Vietnam labor union congress proposes cutting dues, streamlining charter

The 14th Congress of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour has convened, bringing together 780 delegates who represent nearly 10 million union members nationwide. These delegates, chosen from various professions, sectors, and regions, are tasked with evaluating the implementation of the 13th Congress's resolutions for the 2023-2026 period.

The congress's agenda includes reviewing the performance of the 13th Executive Committee, defining objectives and breakthrough strategies for the 2026-2031 term, and amending the Vietnam Labour Union Charter. A significant outcome will be the election of the new Executive Committee for the 14th term.

During the initial session, Deputy President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour, Nguyễn Xuân Hùng, presented a draft of the revised Labour Union Charter. This revision aims to align the charter with the current demands for organizational and operational reform within the labor movement. The draft charter has incorporated feedback from over 1.5 million union members and related organizations.

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The draft Charter of the 13th term, passed in 2023, has basically met practical requirements and created a basis for labor union levels to effectively implement tasks in the past term. However, facing the requirements of renovating the organizational apparatus according to the Party's guidelines and legal regulations, the amendment of the charter is considered necessary.

A notable proposed change involves reducing union dues from 1% to 0.5% of the salary used as the basis for social insurance contributions. This adjustment is intended to align with Party policies, legal regulations, and the current practical situation. Additionally, the draft proposes changes to the regulations on the 2% labor union fee for enterprises, ensuring consistency with the 2024 Labour Union Law.

The revised charter also streamlines the organizational structure, reducing the number of chapters and articles compared to the current charter. It removes specific provisions for certain types of unions, such as those in administrative agencies or public service units, and consolidates various local and sector-specific union models. The draft also introduces provisions for specialized labor union organizational models.

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The draft Charter of the 14th term is designed to be more streamlined with 9 chapters and 31 articles, reducing 2 chapters and 14 articles compared to the current charter.