'Trade unions must become a place for developing human resources in science and technology.'
Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Pham Duc Long requested that the industry's trade union innovate its role and become a center for developing human resources in science and technology.
"Industry-specific trade unions must become centers for developing human resources in science and technology, not just welfare organizations," Deputy Minister Pham Duc Long emphasized at the conference summarizing the work of 2025 and implementing tasks for 2026 of the Vietnam Science and Technology Trade Union on the morning of January 26th.
(Photo: Phan Hoan)
According to him, in the context of science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation being identified as the main driving forces of the new growth model, industry-specific trade unions must be linked to improving the professional capacity and competitiveness of workers.
Analyzing further, he argued that workers losing their professional capacity is even more dangerous than losing their jobs. Losing a job can be compensated with finding another, but losing professional capacity means "losing both the job and the opportunity to find a new one." Therefore, trade unions must accompany workers in protecting and enhancing their professional capacity.
"This is the difference, the unique identity of the Science and Technology Trade Union," he emphasized regarding one of the four orientations for 2026.
The next orientation is building a digital trade union and comprehensively transforming its operations through digitalization. According to the Deputy Minister, the trade union can listen to the thoughts and aspirations of its members and workers and support them in the digital environment. Caring for and protecting workers also needs to expand into the digital space, where tools like AI and virtual assistants can be used to advise on policies and laws.
Regarding the third orientation, the Deputy Minister requested that the trade union "become more important" to professional organizations. The trade union must promote innovation, linking competition with solving practical problems such as increasing productivity, revenue, reducing costs, and improving work efficiency.
Finally, the trade union needs to develop tools to measure the value of its activities. The level of trust among union members, the level of worker protection, etc., can all be measured and implemented in the digital environment. This was discussed at the Vietnam Science and Technology Union's 2025 year-end review and 2026 task implementation conference on January 26th.
(Photo: Trong Dat)
In 2025, the Vietnam Science and Technology Union's performance was positively assessed. According to Vice President Pham Quang Huong, the organization successfully fulfilled its nhiệm vụ of representing and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of its members and workers, while also taking good care of their lives. Emulation movements in creative labor, scientific research, technical innovation, and digital transformation within union activities were intensified. Many initiatives, projects, and solutions with high practical value were applied, thereby affirming the role of intellectuals and workers in the science and technology sector.
Mr. Huynh Thanh Xuan, Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, assessed that the Vietnam Science and Technology Trade Union has operated effectively and is one of the leading units in applying information technology. The patriotic emulation movement, especially the "Excellent Worker, Creative Worker" movement, has been well organized, with over 4,000 recognized initiatives, generating approximately 1,000 billion VND in benefits.
The Vietnam Science and Technology Trade Union has 53 affiliated trade unions with 201 grassroots trade unions and 82,837 members. The majority of cadres, workers, and civil servants in the sector have high professional qualifications and have received basic training.
By Trong Dat,
according to VnExpress