To add a social dimension to economic development, competent and internationally acting trade unions are needed. The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung is historically close to the German democratic labor movement and its basic values of freedom, justice and solidarity. For this reason the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung is especially committed to cooperate with trade unions.

The Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) and the Vietnam Union of Industrial Workers are thus key partners of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung in Vietnam. Vietnamese trade unions are currently facing the challenge to redefine their roles within a market-oriented economy. The FES supports this process in various ways. Some examples of its work in this area include:

• Occupational Health and Safety Programme: Organized in close cooperation with the German Industrial Union for Mining, Chemical and Energy-Sector-Workers (IGBCE), our „Train the Trainer“ project has trained Health and Safety Officers of the Vietnam National Union of Industrial Workers unionists to educate union members about labor law, safety and security at the workplace
• Collective bargaining mechanisms and labor dispute settlement: A number of workshops have discussed the status quo, international experiences and the way forward in this tricky field.
• Tripartism: Various discussions have been organized with stakeholders on labor relations and mechanisms of cooperation between the state, labor unions and the private sector.
• Labour Law Advisory Centers: FES is supporting strongly the VGCL´s efforts to establish centers and offices for legal advice, consultancy and aid at provincial levels.
• Concepts for future trade union structures and work: In 2007, Vietnams Industrial Union for Industry and Trade has been tasked by the Vietnam General Council of Labor to develop new concepts for trade union organization in the textile and garment industries. FES support to this project is an extension of previous workshops and studies on local and international experiences and best practices.
• International Trade Union Dialogue: FES supports Vietnamese trade unions in establishing closer ties with international trade union organizations. FES is congratulating the Vietnam Postal and Telecommunication Workers Union for its recent successful affiliation to a Global Union Federation as first Vietnamese Trade Union Organization ever, namely to the UNI-Gobal Union . This support program benefits from well-established FES-Trade Union cooperation programs with Global Unions as well as the International Trade Union Confederation.

Over the years, our cooperation with the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) has provided, amongst others, key inputs for drafting the Vietnamese labor code. Other thematical areas of cooperation include Vietnam’s efforts to reform systems of social security including the risks of unemployment, accidents and retirement.