Foreign employees with contracts of at least 12 months eligible to join the Vietnam Trade Union

Point b, Clause 1, Article 1 of the Charter of the Vietnam Trade Union for its 14th term, issued together with Decision No. 268/QD-TLD, provides:

Article 1. Eligibility, conditions and procedures for joining the Vietnam Trade Union and participation in trade union activities

1. Persons eligible to join the Vietnam Trade Union

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b) Employees who are foreign nationals working in Vietnam under employment contracts with a term of at least 12 months.

Accordingly, foreign nationals working in Vietnam under employment contracts with a term of at least 12 months are eligible to join the Vietnam Trade Union.

Under the Charter, persons joining the Vietnam Trade Union must comply with the Constitution and laws of Vietnam, agree to the Charter and join voluntarily. Membership procedures must follow the guidance of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor.

In addition to the foreign employees mentioned above, eligible persons include Vietnamese employees working in organizations, units, enterprises, cooperatives, unions of cooperatives, and households and for individuals employing workers in accordance with the law; and persons working without an employment relationship within the territory of Vietnam.

Regarding members’ rights, the Charter provides that members may receive information on, discuss, make proposals on and vote on trade union affairs; elect trade union leadership bodies; question trade union leaders; participate in evaluating and providing feedback on trade union officials and organizations; and recommend disciplinary action against officials who commit violations.

Specifically, Point d, Clause 1, Article 2 provides that members who are Vietnamese citizens may participate in establishing grassroots trade unions and grassroots occupational unions, and may stand for election and nominate candidates for trade union leadership bodies. Outstanding trade union members may be recommended to the Communist Party of Vietnam for training and consideration for admission. Trade union officials who are Vietnamese citizens may be elected, recruited, appointed or designated to hold positions within trade union organizations.

When changing workplaces, members must notify the executive committees of the trade unions at both their former and new workplaces to complete the procedures for transferring their membership under Clause 4, Article 1. Members must comply with the Charter and resolutions of trade unions at all levels, participate in trade union activities and meetings, and pay membership dues.