•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Speaking at a ceremony, the Chairman of Vietnam’s National Assembly said that, under the Party’s leadership, Vietnamese workers are present across all sectors and components of the economy, serving as a core force driving the country’s industrialization, modernization, and international integration.
The Vietnamese Trade Union was described as a broad political-social organization of the working class, acting as a reliable support for union members and workers. The Chairman said the union has carried out increasingly practical, effective, and in-depth activities, including campaigns aimed at protecting workers’ legitimate rights and interests.
He noted that the union has actively proposed and participated in building and improving policies and laws related to workers, while also focusing on dialogue and collective bargaining.
According to the Chairman, each year tens of thousands of dialogues are held, promptly addressing thousands of opinions and recommendations from members and workers. He said many collective labor agreements have been signed, contributing to improved working conditions and higher incomes and benefits for union members and workers.
At the ceremony, the General Confederation of Labor of Vietnam commended 101 outstanding grassroots union presidents in dialogue and collective bargaining. The Chairman said this reflects the VGCL’s implementation of directives from the General Secretary and the President of Vietnam, To Lâm: “The union returns to its function: Regular dialogue, substantive collective bargaining, protecting workers’ rights...”
On behalf of Party and State leadership, the Chairman congratulated and praised the 101 union presidents, saying they embody a new generation of union officials and serve as an exemplary model for workers’ movements and union activities.
He urged unions at all levels to continue implementing resolutions of the 14th Party Congress, the National Front’s 11th Congress, the 14th Congress of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour, and the program and work plan for the term and year.
The Chairman emphasized that unions must focus on raising productivity and achieving two-digit growth, while innovating, practicing thrift, changing working styles, and applying science and technology, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence.
He called for promoting the union’s role in building a modern, strong working class that is at the forefront of industrialization and modernization, contributing to the international workers’ movement.
The Chairman also urged the building of a team of union officials at all levels—especially professional staff and grassroots union presidents—with backbone, enthusiasm, responsibility, and close ties to workers. He said they should understand enterprise development and have strong working skills and methods.
He further highlighted the need to renew operating content and methods, improve organization and the apparatus, and strengthen the operating model to increase the effectiveness of dialogue and collective bargaining. He also called for proposing, building, and improving laws related to workers and unions.
The Chairman urged unions to actively participate in anti-corruption, waste, and negativity, contributing to building a clean and strong Party and political system.
He also called for thorough preparation for the successful XIV Congress of the Vietnam Trade Union for the 2026–2031 term, including a comprehensive review of achievements, limitations, and issues from 2023–2026, along with analysis of causes and solutions for the next term.
The Chairman said Party committees, authorities, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, mass organizations, and employers should continue directing, coordinating, and creating conditions for the Vietnam Trade Union to operate effectively.
Premium gym chains are entering a “golden era” that is ending or already in decline, as rising operating costs collide with shifting consumer preferences toward more flexible, community-based ways to exercise. Long-term memberships are shrinking, margins are pressured by higher rents and facility expenses, and competition from smaller, more personalized…