Dong Nai: Trade Union membership expansion in FDI enterprises

The Resolution of the Vietnam Trade Union Congress for the 2026–2031 term sets a goal of continuing to expand trade union membership and establish grassroots Trade Unions in eligible enterprises and organizations. Nationwide, the target is to have 4 million union members, strengthen grassroots organizations, improve operational effectiveness, and enhance connections with workers.

The Executive Board of the grassroots Trade Union at Ziehl-Abegg Vietnam Co., Ltd. (Nhon Trach Ward) makes its debut at the ceremony announcing the decision to establish the grassroots Trade Union.

In Dong Nai, over the past tenure, membership expansion and the establishment of grassroots trade unions achieved outstanding results, particularly within Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) enterprises, thanks to the trade union organization's proactive and flexible approach in communicating with and accessing businesses and workers.

Numerous outstanding results

Dao Minh Tan, Vice Chairman of the Dong Nai City Labor Federation, stated: "Developing union members and establishing grassroots Trade Unions are core, continuous, and vital missions for the trade union organization in the current era. This is both an urgent requirement and a long-term strategic task for trade unions at all levels. Particularly, against the backdrop of the country's deep international integration, the demand placed upon trade union organizations is not merely to increase membership but to fundamentally enhance operational quality."

Over the past tenure, under the leadership and direction of Party committees, the support of authorities and professional counterparts, coupled with a proactive, flexible approach to accessing enterprises and workers, trade unions at all levels achieved prominent results in membership expansion and grassroots Trade Union establishment. Numerous highly practical campaigns and activities initiated by municipal trade unions have contributed to safeguarding and caring for workers' rights, creating a reliable foundation and stronghold for union members and workers. Consequently, this has attracted and gathered a massive pool of workers into the Trade Union organization, notably with the continuous growth of membership within the FDI business sector.

Since 2023, the entire city has admitted nearly 161,000 new members and established 784 new grassroots Trade Unions. Since the administrative merger on July 1, 2025, Dong Nai has established 119 grassroots Trade unions and admitted over 36,000 members. This result demonstrates the proactivity and relentless efforts of Trade Union organizations amid current labor fluctuations and hurdles.

A prime example is the grassroots Trade Union of Metal & Plastic Intellect Bincheng Vietnam Co., Ltd. (a 100% Chinese-invested enterprise specializing in manufacturing electronic plastic components). Despite being newly established in 2025, the company's grassroots Trade Union has gradually asserted its role as a trusted anchor for union members and workers. According to the grassroots Trade Union Chairwoman Le Thị Thuy An, establishing a grassroots Trade Union at the enterprise is profoundly meaningful in building harmonious, stable, and progressive labor relations. The Trade Union acts as a bridge between employees and the employer, helping both sides increase dialogue and share insights during production and business operations.

Following the merger of administrative units, the Dong Nai City Labor Federation currently manages more than 2,300 grassroots trade unions with nearly 750,000 union members out of a total workforce of nearly 800,000, achieving a membership gathering rate of over 94.8%. Within this structure, union members in the non-state business sector (FDI) account for 97.3%.

Concentrating on solutions for membership growth

According to Dao Minh Tan, alongside the achieved results, membership expansion and grassroots Trade Union establishment across Dong Nai City still face various challenges. Specifically, the two-tier trade union organizational model following the restructuring of the administrative apparatus places immense pressure on municipal-level Trade Union officials. The number of full-time specialized officials remains thin, while the geographical area is vast, enterprises are scattered, and the workforce is large and frequently fluctuating.

Furthermore, the potential for membership growth in traditional industrial parks is becoming increasingly limited due to high occupancy rates and slower labor mobility than before.

Meanwhile, new sources for membership growth are predominantly concentrated in small, micro-enterprises and household businesses, where labor is unstable, hard to reach, and difficult to maintain sustainable Trade Union organizations. Additionally, some enterprises have not genuinely created favorable conditions for establishing grassroots trade unions, showcasing avoidance or a lack of cooperation.

Dao Minh Tan added: "With Dong Nai officially becoming a city as of April 30, 2026, the socio-economic situation is projected to remain stable and prosperous with national-scale projects. As a result, the number of newly registered enterprises continues to increase across diverse production types, sectors, and industries, opening up extensive job opportunities for workers. This practical foundation serves as a highly vital platform for Dong Nai to keep implementing membership growth solutions and establishing grassroots Trade Unions in the coming time."

Key strategies include strongly innovating communication and mobilization methods to be more flexible, approachable, and practical; taking the interests of union members as the center to attract workers to join the Trade Union organization. This includes accelerating the application of digital technology, social networks, and online platforms in communication work, member management, and Trade Union administration. Special focus will be placed on upgrading the operational quality of grassroots Trade Unions after their establishment, alongside fostering non-state Trade Union officials with courage, dialogue skills, and dedication.

The city’s Trade Union system is also studying the development of a network of collaborators  for membership development in industrial parks, industrial clusters, and worker communities. It aims to strengthen coordination with Party committees, local authorities, and relevant agencies in surveying and approaching enterprises. At the same time, Trade Unions will continue improving workers’ material and spiritual well-being and advocate for investment in trade union facilities, social housing, childcare centers, and cultural and recreational spaces for workers, thereby fostering long-term commitment to the Trade Union organization.

Experience shows that in enterprises with effective Trade Unions, workers’ rights are better protected through collective labor agreements and regular workplace dialogue. Welfare programs and employee care activities are also more effectively implemented. Mai Thi Huong, Chairwoman of the grassroots trade union at Eclat Textile Co., Ltd (Vietnam) in Nhon Trach Ward, stated that grassroots Trade Unions serve as an important bridge between workers and employers, helping reduce labor disputes and work stoppages while promoting a stable working environment.

Developing union membership and establishing grassroots Trade Unions is not merely about increasing numbers. More importantly, it is about building a strong Trade Union organization that genuinely represents, protects, and accompanies workers. With strong political resolve of the entire Trade Union system, it is believed that membership development and grassroots trade union establishment in Dong Nai City will continue to achieve positive results in the time ahead.

By Nguyen Hoa - Translated by Mai Nga, Thu Ha