Aid packages for workers facing difficulties

It can be said that never before has the trade union issued many policies to care for and support its members and workers during a decline in a short period (2020-2021). Especially in 2021, when the fourth outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic hit the country, the trade unions at all levels offered unprecedented support packages. Such packages include, the improvement of nutritional status for health workers on the frontline, against the epidemic and workers in the enterprises applying “3 on-site” and “one road and two destinations” campaigns, giving passbooks to orphaned children of trade union members due to COVID-19, and postponing the payment of trade union dues for businesses facing difficulties, in addition to exemption of trade union fees for their members.

When the country entered the period of safe and flexible adaptation and effective control of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) issued a document on allocating funds for supporting trade unions at grassroots levels, to coordinate with enterprises to arrange vehicles to pick up worker to go back to work in four localities including Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Dong Nai and Long An. As of early December, the trade unions at all levels have been carrying out procedures to support their members, workers and frontline forces from their financial and socialisation sources, with a total amount of nearly 6 trillion VND.

In addition, the VGCL has actively propagated to stabilise employees' thoughts, so that they can continue working with peace of mind. They have exchanged and negotiated with the employers to arrange reasonable working shifts and ensure wages for employees who have to leave work due to quarantine and close contact with infectious cases. The trade unions have also thoroughly grasped public opinion on social networks to understand the situation and encourage workers not to be subjective and calmly respond to the developments of the pandemic.

The VGCL has also worked closely with the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, the Ministry of Health (MoH), the Ministry of Labour, War Invalids and Social Affair (MoLISA) and Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) to develop and promulgate documents to guide and concretise the measures in epidemic prevention and control at the workplace and dormitory of workers, the assurance of occupational safety and health and stabilisation of production and business activities. The General Confederation has proactively made practical proposals to the Government and the MoLISA, while carefully monitoring the implementation of policies to support workers and businesses living in difficult circumstances, due to COVID-19. Notably, many campaigns were launched to mobilise cadres, civil servants and trade union members to donate their blood towards reducing pressure on hospitals and medical facilities, as well as give their donations to the fight against the pandemic and the National COVID-19 Vaccine Fund.

The VGCL has also coordinated with Party committees, authorities, organisations and donors in all localities to present gifts and care for workers who were isolated in quarantine areas.

The above successes were gained thanks to the hard work and enthusiasm from trade union cadres. Over the past two years, notably in 2021, thousands of trade union cadres have overcome all difficulties to coordinate with other forces in epidemic prevention and control. Especially, many people stayed at the businesses for several months to support the professional forces, while transferring goods and food to workers.

Representatives from Confederation of Long Thanh district, Dong Nai province, present aid packages to local people. (Photo: baodongnai.com.vn)

Many good models

Facing the complicated development of the pandemic, under the direction of the Party and Govenrment, the VGCL has focused on grasping the situation of the epidemic and directing the implementation of the Government’s policies as well as issuing documents in care for trade union members and workers.

The trade unions at all levels have taken advantage of information and technological applications in administering and propagating the epidemic prevention and control measures and mobilising social resources to take care of workers.

One of the most important lessons of trade unions at all levels in recent time was the proactive organisation of effective forms in care for workers. In addition to traditional methods, many creative models have been launched, including zero-dong supermarkets, zero-dong buses, rice ATMs, zero-dong shippers, nutritional support packages and trade union social welfare packages, medicine bags for infections, free meals, going to the market for members and mobilising inn owners and businesses to reduce and exempt rental prices.

The trade unions have coordinated with functional agencies to firmly grasp the production and business situation of the enterprises, the jobs and income of workers and problems arising in labour relations. During the working sessions or the inspection of epidemic prevention and control in businesses, the trade unions proposed the enterprises’ owners to strictly observe laws and agreements on labour, to ensure the workers’ rights as well as adjust production plans to ensure that all employees have jobs and stable incomes.

The VGCL has worked with the MoLISA and the VCCI to promulgate guidance as a basis for localities to orient the organisation of production and business activities while being isolated. The General Confederation has also actively joined the development of policies to support employees as well as make recommendations and instructions for workers to access the aid package under the Government’s Resolution No. 68/NQ-CP.

The year 2022 is forecasted to continue facing complicated developments of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, Vietnamese trade unions should make more efforts to care for their members and workers. The Politburo’s Resolution No. 02-NQ/TW dated June 12, 2021 on “renovating the organisation and operation of Vietnam Trade Union in the new situation” is an important basis for the development of the trade unions and their staff, towards the success of the national renewal, industrialisation and modernisation.

NDO