Thirty years is a milestone for the Vietnam Textile and Garment Trade Union to look back on its journey, honor the generations who helped build the organization, and carry forward a spirit of solidarity and creativity.
A proud 30-year journey
On September 14, 1996, the Trade Union of Vietnam National Textile and Garment Corporation – now the Vietnam Textile and Garment Trade Union – was established by bringing together grassroots trade unions across the Corporation’s enterprises. From a challenging beginning, it gradually strengthened its organization, expanded its network, and improved the quality of its activities.
The past three decades have witnessed the growth of Vietnam’s textile and garment industry into a key economic sector, contributing to employment, exports and international integration. Throughout this journey, the Vietnam Textile and Garment Trade Union has focused on creating stable workplaces, promoting labor and social welfare policies, and improving workforce quality.
Its core mission has remained to represent, care for and protect workers’ legitimate rights and interests. Welfare programs, better meals, working conditions and healthcare, support for workers in difficult circumstances, and cultural and sports activities have been widely implemented. Dialogue and collective bargaining have received greater attention, helping build harmonious and stable labor relations.
Programs promoting skilled and creative work, skills competitions and other professional activities have encouraged responsibility, innovation and dedication. Training has also expanded from union officials to workers, covering skills, quality, equipment maintenance and production management.
Union communications have undergone major changes, moving from traditional formats to a multi-platform ecosystem including websites, fanpages, YouTube, radio and digital activities. These channels not only deliver information but also connect people, listen to workers and share effective practices.
Women, families and children have also remained a focus, with programs supporting female workers, childcare, scholarships, recognition of outstanding families, and the Great Founder – Nguyễn Thị Sen Award.
Over the past 30 years, the textile and garment industry has faced natural disasters, crises, market volatility and the COVID-19 pandemic. When jobs and livelihoods were affected, the union provided support, mobilized resources and helped stabilize employment, demonstrating solidarity, mutual support and responsibility.
Lessons from 30 Years
Thirty years have left the Vietnam Textile and Garment Trade Union with several important lessons.
First, all activities must begin with the legitimate needs and interests of workers, with workers at the center.
Second, preserving tradition must go hand in hand with innovation, continuously seeking models and approaches suited to changing realities.
Third, trade unions, businesses, and workers are closely connected. Harmonizing interests and co-creating value are foundations for sustainable development.
Fourth, trade union officials must remain proactive, flexible, creative, and responsive to new challenges.
Aspirations for the Next Journey
Digital transformation, green transition, the circular economy, AI, international labor standards and global competition are greatly changing the textile and garment industry.
For the next phase, the Vietnam Textile and Garment Trade Union will focus on three directions: Strengthen – Accompany – Shape the Future.
Strengthen the organization: promote membership growth, refining the organizational model, and building a skilled and dedicated team with strong dialogue and bargaining skills, capable of adapting to the changing labor market.
Accompany workers and businesses: continue caring for employment, livelihoods, and welfare; enhance the quality of dialogue, collective bargaining, and policy monitoring. The union will actively contribute to policy development, provide vocational and digital skills training, and give greater attention to women, families and children. Science, technology and digital transformation will also be promoted.
Shape the future: help build a modern textile workforce with strong skills, industrial discipline and a commitment to contribute. Labor campaigns will be renewed around the theme “Skilled Work – Higher Productivity – Better Income,” supporting productivity, competitiveness and quality of life.
From the legacy, we soar
Thirty years provide a strong foundation for the Vietnam Textile and Garment Trade Union to move forward. Today’s achievements reflect the dedication, creativity and resilience of generations of union members and workers.
The union sincerely thanks the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour, Vietnam National Textile and Garment Group, Party Committees, professional organizations, and generations of leaders and union officials for their support in building the Union and caring for workers.
With its tradition of solidarity, creativity and dedication to workers, the Vietnam Textile and Garment Trade Union will keep writing new chapters, strengthen the organization and contribute to the sustainable development of Vietnam’s textile and garment industry and the country.
