Grassroots democracy through substantive action

ĐBP - In Điện Biên province, operating under the two-tier local governance model since July 2025 sets new requirements for implementing grassroots democracy.

As the apparatus is streamlined, the commune level assumes greater responsibility in resolving work, while simultaneously having to guarantee the people’s right to mastery through openness, transparency, and substantive dialogue.

In that context, the commune Trade Union Chairpersons concurrently serving as Vice Chairpersons of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Committee at the same level contributed to enhancing coordination between trade unions and the front in supervision, social critique, and grasping the thoughts and aspirations of union members and workers right from residential areas.

That spirit was materialized through the forum “Trade Union listens to union members and workers” organized jointly by the Điện Biên Phủ ward Trade Union and the Grassroots Trade Union of the provincial Center for Disease Control in late July. Instead of one-way report documents or lengthy speeches, most forum time was dedicated to direct dialogue between union members and leaders of the trade union, party committee, and board of directors.

Workers of SCI Điện Biên Joint Stock Company join dialogue with trade union organizations, proposing solutions to elevate living standards and guarantee worker rights.

At the forum, 50 union members and workers representing 175 officers and employees present discussed candidly about regimes, policies, benefits, working conditions, coordination between trade unions and unit leaders, and solutions to elevate trade union activity quality. Issues within competence received immediate answers in the hall, while remaining recommendations were synthesized with clearly identified agencies and specific resolution timelines, allowing workers to know clearly that their recommendations were received and tracked to final resolution.

In the enterprise sector, grassroots democracy is materialized through clear regulations and regular dialogue mechanisms. At Điện Biên Water Supply Joint Stock Company, the enterprise fully issued democratic regulations, dialogue regulations, and worker conference organization regulations, while establishing a Steering Board for democracy regulation execution to supervise implementation. Contents concerning wages, insurance, finances, cadre organization, or other benefit regimes are publicized for workers to contribute feedback prior to issuance.

Through quarterly periodic dialogues, numerous recommendations regarding working conditions, labor safety, and production workflow improvements are absorbed and deployed immediately within enterprise operations. Workers are not only informed, but also participate directly in formulating decisions related to their rights.

For example, at SCI Điện Biên Joint Stock Company, democracy is reflected through transparency in governance and benefit distribution. Publicizing production and business situations reassures workers regarding wage policies, insurance, and working conditions. Currently, average worker income at the company reaches between VND 8 and 9 million per person per month. The company maintains periodic health examinations, fully equips labor protection gear, and guarantees a safe working environment, thereby forging long-term commitment between workers and the enterprise.

According to statistics from the provincial Labor Federation, in the first six months of 2026, 39 out of 42 enterprises organized worker conferences, reaching 93%. Alongside guiding democratic regulation execution, trade unions at all levels intensified supervision over regional minimum wage implementation, insurance regimes, and policies for workers.

Tẩn Minh Long, Chairman of the provincial Labor Federation, stated that for grassroots democracy to be truly effective and substantive, dialogue forums and worker conferences must focus on resolving practical emerging issues rather than being formalistic. He added that it is necessary to promote the role of the People’s Inspection Board, Community Investment Supervision Board, Viet Nam Fatherland Front, and political-social organizations in execution supervision, while boosting information technology application to receive, process, and publicize resolution results for citizen and worker recommendations.

Hà Linh
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