Innovating trade union communications in digital age

With more than 1.4 million workers employed at local enterprises, demand for information on employment, wages, benefits, policies, and trade union (TU) activities in Dong Nai is steadily increasing. This reality requires TU organizations to vigorously innovate their communication content and methods to become more flexible, practical, and effective.

In particular, TU chapters at all levels across the city need to accelerate the application of technology and make effective use of digital platforms to disseminate information promptly, bringing TU organizations closer to their members and employees.

Improving communication effectiveness

At a recent 2026 training conference for rapporteurs and communicators attended by 300 TU officials in Dong Nai, Ngo Duy Hieu, Standing Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, delivered a presentation titled "The New Context and Key Issues Facing the Vietnam TU." He emphasized that TU communications go beyond merely disseminating information and play an important role in social governance, ensuring that TU members and employees receive accurate and timely information.

Bui Thi Bich Thuy, Vice President of the Dong Nai City Labor Federation, presents commemorative banners to teams participating in the 2026 Workers, Public Employees, and Laborers Football Tournament. Photo: Nguyen Hoa

According to Ngo Duy Hieu, as the workforce grows and TU organizations continue to expand, communications personnel face increasing workloads. This requires TU officials to proactively accelerate the application of technology to carry out their duties more quickly and effectively. He cited, "Some wildcat strikes occur simply because employees lack information or do not fully understand relevant issues; yet other disputes are resolved promptly because TU organizations provided accurate information at the right time and in the right way."

Analyzing the new context, Ngo Duy Hieu outlined the key priorities facing the Vietnam TU, emphasizing the need to renew thinking, vision, and working methods in line with practical realities. Grassroots TU officials must actively listen to employees' thoughts and aspirations, promptly assess public opinion, classify information, and deliver appropriate messages to specific target groups. "The TU must confront challenges head-on to innovate and adapt to mission requirements, particularly by boosting communications effectiveness in the new era," said he.

Bui Thi Bich Thuy, Vice President of the Dong Nai City Labor Federation, said strengthening Vietnam TU communications during the 2026–2031 term is an important and urgent requirement in the current context. Accordingly, communications must shift from one-way information dissemination toward a proactive, professional, modern, and practical approach. Communications activities must also be closely linked to the TU's functions and responsibilities, contributing to greater operational effectiveness and better meeting the needs of TU members and employees.

Putting workers at center

In recent times, TU organizations at all levels across the city have gradually renewed their communication content and methods to make them more flexible, practical, and responsive to employees' needs. Alongside traditional communication channels, greater attention has been paid to using social media, online chat groups, and digital platforms to strengthen connections between TUs and their members. Through grassroots TU officials, efforts to understand TU members' morale, thoughts, and aspirations have helped make communications more closely aligned with practical realities.

Ngo Duy Hieu, Standing Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, addresses TU officials in Dong Nai on innovating TU communications.

Nguyen Hoang Dung, Vice President of the Grassroots TU at Pou Sung Vietnam Co., Ltd. in An Vien Commune, said online channels enable information on labor laws, benefits, policies, social insurance, and worker welfare programs to be disseminated quickly and conveniently. Priority is given to practical topics closely related to employees' daily lives, with information presented in concise, easy-to-understand formats accompanied by images and specific details to reach as many workers as possible.

At many enterprises, TU communications continue to evolve. Stories about workers’ efforts to overcome difficulties, technical innovation initiatives, enterprises’ implementation of exemplary welfare policies, and programs supporting disadvantaged TU members have generated positive effects, helping strengthen employees' confidence in TU organizations.

Le Thi Hanh, a worker at Son Ha Co., Ltd. in Tam Hiep Ward, regularly obtains information through the Dong Nai City Labor Federation's media channels and the "Worker Rendezvous" program, an annual event organized by the federation and livestreamed on its media platforms. Through the program, she can directly raise questions and discuss issues of concern, receiving timely responses from TU officials, departments, and agencies. This helps her gain a deeper understanding of policies and benefits for employees.

Despite these achievements, TU communications still face considerable difficulties, particularly at enterprises employing large numbers of workers. Production pressures and shift schedules significantly constrain the organization of communication activities. Meanwhile, most grassroots TU officials perform TU duties alongside their professional responsibilities, leaving them with limited time to develop communication content and formats.

A key requirement for TU communications is strengthening the capacity of TU personnel. In the digital environment, officials must have the skills to screen and verify information and appropriately handle communication situations. This will gradually improve communication quality and bring official, reliable information closer to TU members and employees.

In addition, employees differ considerably in their technological proficiency and information needs. Notably, amid the rapid expansion of social media, unverified rumors can spread quickly, affecting workers' morale and labor relations at enterprises. This requires TU officials to proactively monitor workers' sentiments, verify information, and effectively guide public opinion and communicate accurate information to employees.

According to Bui Thi Bich Thuy, innovating TU communications in the digital age is not simply a change in working methods but also a fundamental shift in thinking toward serving TU members and employees. In line with the principle of "putting employees at the center," harmoniously combining digital platforms with the direct involvement of TU officials will bring TU organizations increasingly closer to employees, enabling them to fulfill their mission during Dong Nai's new stage of development.

By Thao My – Translated by Minh Hong, Thu Ha