, focusing on major issues such as salaries, working time, leave, welfare, bonuses and insurance.

The programme with financial support from the Danish International Development Cooperation Agency (DANIDA), aims to assist the Vietnamese Government, trade unions and employers to improve competitiveness in the business sector./.

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VN, RoK promote cooperation in trade unions

Trade unions representatives of Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) have committed to the promotion of ties and exchange visits of high-level delegations and information of mutual concern.

During their talks in Hanoi on September 7, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) Nguyen Hoa Binh and Vice President of the Federation of Korea Trade Unions (FKTU) Kim Ju Young agreed to help grassroots trade unions to set up and increase friendship and cooperation based on each locality’s situation and in accordance with the laws of both countries.

The two countries’ trade unions will jointly hold symposiums and share experiences in personnel training, they said.

Vice Chairman Binh stressed the VGCL will give top priority to the protection of legitimate rights of labourers, including improvement of negotiation skills and the building of healthy, sustainable labour relations of trade unions officials.

While in Vietnam, the FKTU delegation led by Vice President Kim Ju Young is scheduled to visit the labour federations in Ho Chi Minh City, Quang Ninh and Dong Nai provinces./.

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