President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour Dang Ngoc Tung briefed the Party leader on the situation of State employees and labourers. He said though the number of labourers has increased, the quality of labour has not yet met the market demand. Most labourers in industrial parks and processing zones are young and lack basic training.

Another concern is that payment for labourers working for non-State businesses is still low. Only two percent of workers in industrial parks and processing zones can afford to rent houses built by employers and trade unions.

Mr Tung stressed that strikes have become ever more complicated as they continue to occur on a larger scale, which may cause social disorder in the long run. Moreover, workers at foreign direct-investment companies have little access to information, accommodation, training, and cultural activities.

Mr Truong Tan Sang said that the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour needs to closely cooperate with the government and relevant agencies to build policies aimed at improving workers’ material and spiritual lives. He asked the confederation to ensure its role in the fight against corruption and wastefulness, and to cooperate with other Party committees in drawing up a resolution on the working class in the coming period of industrialization, modernization and international economic integration.

The Party Central Committee’s Secretariat will consider the establishment of a Steering Committee in charge of building a resolution on the working class. The Vietnam General Confederation of Labour will cooperate with the Party Central Committee’s Organisation Board in the assignment and management of trade union cadres as well as reviewing the results of carrying out the Secretariat’s instruction on Party building in industrial parks and processing zones.

Mr Sang noted that the confederation needs to cooperate with the Party Central Committee’s Commission for External Relations to build a roadmap for expanding bilateral and multi-lateral relations with regional and international trade unions. He also agreed with the confederation’s proposal that local administrations intensify supervision of the implementation of policies concerning labourers.