Despite accounting for a mere 14% of the national population and 27% of the local workforce, the annual working-class contribution to the nation makes up more than 65% of GDP and over 70% of the annual State budget.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the meeting between
the Government and the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc emphasised these figures while chairing a meeting between the Government and the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour on December 24, with the event evaluating results of the implementation of working regulations between both agencies for the 2016 to 2020 period.

The cabinet leader reiterated that this year has been challenging due to the negative impacts caused by natural disasters and the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic globally. Despite these negatives, through the great efforts of the entire political system and people from all parts of society, such as the significant contributions made by the working class, the nation has achieved encouraging results.

This includes dealing with issues regarding socio-economic development, job creation, social security, Party building, and rectification, thereby reinforcing unity throughout the whole political system. Indeed, great balances have been ensured as a means of ensuring people's lives, including workers, he added.

PM Phuc also expressed great appreciation for the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor and trade unions at all levels for their strong performance in co-ordinating efforts alongside the Government to care for workers' lives. This has served to play an active role in building and fine-tuning legal institutions whilst also participating in social criticism, moves which have contributed to reflecting the thoughts and aspirations of workers for the Party and State.

“During the nine decades of revolutionary leadership, our Party has been always steadfast to the stance of the working class, attaching importance to the working class as the vanguard of the Vietnamese revolution. After 35 years of pursuing the Doi Moi (Renewal) process, the Vietnamese working class is constantly growing in quantity, quality, and economic sectors, and seen as the leading force in the national process of industrialisation and modernization, and international integration,” PM Phuc stated.

The Vietnamese Government leader hailed the Vietnamese workforce for paying close attention to improving their own professional qualifications and occupational skills as a means of becoming increasingly attractive when competing in the global labour market.

The number of employed workers has increased by 26% over the five-year period

Amid the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, global supply chains have been severely disrupted which has put many factories in numerous difficulties and contributed to the growing number of underemployed or jobless workers, PM Phuc noted. Moving forward, calling ministries, sectors, localities, and enterprises must work harder to create more jobs for their workers.

He also emphasised that the working class must reform themselves to adapt to Industry 4.0. This is particularly important when the country joins new generation agreements such as the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and the Regional Comprehensive Partnership Agreement (RCEP).

With regard to major tasks over the next five years, PM Phuc asked the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, as well as ministries, sectors, and localities, to thoroughly grasp the Party's policies and guidelines on the development of the working class. This should be done in association with the implementation of resolutions of the 13th National Party Congress.

It is therefore imperative to develop the local labour market in a way to ensure more sustainable employment, in addition to carrying out synchronous mechanisms and policies aimed at developing human resources, especially high-quality human resources. In addition, the material and spiritual life of workers should be cared for by building more houses, schools, and refining institutions for them, he said.

Following the meeting, the Government leader asked the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs to co-ordinate efforts with the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor and the Government Office, to submit a draft Directive to the PM on a variety of issues. These involve the improvement of co-ordinating efficiency between the Government and the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor as a means of ensuring sustainable jobs, raising living standards, and working conditions for workers to contribute to the development of the Vietnamese working class.