Enterprises Strive for Employees

​Workers of Vietnam Precision Industrial Joint Stock Company (VPIC) in working hours

Ensuring the salary for employees

Tae Kwang Vina Industrial Joint Stock Company (Bien Hoa City), an enterprise with about 36,000 employees, has also temporarily suspended operations to prevent and control the epidemic. Employees who quit their jobs, including those in medical quarantine areas, will receive a salary equal to the regional minimum salary of VND170,000 per person per day. Travel, housing, living and attendance allowances will be fully enjoyed. Depending on the needs of the job, the head of the division will arrange a number of optional employees coming to the company to work and pay a salary of 150% of the basic salary as well as enjoy all kinds of allowances. In addition, the company also supports VND50,000 per day per person as an additional allowance. For the cases of self-renting house, the company supports the cost of 1 million VND/person.

Worker Le Thi Ha, working at Tae Kwang Vina Industrial Joint Stock Company, said: “We consider ourselves lucky because of getting paid when we quit our jobs  in order to pay for the non-working days. Currently, many other workers are struggling because of unpaid leave or job loss. I hope the epidemic will pass quickly so that I can return to work and stick with businesses.”

Similarly, as an enterprise with a lot of workers in the area of ​​Trang Bom District with 25,000 workers, Pousung Vietnam Co., Ltd has made efforts to pay salaries to employees during the temporary suspension for prevention and control of the epidemic. This timely policy has helped employees feel more secure when they have expenses to cover their lives at home.

Mr. Le Nhat Truong, Chairman of the Company's Trade Union, said that based on Document No. 8423/UBND-KGVX of the Provincial People's Committee on continuing to implement measures for prevention and control of the Covid-19 epidemic in the province, the Executive Committee of the Trade Union and the Company's Board of Directors met, discussed, and agreed to suspend production activities and give more than 25,000 workers a break from July 22. The salary for non-working days is paid according to Clause 3, Article 99 of the Labor Law with a minimum regional salary level of VND170,000 per person per day.

In addition, in order to help employees cover part of their living expenses during the time off from work, the Trade Union has specifically worked with the bank on reducing and delaying collection of principal for loans to support employees to improve their previous lives. Accordingly, CEP Microfinance Institution (the Capital Aid for Employment of the Poor Microfinance Institution Ltd) will delay the collection of 50% of all loans in August and September. The remaining collection amount will be calculated as a reasonable additional collection after the borrower has a stable income. For HDBank, it will be late to collect the entire principal in August and September, only interest will be collected on the remaining outstanding balance. After the factory is back in operation, the Trade Union will coordinate with the bank to develop a new loan plan to support employees being able to pay off old debts that have been delayed in collection, additional loans to support their cost-living.

In addition to the above enterprises, many enterprises gather a large number of workers such as: Vietnam Dona Standard Footwear Co., Ltd (Xuan Loc District), Pou Chen Vietnam Enterprise Ltd (Bien Hoa City), Chang Shin Vietnam Company Ltd (Vinh Cuu District), etc… also temporarily stopped working to prevent the epidemic, but still tried to pay the stop-working salary for employees according to the regional minimum. Apart from the financial balance to pay the regional minimum salary for employees during the breaking period as regulated by the Labor Law, some enterprises have announced that from August 10 onwards, the salary will be negotiated and notified to the employees.

Timely support

In the past few days, Dona pacific (vietnam) co., ltd (Trang Bom District) has coordinated with the Company's Trade Union to visit each medical quarantine area, blockaded area to support essential necessities for employees working at the company.

Chairman of the Company's Trade Union Dang Thi Thom said that currently, employees of the company are temporarily taking a break to prevent and control the epidemic, and businesses have agreed to pay employees VND170,000 per person per day. “For many years, employees have always been close cooperated and created quality products and helping the enterprises develop. So even though enterprises are facing difficulties at this time due to stopping their operation to prevent the epidemic, they still support their employees as much as possible in ensuring their lives and overcoming the Covid-19 pandemic, "- Mrs. Thom shared.

According to the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, up to now, 586 establishments and enterprises have been affected their production and business activities due to the epidemic, and over 316,000 workers have been suspended from work. In general, the enterprises are trying to implement solutions retaining employees to overcome difficult times such as: agreement to arrange annual day-off, paying salary for working stoppage according to the regional minimum salary; agreement on temporary suspension of contracts with employees, etc. Enterprises, when developing a plan to pay benefits to employees in difficult times, still ensure the interests of employees.

Chairperson of the Provincial Confederation of Labor Nguyen Thi Nhu Y said that, accompanying with the enterprises to take care of their employees, many grassroots trade unions have played a good role in persistently negotiating policies to ensure the interests of employees. As a result, employees in many enterprises still enjoy benefits to overcome difficulties caused by the pandemic. Some grassroots trade unions have many good and creative ways to develop trust, companionship and support from the enterprises in taking care of employees. From there, joining into share and encourage the employees well implement regulations on epidemic prevention and stabilize their lives to return to work soon. 

Phong Lan