Improving capacity of trade union

In Binh Duong, Trade Union Federation of Vietnam in cooperation with International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions just held a social dialogue and trade union activity at multi-national companies for reps of labor unions under chemical, mine, energy companies in 3 provinces of Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc and Tay Ninh.

On the occasion, Binh Duong Newspaper had an interview with Fons Vannieuwenhuyse, an official of ICEM.

Could you introduce on the project of social dialogue and trade union activity at multi-national companies that ICEM has launched in Vietnam?

The project of social dialogue and trade union activity at multi-national companies has been launched in Asian countries of Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, India, Korea and Vietnam.

ICEM holds training course on social dialogue for multinational companies in Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc and Tay Ninh provinces.

The project’s goal is to reinforce position of social dialogue trade union activity at multi-national companies, boost up collective negotiation, increase power of ICEM membership unionists at grassroot cells, set up a harmonic relation at working place.

The project’s action plan is to build trade union network at multinational companies, sign many better collective agreements, focus on contract laborers and subcontractors and increase social dialogue with employers at all levels…

How is the project implemented in Vietnam?

Social dialogue is a collective talk between employers and employees to chare information, set out negotiations and policies.

Aside from increasing capacity, the project in cooperation with trade union officials and employers is to raise awareness on multinational companies’ policies and international labor standards.

Most of Vietnamese laborers have yet to know of existence of the standards. Therefore, we will hold about 50 seminars and national level training courses per year.

Apart from social dialogue project, what are ICEM’s priorities?

We give priorities to build capacity of trade union to improve knowledge through trainings for trade union leaders, locals’ officials and unionists.

In addition, the project also gives priorities to protect basic trade union rights. We will train and conduct activities of global framework agreements.

Issues of social dialogue, social dialogue promotion and collective negotiation are main priorities of ICEM’s projects.

ICEM’s projects also support efforts of establishing trade union by many forms.

Thanks a lot!

Reported by T.Thao – Translated by A.C

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