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

Delegates pose for a group photo at the opening ceremony
of the Vietnam Fatherland Front’s 9th National Congress 

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

 Ha emphasized that while engaging in social criticism for draft laws and documents related with women, children and gender equality, the VWU pays attention 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 the supervision of more than 15,000 issues and participated in over 55,600 inspections and surveys conducted by all-level Party committees, People’s Councils, VFF committees and socio-political organisations.

 For the effectively implementation of the VFF’s goals and plan of actions, the VWU leader urged the VFF to better perform its role as chair and coordinator among agencies, create forums for agencies to further share, update and exchange information and experience related to social supervision and criticism 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 Minister to hold dialogue with workers and labourers, and such dialogues have been held over the past four years, helping timely settle many problems and prompting leaders of agencies and localities to hold similar dialogues.

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

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

 Delegates from many localities shared the view that communal-level VFF organisations have limited capacity in conducting social supervision and criticism. They recommended that the VFF continue to build plans for such activities, which can be considered one of the ways to control State power. The VFF should also quickly transfer the public’s opinions to the National Assembly, People’s Councils at all levels and agencies in accordance with their assigned functions.