The Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) is the sole national trade union center in Vietnam. It was founded 29 July 1929 as the Red Workers' General Union in Northern Vietnam, and extended into the entire country after the collapse of South Vietnam in 1975. The VGCL's role, as shown on the Vietnamese side of its website, includes a "responsibility to implement the party's directions and policies and to contribute to the party's development". It is under the oversight of the Communist Party: "The party oversees the way the VGCL implements the party's directions and policies." All trade unions in Vietnam are required by law to affiliate to the VGCL, and the VGCL is one of the mass movements of the Vietnamese Fatherland Front. Bui Van Cuong, the VGCL president, is a member of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee. The VGCL is affiliated to the World Federation of Trade Unions. In 2011 VGCL President Bui Van Cuong was elected a WFTU Vice-President.

Organization

The VGCL is composed of 63 local federations of labor, representing cities and provinces.

Affiliated unions

There are 20 affiliated National Industrial Unions: