Hanoi (VNA) – Most opinionsat the debate at the National Assembly on June 7 morning supported Vietnam’sjoining Convention 98 of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) on theapplication of principles of the right to organise and bargain collectively.

Many deputies said participatingin the convention is in line with the Party and State’s policies oninternational integration in the fields of labour and social affairs, anddemonstrates the country’s resolve and efforts to realise labour-relatedcommitments under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-PacificPartnership (CPTPP) as well as obligations as a member state of the ILO.

They were also of the view thatmembership in the convention will facilitate the signing of the EU-Vietnam FreeTrade Agreement (EVFTA).

Minister of Labour, Invalids andSocial Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung said at the debate that during the process ofdrafting the proposal on Vietnam’s participation in the convention, ministrieshad coordinated closely with international partners to review the entire legalsystem, conditions and standards in Vietnam to assess the necessity, feasibilityand specific plans of the accession of the convention.

“At this point, it can be saidthat it is the right time for Vietnam to join Convention 98; we can effectivelyenforce stipulations of the convention, and the commitments are fullyconformable with Vietnam’s Constitution and laws,” Minister Dung said.

Some deputies expressed concernsabout the need to adjust laws and policies on management once otherorganisations representing labourers are established and operate besides theVietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL).  

In reply, the minister said the VGCLis a socio-political organisation governed by the Constitution, the Law onTrade Union and related laws, while other organisations of labourers are merelysocial organisations operating for the only purpose of labour relations.

He said relevant agencies havealready worked on plans to revise and supplement related to the right to joinand establish organisations representing labourers, conditions on number of membersand organisation of labourers’ organisations at grassroots level, and statutes,guidelines and purposes of such organisations, with a view to ensuring theireffective operation and the rights and interests of labourers.

Deputy Bui Van Cuong, who is Presidentof the VGCL, informed the NA that the confederation is planning stronger reformto meet international practice and better perform its mission in the newcontext.

Concluding the discussion, ViceChairwoman of the NA Tong Thi Phong required the NA’s Committee for ExternalRelations, in coordination with the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and SocialAffairs, to study the opinions of NA deputies and complete the proposal onaccession to Convention 98, in order to submit to the NA for approval on June14.-VNA