PM Dung said the VGCL’s successful activities in recent years have actively contributed to the common achievements of the country. Trade unions at all levels have renewed their mode of operation, raised their sense of responsibility, protected the legitimate interests of labourers, launched practical emulation movements and intensified supervision of law enforcement in this field.

The effective cooperation between the VGCL, Government, agencies and mass organizations at all levels has helped to improve the living conditions of labourers, he said.

The PM asked the VGCL to pay due attention to promoting activities at the grassroots level including launching emulation movements for higher labour productivity and increasing supervision of the implementation of policies by agencies and enterprises, as well as law enforcement by labourers.

Regarding the housing issue – one of the labourers’ concerns, PM Dung noted that Vietnam has nearly 900,000 labourers working in industrial and export processing zones, but only two percent of them can afford to rent houses built by their employers and trade unions.

Mr Dung asked the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Construction to joint efforts in adopting suitable policies aimed at encouraging investors to build houses for labourers and local people to provide accommodation for workers at a reasonable price.

The PM also urged the VGCL to quickly resolve labour disputes, strikes, and other issues related to labour protection, medical insurance for labourers and building of democratic statutes in joint stock companies.