Focusing on Ensuring Employment and Life of Emloyees

​

Trade Union of Dona Pacific (Vietnam) Co., Ltd. asks its regards in workers' shift meals.

Propose contents to show Employees' minds

At the recently online conference between the Government and the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor on securing sustainable jobs, improving living standards, working conditions of workers, Representatives of Trade Union officials, union members, and employees of provinces and cities have shared the results, experiences and difficulties in Trade Union activities. At the same time, it is also proposed that the Government should pay attention to improving the lives and income of workers in the coming time such as: step up the construction of social housing, cultural institutions, kindergartens for workers' children and consider reducing working hours for employees, etc.

Ms. Pham Thi Bich Hai, Chairman of Grassroots Trade Union (GTU) of Toto Vietnam Co., Ltd. (Hanoi City) has proposed many contents directly related to employees' interests. According to Ms. Hai, employee health is a very important factor, however, the quality of mid-shift meals of employees in many enterprises has low nutritional value, poor processing conditions lead to high risk of food poisoning. Therefore, she recommended that the Government and authorities at all levels should strengthen its inspection and supervision of the implementation of food safety and hygiene and quality of mid-shift meals for employees.

According to Ms. Hai, businesses that seek to arbitrarily fire employees are still happening and increasing. The fact that the employees suddenly lost their jobs after the age of 35 really pushed them into many difficulties in both material and spiritual life. Therefore, the Government should have sanctions to strictly handle the situation of enterprises dodging law, seeking to eliminate employees after a long time working and dedicating to enterprises.

Sharing about outstanding results in caring for and ensuring jobs for employees at online conference, Chairman of GTU, Taekwang Vina Industrial Joint Stock Company (Bien Hoa City) Dinh Sy Phuc said that as a large labor-intensive enterprise in Dong Nai with more than 35,000 employees, the GTU always aware that the stability of labor relations, employment and income is the top factor that needs to be focused. Therefore, the GTU always listens to employees opinions and signs specific agreements with enterprise owner, thereby ensuring stable employment income higher than the regional minimum salary set by the Government.

In addition, the GTU proposed and was approved by the enterprise to invest in kindergartens for employees' children. Programs of building charitable houses, giving gifts to workers in difficult circumstances, and recruiting disabled workers are always implemented. At the same time, free training programs are organized for employees in terms of skills, foreign languages and cultural enrichment for employees to improve their professional skills, adapt to changes in new technologies, meeting the high demands of Fourth Industrial Revolution.

According to Mr. Phuc, at present, Dong Nai still has many workers facing difficulties, jobs and income are not stable, salary increases and Tet bonuses are sometimes absent or only symbolic. Facing the above situation, Mr. Phuc proposed to the Prime Minister in the near future to consider reducing working hours to 44 hours per week. The Government should consider planning housing areas and kindergartens in suitable locations with industrial zones and with reasonable costs for employees.

Efforts to improve Employees' lives

Workers of ‘The Linh Company Limited’ during working hours.

Dong Nai has 1.2 million workers, including up to 60% of migrant workers. Over the past time, the province as well as the Trade Union have had many timely policies to improve the lives and stabilize jobs for employees. Especially in 2020, in the context of employees being affected by Covid-19, implementing the direction of Vietnam General Confederation of Labor and the Provincial People's Committee, the Trade Union organization has carried out many welfare activities to take care and protect employees' health as well as sharing difficulties with enterprises.

Besides, the Trade Union organization has implemented many programs to support union members, employees who lost their jobs and reduced income. To ensure regimes and policies for employees, the provincial Trade Union has coordinated with functional agencies to organize delegations to inspect the implementation of labor law, salary and bonuses at enterprises for employees. The Trade Union defended thousands of employees who were fired against the regulations, defended in court for many workers to reclaim their worthy benefits.

Ms. Tran Thi Thu, working at Mabuchi Motor Vietnam Co., Ltd. (Bien Hoa City) shared: “We are very pleased with the care programs of the Union. However, in the long run, for employees to stick and contribute more, the province, Trade Union and enterprises need to pay attention to building cultural institutions, social housing, safe kindergartens and ensuring stable jobs for employees, etc. By doing this, the employees can work wholeheartedly and stick with their enterprises.”

According to the provincial Labor Confederation, in the coming time, the provincial Trade Union organization will continue to innovate the content and form of operation, create more confidence and motivation for employee to stick and voluntarily join the Trade Union. Along with that, continue to negotiate with business owners more better policies to improve employees' lives. In the short term, the provincial labor force will accompany enterprises and organizations to focus on taking care of the Lunar New Year for employees; continue to encourage businesses to have Tet bonuses to share difficulties with employees after a year of working.

Phong Lan