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Vietnam Country Project in developing social dialogue and policies

Published: 9 December 2011
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 The Vietnam Country Project is to engage in social dialogue on issues and policies affecting workers in the country and in the region. The focus has been to establish a relationship based on trust and mutual respect and understanding. The strategy supports a process of understanding, influencing and assisting each other constructively towards change and the process of change.



In addition we also have a multi-tier approach toward achieving our objectives. UNI Apro held meetings and engagements in forums and in social dialogues for top leaders of enable them to meet with leaders from affiliates in the region for example Australia, Japan, Singapore and Malaysia.



At the same time the activists and the union officials from grass roots level were engaged through seminars and workshops jointly organized by UNI Apro and the industrial unions. In this way we were able to reach the younger activists and were able to influence them on democratic values. We were able to demonstrate that there is more meaning to a trade union than just being a bridge between employers and workers. We were also able to instil that workers have the absolute right to collective bargaining and that workers and trade unions can assert for their betterment through the process of collective bargaining.



UNI Apro has assisted in discussion on setting up a network of commerce retailers in Vietnam for them to share information and strengthening the trade union activities. Meanwhile VNUBW has seen an increased in its membership with the affiliation of the joint venture banks. VNUPTW as the leading union in the post and telecom sector has continued to stay a step ahead of the changes taking place in these industries. A coalition of Commerce Unions in Vietnam known as Vietnam Commerce Network had started its work to form standards for the commerce sectors in Vietnam.



UNI Apro strategy of building good relationships with the partner organizations based on mutual respect and admiration have borne results which among others the affiliation of the Vietnam National Union of Postal and Telecom Workers (VNUPTW) to UNI which is a first in the Global union’s history. In addition Vietnamese unions found value in the relationship with UNI Apro which among others created opportunities for them to be in touch with global issues and on the current global trade union situation. They were also able to relate with UNI Apro strategies and visions on the role and functions of trade unions in a democratic and changing society.



UNI Apro establish relationship with our partners LO TCO Sweden, Vietnam National Union of Post & Telecom Workers (VNUPTW), Vietnam National Union of Bank Workers (VNUBW), Vietnam National Union of Industry and Trade Workers (VNUIT), Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) and a coalition of Commerce Unions in Vietnam known as Vietnam Commerce Network.



David Eklind (Handels), Neil Anderson (UNI SCORE) and Alice Chang (UNI Apro) were in Hanoi on 28 & 29Nov2011 to evaluate the Vietnam Country Project.