On November 27, the National Assembly passed the amended Housing Law. One of the notable contents of the law is the regulation that the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor is allowed to participate in investing in the construction of social housing for trade union members who are eligible for social housing policies and work in rented industrial parks.

“As the representative of workers' legitimate rights, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor identifies housing as one of the top concerns of civil manual workers, employees in the pubic sector, and trade union members," said Ngo Duy Hieu.

Ngo Duy Hieu, vice president of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor talked about the Vietnam Trade Union's participation in investing in social housing for trade union members who are eligible for social housing policies, working in industrial parks.

Housing directly impacts the quality of life of trade union members, including living conditions, health, living environment, child care, security, and safety.

According to Ngo Duy Hieu, through survey results, the majority of union members are newly married couples who rent houses. The high cost of housing is also a reason why many civil servants and employees leave the public sector to seek higher-paying jobs in the private enterprise sector.

A worker's family lives in the residential area of Trade Union in Ha Nam province. Photo: H.N

Referring to the experience of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor in housing construction, Ngo Duy Hieu said that since 2017, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 655/QD-TTg approving the project "Investment in building trade union institutions in industrial parks and export processing zones" (later amended to Decision No. 1729/QD-TTg dated November 4, 2020).

On that basis, in the past few years, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor organized the construction of a residential area at the Trade Union in Dong Van II Industrial Park (Ha Nam province) with five buildings with a total of 244 apartments for rent.

“The project was surveyed by a working group of the National Assembly's Law Committee. They witnessed the living conditions of workers. Workers living here are excited because they have a stable, cheap place to live, so they can feel secure in their work," Ngo Duy Hieu said.

A corner of the residential area of Trade Union in Ha Nam province. Photo: H.N

According to the Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, by the end of 2023, 36 localities have introduced land locations to the Confederation to implement the housing project.

Previously, speaking at the National Assembly, Ngo Duy Hieu said that the need for housing for workers is huge. Meanwhile, the State's ability to respond is still limited, businesses are not interested in social housing.

Therefore, a legal system is needed to mobilize all social forces, including the Trade Union, to participate in building housing for this group of people.

Hieu believed that, in the context of Vietnam's deep integration and participation in many new-generation free trade agreements, the State needs to create a mechanism for the Trade Union to continue to affirm and promote its role, and demonstrate strengths in attracting and gathering workers.

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