VietNamNet Bridge – Dang Quang Dieu, director of the Institute for Workers and Trade Unions of the Viet Nam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) spoke to Thoi bao Kinh te Viet Nam (Vietnam Economic Times) about promoting labour rights.

What are the major reasons for strike action?

Our study showed that salaries and year-end bonuses are one of the issues of greatest concern for workers. Therefore, if enterprises fail to keep their commitment and do not pay salaries and bonuses for workers as promised, strikes can easily happen.

The main causes for strikes include businesses flouting labour regulations, low salaries, excessive overtime and hazardous working conditions.

According to VGCL statistics, 80 per cent of strikes are caused by low salaries which do not reflect the efforts made by workers.

Strikes mainly happen at foreign direct investment (FDI) enterprises. A lot of businesses provide reasons to avoid giving bonuses to workers or just offer token financial awards. This leads to employees giving up their jobs and going on strike for higher pay.

Why do strikes mainly happen in FDI enterprises, as the sector often pays higher salaries?

People often think that working at FDI enterprises will provide high salaries but it is not true. Only managers, engineers and people who undertake managerial positions at FDI enterprises get high salaries. A lot of employees, such as unskilled workers and manual labourers, get low salaries which do not meet their living costs.

Many FDI enterprises enter loss-making accounts to evade taxes and avoid paying higher salaries and bonuses to workers.

We carried out a survey on strikes and noticed that the FDI sector had the most enterprises breaking the labour law. Almost all workers in these enterprises do 400 to 500 working hours per year in overtime which is well over the 200 to 300 hours stipulated in the labour law.

Enterprises have also not constructed a fair pay scale. Normally, veteran workers get higher salaries, but in fact, longer-serving workers have salaries only some 5 to 10 per cent higher than new workers. This is often the cause of strike action.

What should be done to limit strikes, which should be regarded as "the last weapon" in ensuring labour rights?

Strikes not only disadvantage employers but also workers because the businesses come to a standstill.
To limit strikes, I think that employers need to strictly execute the labour law and keep their promises to their workers. Employers should share their profits harmoniously with their workers. It is the important factor in a business developing and making profits.

Enterprises should build kindergartens for migrant workers and assume the responsibility for their welfare to ensure good relations with their employees.

Workers also need to adopt better skills training, and a better understanding of the labour law, especially in relation to strike action.

VGCL is strengthening local labour unions, mainly in the FDI sector and non-state enterprises. In 2013, 70 per cent of enterprises should have trade unions to ensure employees have their labour rights protected.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News