HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has asked the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) to push forward the building of trade union institutions, especially those regarding housing for workers. 

The PM made the request at a working session between the Government and the VGCL in Hà Nội yesterday which reviewed recent co-ordination between the two sides and set plans for future collaboration. 
He said trade unions should continue to participate in finalising institutions, step up administrative reform and improve the efficiency of State management in employment and social affairs. 
The PM emphasised the need to promote the development of the labour market, prevent workplace accidents and care for the material and spiritual lives of employees. 
Authorities and trade unions were also asked to improve their efficiency in settling pressing issues that relate directly to labourers. 
Reviewing the country’s development in the first months of 2018, PM Phúc attributed such achievements to great efforts made by the Party, army and people, in particular, labourers and trade union officials. 
Thanks to activities launched by the VGCL and its chapters, employees have supported the Party and Government’s changes in economic management and corruption prevention, he said. 
The PM, however, pointed out shortcomings regarding employees’ income, social insurance payment, housing, unemployment, late salary payment and workplace accidents, citing the nearly 9,000 accidents causing 928 deaths in 2017. 
VGCL President Bùi Văn Cường reported that the agency has constructively participated in building institutions and gathering social feedback towards policies on labourers and trade unions, contributing to building a transparent, trusted Government that spurs growth and serves people and businesses. 
The Government, ministries and agencies have paid attention to the operation of trade unions, he said, recalling the dialogue between the PM and nearly 2,000 workers in the central key economic zone, and other dialogues between the Government leader and some 1,000 employees in industrial parks in the Red River Delta region in 2017 and the first six months of 2018. 
Following the dialogues, the PM dispatched a working group to the southern province of Đồng Nai to inspect the implementation of policies towards labourers in the locality, he said. — VNS