Hanoi (VNA) – How to enhance the quality of the VietnamFatherland Front’s performance in social supervision and criticism is one ofthe main topics in discussions at the front’s 9th National Congress,which is taking place in Hanoi.

At a discussion in the afternoon of September 19, President of theVietnam Women’s Union (VWU) Nguyen Thi Thu Ha said joining social supervisionand criticism is an important task for the union to fulfill its functions ofprotecting the legitimate rights and interests of its members.

Ha emphasized that while engaging in social criticism for draft laws anddocuments related with women, children and gender equality, the VWU paysattention to the opinions of union members and women from all walks of life.Over the past five years, the union’s chapters at all levels chaired thesupervision of more than 15,000 issues and participated in over 55,600inspections and surveys conducted by all-level Party committees, People’sCouncils, VFF committees and socio-political organisations.

For the effectively implementation of the VFF’s goals and plan ofactions, the VWU leader urged the VFF to better perform its role as chair andcoordinator among agencies, create forums for agencies to further share, updateand exchange information and experience related to social supervision andcriticism as well as people-to-people exchange.

Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour(VGCL) Tran Thanh Hai reported that the VGCL has recommended the Prime Ministerto hold dialogue with workers and labourers, and such dialogues have been heldover the past four years, helping timely settle many problems and promptingleaders of agencies and localities to hold similar dialogues.

Vice President of the VFF committee of Ha Giang province Lo Thi Myshared that the provincial VFF organization has organized 13 conferences tocontribute feedback to resolutions on agriculture, education and health care ofthe provincial People’s Council.

She noted that in order to promote grassroots democracy, it is necessaryto strengthen the operation of grassroots organisations such as people’sinspection and investment monitoring boards, along with improving the work inreceiving citizens and settling complaints and petitions.

Delegates from many localities shared the view that communal-level VFForganisations have limited capacity in conducting social supervision andcriticism. They recommended that the VFF continue to build plans for suchactivities, which can be considered one of the ways to control State power. TheVFF should also quickly transfer the public’s opinions to the NationalAssembly, People’s Councils at all levels and agencies in accordance with theirassigned functions./