At a conference in Ho Chi Minh City with representatives of foreign banks, joint venture banks and foreign bank branches operating in Vietnam, State Bank of Vietnam Standing Deputy Governor Dao Minh Tu, in his capacity as President of the Vietnam Banking Union, called on these institutions to form trade union organisations and have employees join the Vietnam Trade Union framework. Foreign credit institutions flagged that a key practical obstacle is the need to obtain approval from parent or regional banks abroad, alongside differences in trade union laws across jurisdictions. Tu noted that most employees at foreign credit institutions in Vietnam are Vietnamese and work under Vietnam’s constitution and laws, and he asked senior staff at these institutions to advise parent and regional management to permit trade union establishment and employee participation. He also indicated that where dedicated union staffing cannot be increased, institutions could use part-time staff with concurrent union responsibilities, with unions positioned as supporting labour rights and participating in labour, wage and income arrangements.