Decision No. 15/2003/QĐ-BNV on approving the Charter of the Vietnam Association for Occupational Safety and Health (VASHO)

DECISION OF THE MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS

Regarding the approval of the Charter of the Vietnam Occupational Safety and Health Science and Technology Association

Vietnam Occupational Safety and Health Science and Technology Association

THE MINISTER OF THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

- Pursuant to Decree No. 102/SL-L004 dated May 20, 1957 on the right to establish associations,

- Based on Decree No. 86/2002/NĐ-CP dated November 5, 2002 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of ministries and ministerial-level agencies,

- Considering the proposal of the Chairman of the Vietnam Occupational Safety and Health Science and Technology Association and the Director of the Department for Non-Governmental Organizations;

DECISION:

Article 1: Approves the Charter of the Vietnam Occupational Safety and Health Science and Technology Association which was adopted at the First National Congress on March 6, 2003.

Article 2: The Chairman of the Vietnam Occupational Safety and Health Science and Technology Association and the Director of the Department for Non-Governmental Organizations shall be responsible for implementing this Decision.

CHARTER

VIETNAM ASSOCIATION OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

VIETNAM OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ASSOCIATION

PART I

Name of the Association: The Association for Southeast Asian Studies of Vietnam (referred to as the Southeast Asian Science Association - Vietnam).

Article 1: Name of the Association

The Association is named: "Vietnam Occupational Safety and Health Science and Technology Association"

Abbreviated name: "Vietnam Occupational Safety and Health Association"

English name: "Vietnam Occupational Safety and Health Association"

English abbreviation: VOSHA

Article 2: Aims and Objectives of the Association

The Vietnam Occupational Safety and Health Association is a voluntary mass organization of individuals engaged in work, research, activities, and those concerned with labor protection, occupational safety and health (OSH), prevention of workplace accidents (WPA) and occupational diseases (OD) for Vietnamese workers.

The purpose of the Association is to gather, unite forces working in management, scientific research, technology, and practical activities in the field of labor protection (LP) to enhance the role of OSH professionals in the country's industrialization and modernization efforts.

The Association operates based on the principles of democratic unity, science, and lawful activities, and is a member of the Vietnam Union of Science and Technology Associations.

Article 3: Scope of Activities of the Association

The Vietnam Occupational Safety and Health Association operates nationwide, with its headquarters located in Hanoi, the capital of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The Association has legal personality, a seal, and a separate account at the bank. The Association has a press organ (magazine, journal) established in accordance with the law...

The Association may participate in professional associations in the region and internationally as provided by law.

PART II

TASKS OF THE ASSOCIATION

Article 4: Tasks of the Vietnam Occupational Safety and Health Association

1. To gather, unite, and coordinate the activities of all levels of the Association and members nationwide to further promote labor protection and OSH work.

2. To organize information dissemination, propaganda, exchange of professional knowledge, popularize knowledge, and cooperate with state agencies to train and improve professional skills for staff and experts in the OSH field. To propagate, educate, raise awareness, and understanding about LP and OSH among workers and employers.

3. To contribute opinions to the Party and State on policies, plans, measures concerning OSH; to provide consultancy, social appraisal, and review on issues related to OSH.

4. To participate in scientific and technological development activities, implement scientific projects on OSH. To provide OSH services serving production, workers, and employers.

5. To closely cooperate with state agencies, social organizations, and relevant institutions involved in LP and OSH work.

6. To cooperate and exchange experiences with international and regional organizations in the OSH field in accordance with the law.

Chapter III

MEMBERS

Article 5: Forms of Membership:

1. Regular Members: Are individuals engaged in management, scientific research on science and technology, and practical activities in the field of occupational safety and health (OSH), who voluntarily apply to join the Association, pay full membership fees, and participate in an organizational unit of the Association, recognized as regular members of the Association.

2. Honorary Members: Vietnamese citizens and legal entities with significant contributions to the cause of OSH may be invited to become honorary members.

3. Supporting Members: Vietnamese citizens and legal entities willing to contribute to the construction, development, and activities of the Association may be invited to become supporting members.

Supporting members are not eligible to run for election or nomination to the Association's Leadership Board or vote on Association matters.

Article 6: Duties and Rights of Members

1. Members have the following duties:

- Adhere to the Charter of the Association, strictly comply with directives and resolutions of the Executive Board. Promote membership recruitment and publicize all Association activities.

- Cooperate and support each other in OSH work, contributing to enhancing workers' awareness of OSH.

- Actively study to improve their qualifications, share and disseminate experiences in OSH work, promoting the development of the national OSH cause.

- Embrace self-reliance, national pride, creativity, and willingness to contribute all knowledge and expertise to serve workers. Strive against thoughts and actions detrimental to the Association's reputation and mission.

- Participate in Association activities and pay membership fees in full.

2. Rights of Members:

- Discuss and vote on all Association matters, nominate and run for positions in the Executive Boards at various levels.

- Receive professional training and encouragement to utilize their abilities in all aspects to serve workers and the people.

- Participate in scientific meetings of the Association, provide assistance and opinions on scientific projects.

- Have their research works introduced in Association journals and United Associations publications.

- Enjoy all benefits stipulated by the Association; the Association will protect their legitimate rights when infringed upon.

- Have the right to join other associations; have the right to resign from the Association.

PART IV

Article 8. Principles of Organization

Article 7: Principles of Operation and Organization of the Vietnam Occupational Safety and Health Association

The Association operates and functions based on principles of unity, democracy, science, voluntariness, self-management, and financial self-sufficiency.

Article 8: Structure of the Vietnam Occupational Safety and Health Association

a) At the Central Level: Vietnam Occupational Safety and Health Association

b) At Provincial and Municipal Levels Directly Under the Central Government: (Hereinafter referred to as provinces): Provincial Occupational Safety and Health Association.

The establishment of provincial associations is decided by the People's Committee of the province. If a provincial association agrees to the Charter of the Vietnam Occupational Safety and Health Association and applies to join, it will be recognized as a member association.

c) At the Grassroots Level: Branches (established within administrative, public service, enterprise units with five or more members).

Article 9: The highest leadership body of the Association is the National Congress, held every five years. An extraordinary congress can be convened if more than half of the Central Executive Board members request it. The composition and number of delegates to the congress are determined by the incumbent Central Executive Board.

Responsibilities of the Congress:

- Summarize and evaluate the Association's activities during the previous term, discuss directions and action plans for the new term.

- Approving and amending the Charter (if necessary)

- Elect the Central Executive Board and the Central Inspection Board.

- Deciding important matters concerning the purpose, mission, rights, and responsibilities of the Association.

Article 10: The Central Executive Board of the Association is the governing body between two congress terms. The number of Central Executive Board members is determined and directly elected by the Congress.

The Executive Board has the following responsibilities:

- Lead the implementation of the Congress resolutions.

- Leading the implementation of the Association's Charter

- Develop relations with domestic and international organizations, contributing to the development of the Association.

- Elect the Central Standing Committee of the Association and the President, Vice Presidents, General Secretary.

- The Central Executive Board of the Association convenes regularly once every six months (except in emergencies).

Article 11: The permanent office of the Central Executive Board of the Association is the Central Standing Committee, consisting of the President, Vice Presidents, General Secretary, Deputy General Secretaries, and some members, with the number of members in the Central Standing Committee not exceeding one-third of the total number of Central Executive Board members.

The Standing Committee of the Association has the following tasks:

- Direct the implementation of decisions of the Central Executive Board of the Association between two sessions of the Central Executive Board.

- Issuing membership cards.

- Planning and reporting on the Association's activities according to the regulations of the Central Executive Board.

- Monitoring the activities of provincial associations and specialized sub-committees.

- The Standing Committee meets regularly once every three months. When necessary, upon the proposal of the Chairman and Secretary-General, the Standing Committee may convene an extraordinary meeting.

Article 12: President, Vice Presidents, General Secretary.

1. The President of the Association has the authority and responsibility:

- To represent the Association before the law.

- To be responsible to the Central Executive Board of the Association and all members for the activities of the Association.

- To organize and implement the resolutions of the Congress, the Representative Conference, and the resolutions and regulations of the Central Executive Board of the Association and the Standing Committee.

- To convene and chair meetings of the Central Executive Board of the Association and the Standing Committee.

- Based on the Standing Committee's resolution, sign decisions appointing, dismissing, approving personnel of the Central Office of the Association and other organizations established by the Association, sign decisions recognizing organizations of the Association and lower-level Executive Boards.

- To direct the activities of the Secretariat and the Central Office of the Association.

2. The Vice Presidents (including one permanent Vice President) assist the President, assigned by the President to handle specific issues and may be authorized to manage the work of the Central Executive Board of the Association when the President is absent.

3. Secretary-General:

- The General Secretary assists the President in managing the activities of the Central Office of the Association.

- In necessary cases, a Secretariat and Deputy General Secretaries can be established to assist the General Secretary.

Article 13: Central Office of the Association.

1. The Central Office of the Association has the task of assisting the Executive Board and the Standing Committee in directing and coordinating the activities of the Association, its committees, and other organizations.

2. Organizations of the Association operating in the fields of information dissemination, training, research, education, scientific and technical services operate and function according to current laws, comply with the regulations of the Association, and fulfill their obligations to contribute to the Central Fund of the Association.

Article 14: When necessary, the Standing Committee of the Association may consider and decide to establish specialized committees, economic and service organizations (hereinafter referred to as organizations) to generate financial resources and serve the development of the Association. The establishment of these organizations shall comply with legal provisions.

Article 15. Inspection Committee:

The Central Executive Board elects an inspection committee, which has the following responsibilities:

- Inspecting the implementation of congress resolutions, the Charter, rules, and annual work programs of the Association.

- Inspect members in their activities to commend and reward them, while identifying signs of violations of the law to promptly correct them.

- Inspect the economic and financial activities of the Association and its affiliated organizations; examine and resolve complaints and petitions.

CHAPTER V

REWARDS AND DISCIPLINE

Article 16: Organizations and members with outstanding achievements are commended by the Association or recommended for commendation by competent state authorities.

Article 17: Members and organizations that damage the reputation of the Association, act contrary to the Charter and Resolutions of the Association will be disciplined from reprimand, warning to expulsion. In cases causing material losses, in addition to disciplinary measures, they must also compensate according to the law.

Article 18: A member who does not pay membership fees or does not participate in three consecutive sessions without reason within one year will have their name removed from the membership list.

Chapter VI

ASSOCIATION FINANCES

Article 19: The income of the Association comes from the following sources:

- Membership fees contributed by members. The level of membership fees is decided annually by the Central Executive Board of the Association.

- Income from the Association's professional and technical activities.

- Contributions from individuals and branch associations, provincial associations, from the income generated by the Association's activities.

- Contributions from organizations established or supported by the Association.

- Money and goods donated by individuals and organizations both domestically and internationally in support of the Association.

Article 20: The expenses of the Association include:

- Organizing scientific activities, conferences, and seminars.

- Printing materials related to the common work of the Association.

- Supporting research for organizations and individuals on scientific topics that are significant to the activities of the Association.

- Administrative fees: Paying salaries and allowances for full-time and part-time staff. Equipping the central office with physical facilities.

- Awards and incentives provided by the Association.

Article 21: The income and expenditures of the Association shall be conducted in accordance with the transparency principles as prescribed by the State.

The Central Executive Board of the Association is responsible for managing the financial affairs of the Association and settling accounts annually as prescribed by the State.

Chapter VII

EFFECTIVE DATE OF IMPLEMENTATION

Article 22: Amendment and supplementation of the charter.

Any amendment or supplementation to this charter shall be approved by the National Congress of the Vietnam Association for Occupational Safety and Health and shall take effect upon approval by the Ministry of Home Affairs.

Article 23: Effective date of implementation.

This Charter consists of seven chapters and twenty-three articles, which were adopted at the National Congress of the Vietnam Association for Occupational Safety and Health on March 6, 2003, and shall take effect upon approval by the Ministry of Home Affairs./.