The sixth conference of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour(VGCL) Executive Committee convened in Hanoi on July 2 with a focus onimproving the working performance of the Confederation’s InspectionCommittee.

Reviewing activities carried out in thefirst half of this year, the conference spoke highly of trade unionsnationwide for their strong shift to grassroots activities, particularlytheir role in addressing problems arising in relation to the one-timepayment of social insurance. The trade unions’ recommendations on makingchanges to the 2014 Law on Social Insurance were accepted by theGovernment and the National Assembly, which helps enhance workers’ trustin the trade union organisation.

Trade unions atall levels also play an important role in promoting patriotic emulationcampaigns, attracting thousands of ideas and solutions to stimulatenational development.

Despite this, trade unionactivities are still affected by economic troubles and complicateddevelopments in the regional security situation. In the first fivemonths of 2015 alone, over 3,800 businesses filed for bankruptcy whilemore than 22,700 suspended their operations, forcing 180,000 workers toregister as unemployed.

In January-June, there were235 labour disputes, 59 more than the same period last year, many ofwhich resulted in strikes.

In such situations,trade unions and relevant authorities made timely interferences byexplaining the law to workers, reassuring them about their prospects andpreventing strikes.

In his speech, VGCL PresidentDang Ngoc Tung asked trade union activists at all levels to stayclose to the workers, especially in industrial and processing zones totimely notice emerging issues.

Trade unions at alllevels were requested to improve and spread trade union activitieswithin their organisations to successfully realising socio-economicgoals.

The conference also elected members to the VGCL Executive Committee and Presidium.-VNA