Austrian trade unions ready to share experience with Vietnam

At the event in Hanoi, VGCL President Cuong described the OGB’s working visit to Vietnam as historic and an important milestone in the relationship between the two sides.

Both the VGCL and OGB can support each other’s activities with their experience, especially at grassroots level trade unions, helping protect workers’ rights and interests, improve working conditions, and ensure proper employment for all labourers, he said.

He also briefed the Austrian guests about the VGCL and its priorities, adding that the 12th congress of Vietnam’s trade unions, slated for the third quarter of 2018, will discuss major plans and targets for the upcoming years, aiming to develop both Vietnamese trade unions in quantity and quality in order to better express workers’ aspirations, protect their rights and interests, and improve their income, living standards and working conditions.

Foglar said there are 1.2 million trade union members in Austria, accounting for 35% of the country’s workforce. OGB is the only trade union centre representing Austrian workers and comprises seven sectoral trade unions.

He noted that his federation is ready to support and share experience with the VGCL and provide information about services that OGB gives to its members. It will also help improve the capacity of Vietnamese trade unions’ staff, especially in the non-State sector, and boost exchanges with trade unions of corresponding sectors in Vietnam.