On April 17, in Hai Phong, the Vietnam Industry and Trade Trade Union held a ceremony to launch Workers’ Month and the Month of Action on Occupational Safety and Health 2026.

Attending the event was Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade. Also present were leaders representing departments and agencies under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, as well as representatives of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour.

The launch ceremony, themed “Vietnamese workers: innovation and productivity improvement”, took place at Petrolimex Hai Phong One Member Limited Liability Company, under the Vietnam National Petroleum Group, in connection with the 140th anniversary of International Workers' Day.

Affirming the historical role of the working class

Speaking at the ceremony, Le An Hai, Chairman of the Vietnam Industry and Trade Trade Union, emphasized that this is an event of profound political and social significance, serving as an occasion to reaffirm the historical position and role of the Vietnamese working class and workers in the industry and trade sector, while demonstrating the responsibility, mettle and aspiration for advancement of trade union organizations at all levels in the new stage of national development.

According to Le An Hai, recognizing the vital role of the working class in the process of national renewal, in 2012 the Party Central Committee Secretariat (11th tenure) decided to designate May each year as “Workers’ Month”. Since then, Workers’ Month has been organized annually by trade unions in coordination with sectors and enterprises through a wide range of practical and socially meaningful activities.

In association with Workers’ Month, since 2016 the Prime Minister has designated May each year as the Month of Action on Occupational Safety and Health. The 2026 campaign is launched under the theme “Innovating management and improving the effectiveness of occupational safety and health in the digital era”. This aims to create a peak period for communication activities and to promote concrete action programmes to prevent occupational accidents and diseases among trade unions, sectors, enterprises and the wider community.

Implementing the directive of the Party Secretariat and promoting the proud tradition of the Vietnamese working class in the new context, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour has launched Workers’ Month 2026 with the theme “Innovation to improve productivity”, affirming the pioneering role of the working class in digital transformation, green economic development and the knowledge-based economy.

Le An Hai noted that under the leadership of the confederation and the Party Committee of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, trade unions across the sector, from central to grassroots levels, are actively organising activities in response to Workers’ Month and the occupational safety campaign through practical measures such as safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of workers, building harmonious, stable and progressive labour relations, enhancing awareness of compliance with occupational safety regulations, and promoting the dynamism and creativity of workers in fulfilling the objectives of agencies, units and the sector as a whole.

With the industry assigned numerous key targets serving as a foundation for achieving double-digit growth, the standing committee of the trade union has called on trade unions at all levels to proactively advise Party committees and coordinate with authorities and professional bodies to enhance responsibility and effectively organise activities for Workers’ Month and the Month of Action on Occupational Safety and Health 2026 through concrete and meaningful actions for workers.

At the same time, Le An Hai called on all trade union organisations, officials, members, workers and employees across the industry and trade sector to continue upholding their fine traditions, strengthening unity, promoting creativity, discipline and responsibility, and actively responding to the campaigns through practical and effective actions.

Strengthening and developing the workforce of the industry and trade sector

Huynh Thanh Xuan, Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour, commended the Vietnam Industry and Trade Trade Union for its proactive and innovative organisation of the ceremony, noting that its content closely aligned with the themes of Workers’ Month and the Month of Action on Occupational Safety and Health 2026 as oriented by the confederation.

According to the confederation’s leadership, Workers’ Month and the occupational safety campaign constitute a broad political and social activity of trade unions and workers nationwide. This is not only an occasion to honour and express gratitude for the significant contributions of the working class, but also a time for trade unions at all levels to intensify actions in representing, caring for and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of union members and workers.

“The launch ceremony of Workers’ Month and the Month of Action on Occupational Safety and Health 2026 of the industry and trade trade union holds great significance, clearly demonstrating the pioneering role of the sectoral trade union in accompanying workers and enterprises,” he stated.

Sharing that Petrolimex is honoured to accompany the Vietnam Industry and Trade Trade Union in hosting the ceremony, Nguyen Sy Cuong, Deputy General Director of Petrolimex, emphasised that this is a particularly meaningful event not only because of its scale and stature but also due to its venue, the Thuong Ly petroleum depot, regarded as the cradle of the petroleum workers’ movement in Vietnam.

In 2026, Petrolimex marks its 70th anniversary (1956 - 2026), while also entering a pivotal phase in implementing new national development goals. In this context, the group identifies people as the centre of all development strategies. “Vietnam National Petroleum Group will continue to better care for workers’ lives, build a safe and professional working environment, encourage innovation and human development, and maintain close coordination with trade unions in all activities,” Nguyen Sy Cuong said.

Taking the lead in workers’ movements

Addressing the ceremony, Deputy Minister Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan stressed that the launch ceremony of Workers’ Month and the Month of Action on Occupational Safety and Health 2026 organised by the Vietnam Industry and Trade Trade Union is an important event held under the direction of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour and the Party Committee of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, aimed at initiating a series of activities by trade unions at all levels, particularly within the industry and trade sector.

The Deputy Minister noted that the industry and trade sector is one of the key economic sectors, making significant contributions to overall economic growth and GDP, with wide-ranging activities, large scale and deep linkages across the country, playing a vital role in ensuring major economic balances and stabilising people’s lives. “All contributions of the sector to national economic development are the result of the dedication, efforts, sweat and even sacrifices of millions of workers,” he stressed.

According to him, workers in the sector, with their inherent working-class nature, have consistently strived with diligence, enthusiasm and creativity, overcoming challenges for a developing Vietnam, thereby contributing significantly to the achievements witnessed today, alongside the important role of trade union organisations.

In 2026, the first year of implementing the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress, the sector continues to be entrusted with major tasks and growth targets to support double-digit economic growth, amid increasingly complex and unpredictable global and regional developments. This poses significant challenges, requiring substantial efforts across all fields of the sector.

Therefore, the Deputy Minister underlined the increasingly high requirements for the sector: strictly implementing Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW of the Politburo; maintaining industrial growth momentum, particularly in high value-added industries; ensuring national energy security; developing the domestic market; promoting sustainable exports; expanding e-commerce and service markets; and accelerating digital and green transformation while enhancing enterprises’ competitiveness based on science and technology.

Promoting emulation movements for productivity and innovation

In the current context, with numerous tasks assigned by the Party and the State, particularly in elevating the operations of organisations and enterprises amid deep integration and competition, the Deputy Minister requested the Vietnam Industry and Trade Trade Union to focus on several key tasks.

First, to continue thoroughly grasping resolutions and directives of the Party and the Ministry’s Party Committee on building the working class in the new period, especially implementing the themes launched by the confederation; proactively innovating content and methods of operation in line with practical requirements of each unit and enterprise to organise effective emulation movements.

Second, to continue comprehensively caring for the material and spiritual lives as well as the legitimate rights and interests of workers, ensuring that Workers’ Month becomes a peak period of activities directed towards grassroots levels and workers, promptly addressing concerns, especially for those directly engaged in high-intensity and hazardous sectors such as electricity, chemicals, mining, petroleum, steel, textiles, footwear and logistics.

Third, to promote emulation movements of “good labour, creative labour” associated with professional tasks, focusing on technological innovation, productivity improvement, digital transformation and green, sustainable production through initiatives such as technical improvements, energy saving, process optimisation, product quality enhancement, cost reduction and competitiveness improvement.

Fourth, to attach special importance to occupational safety and health, a task of critical significance directly related to workers’ lives and health as well as sustainable business development, by strengthening inspection and supervision, enhancing risk prevention, training skills and conducting drills, particularly in high-risk sectors.

Fifth, to prepare well for the 14th Congress of the Vietnam Trade Union, which will carry important orientations for the workers’ movement and trade union activities.

“I firmly believe that, under the direct leadership of the Ministry’s Party Committee and the close coordination of the Ministry’s leadership, together with the spirit of responsibility, unity and innovation of the Vietnam Industry and Trade Trade Union, workers in the sector will successfully implement Workers’ Month and the Month of Action on Occupational Safety and Health 2026, thereby fostering pride, determination and dedication,” the Deputy Minister emphasised.

At the ceremony, the Vietnam Industry and Trade Trade Union organised 23 booths displaying union welfare programmes and science and technology innovations; provided direct support to 81 workers in difficult circumstances; granted funding for seven “Trade Union Shelter” houses; signed nine welfare cooperation agreements with partners inside and outside the sector; honoured 31 outstanding workers and 31 exemplary occupational safety and health officers; and conducted fire prevention and anti-terrorism drills.