National Assembly Chairman urges unions to focus on raising productivity and achieving two-digit growth; emphasis on innovation and cost-saving

On the morning of April 28, in Hanoi, Politburo member and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Mẫn attended the 140th anniversary of International Labour Day (1886 - 2026) and honored 101 outstanding grassroots union chairs for excellence in dialogue and collective bargaining in 2026. At the ceremony, the National Assembly Chairman stated that under the leadership of the Party, Vietnamese workers have been present in all sectors of the economy, forming the backbone and leading the country's industrialization, modernization, and international integration. The Vietnamese Trade Union has reaffirmed its role as a broad political-social organization of the working class, a reliable support for union members and workers, with increasingly practical, effective, deep, and substantive activities; it has organized many meaningful movements to better protect the legitimate rights and interests of workers. In particular, the union has actively proposed and participated in building and improving policies and laws related to workers; it has focused on dialogue and substantive collective bargaining. Every year, tens of thousands of dialogues are held, timely addressing thousands of ideas and petitions from members and workers; many collective labor agreements have been signed, contributing to improved working conditions, higher incomes, and better welfare for members and workers. At the ceremony, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour honored 101 outstanding grassroots union chairs for excellence in dialogue and collective bargaining. The Chairman noted that this demonstrates the General Federation’s thorough implementation of the directives of the General Secretary and the President: “The union returns to its function: regular dialogue, substantive collective bargaining, and protecting workers’ rights…”. On behalf of the Party leadership, the Chairman congratulated and praised the 101 outstanding grassroots union chairs; he emphasized that they embody the new generation of union officials and serve as exemplary models of the workers’ movement. The Chairman urged all levels of unions to continue to thoroughly implement the XIVth Party Congress resolutions, the national front’s XIth Congress resolutions, the XIVth Congress of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour, and the program and work plans for the term. “Union at all levels must deeply grasp their tasks, focusing on raising productivity and two-digit growth; foster innovation, practice thrift, reform working styles, and vigorously apply science and technology, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence,” the Chairman stressed. The Chairman called for promoting the role of the union in building a modern, strong working class that truly leads the country’s industrialization, modernization, and contributes to the international workers’ movement. Additionally, focus on developing a cadre of union officials at all levels, especially professional staff and grassroots union chairs who have backbone, enthusiasm, responsibility, close ties to workers, and a solid understanding of enterprise development, with solid skills and methods of work. The Chairman noted the need to renew content and methods of operation, to perfect organization and machinery, operational models, and to enhance the effectiveness of dialogue and collective bargaining; to propose, build, and perfect policies and laws related to workers and the union; to actively participate in anti-corruption, waste, and negative practices, and to contribute to building an upright and strong Party and political system. The Chairman also urged thorough preparation to successfully organize the XIVth Congress of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour for the 2026 - 2031 term; to comprehensively assess the achievements, limitations, and issues of the 2023 - 2026 period, analyze causes, and propose solutions for the upcoming term. Party committees, authorities, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, mass organizations, and employers should continue to guide, coordinate, and create conditions for the Vietnamese Trade Union to operate effectively.