Regulations on joining the Vietnam Trade Union by organizations of employees in enterprises in Vietnam from July 1, 2025

Regulations on joining the Vietnam Trade Union by organizations of employees in enterprises in Vietnam from July 1, 2025​ (Image from the internet)

On November 27, 2024, the National Assembly of Vietnam passed the Law on Trade Unions 2024, in which this Law has supplemented regulations on exemptions, reductions, and suspensions of trade union fees.

Right to establish, join, and operate Trade Unions in Vietnam from July 1, 2025

The right to establish, join, and operate trade unions is stipulated in Article 5 of the Law on Trade Unions 2024 as follows:

- Vietnamese workers have the right to establish, join, and operate trade unions.

- Workers who are foreign nationals working in Vietnam under a labor contract with a term of 12 months or more may join and operate in the grassroots trade union.

- The establishment, joining, and operation of trade unions are carried out according to the Charter of the Vietnam Trade Union, the Law on Trade Unions 2024, and other relevant legal provisions.

Regulations on joining the Vietnam Trade Union by organizations of employees in enterprises in Vietnam from July 1, 2025

Employee organizations at enterprises, legally established and operating, which voluntarily agree with the Charter of the Vietnam Trade Union, have the right to join the Vietnam Trade Union. The joining process is regulated as follows:

(1) Documents for joining the Vietnam Trade Union include:

- A written request to join the Vietnam Trade Union;

- A copy of documents demonstrating the legal status of the employee organization at the enterprise;

- A document showing the employee organization's decision to join the Vietnam Trade Union; the decision-making process to join the Vietnam Trade Union is carried out according to labor law provisions;

- A signed list of members voluntarily joining the Vietnam Trade Union;

- Documents and agreements as per relevant legal provisions on resolving the rights and obligations of the employee organization at enterprises and its members related to the employee organization;

(2) The procedure for joining the Vietnam Trade Union is carried out as follows:

- The employee organization at the enterprise submits documents to the provincial trade union, central industry, or equivalent competent authority;

- Upon receiving complete documents, the competent provincial trade union, central industry, or equivalent authority considers and recognizes the employee organization at the enterprise joining the Vietnam Trade Union. If not recognized, a written response with clear reasons must be provided;

(3) Once recognized for joining the Vietnam Trade Union:

- The employee organization at the enterprise automatically ceases to operate as an employee organization at the enterprise. The competent provincial trade union, central industry, and equivalent authority are responsible for notifying the competent state management agency to revoke the issued registration;

- Workers who are members of the employee organization at the enterprise and voluntarily meet the conditions of the Vietnam Trade Union Charter will be recognized as union members;

(4) The Vietnam General Confederation of Labor guides the process of joining the Vietnam Trade Union for employee organizations at enterprises as stipulated in this Article.

(Article 6 Law on Trade Unions 2024)

The Law on Trade Unions 2024 takes effect from July 1, 2025.

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