VOV.VN - Party General Secretary and State President To Lam has called for sweeping reforms to modernise the country’s trade union system, stressing that labour organisations cannot be strong if they are distant from workers.
Speaking at the 14th Vietnam Trade Union Congress for the 2026-2031 term in Hanoi on June 4, the leader emphasised that trade union activities must become more practical, modern and worker-centred amid rapid economic, technological and labour market changes.
“The effectiveness of trade unions should not be measured by the number of movements, meetings or slogans, but by workers’ trust and the extent to which their legitimate rights and interests are protected,” he said.
Addressing delegates at the congress, the top leader described the modernisation of Vietnam’s trade union system as a strategic requirement during a period of deep digital transformation and international integration.
He said Vietnam’s working class has played a pioneering role throughout the country’s development process, from traditional manufacturing industries to emerging sectors such as technology, logistics, energy and the digital economy.
He acknowledged the efforts made by trade unions in recent years, including participation in policymaking, support for workers’ welfare and income, labour emulation movements and assistance programmes for disadvantaged workers.
Programmes such as “Tet Reunion”, “Workers’ Month” and “Trade Union Shelter Homes” were highlighted as initiatives that helped bring trade union activities closer to workers.
However, the Vietnamese leader also stressed that stronger reforms are needed to meet new realities.
“A trade union cannot be strong if it is distant from workers. A trade union cannot be attractive if workers do not feel their rights are better protected. And a trade union cannot be modern if it still mainly operates through paperwork, meetings and slogans,” he stressed.
The top leader called on the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour to focus on six key priorities during the new term, including building a modern working class with stronger professional skills and higher adaptability in the digital era. He stressed that all trade union activities must place workers and union members at the centre.
According to him, the success of trade unions should be measured by workers’ satisfaction, the quality of collective bargaining agreements and the effectiveness of protecting workers’ rights at the grassroots level.
A major focus of the new term will also be reforming grassroots trade unions, which he described as the foundation of the entire labour organization system. Higher-level unions were urged to provide stronger support for legal assistance, labour dialogue, collective bargaining and dispute resolution.
Trade union officials, he said, must remain close to workers, understand their concerns and represent their voices through practical dialogue and legal mechanisms.
Party General Secretary and State President To Lam also highlighted the importance of building harmonious, stable and progressive labour relations between the state, businesses and workers to support sustainable economic development. He called on trade unions to proactively engage in dialogue and resolve labour issues early at the grassroots level in order to minimise disputes.
Alongside organisational modernisation through digitalisation, professionalism and greater transparency, the trade union system was also encouraged to engaged more actively in Party-building and political system development.
The Vietnamese leader emphasised the importance of identifying and nurturing outstanding workers for Party membership as part of strengthening the political foundation of the working class.
Concluding his speech, he urged the VGCL to quickly translate congress resolution into concrete action plans with clearly defined responsibilities, timelines and outcomes so that the spirit of the congress would deliver tangible benefits to millions of workers nationwide.
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