To share difficulties with workers amidst the Covid-19 threat

A delegation of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor led by Phan Van Anh, Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, had a meeting with Binh Duong provincial Labor Confederation to know the Covid-19 situation among workers.

To take care of workers

Nguyen Dinh Khanh, Vice Chairman of Provincial Labor Confederation, said that due to the long-lasting impact and complicated developments of the Covid-19, trade unions at all levels in the province have actively coordinated with the authorities and unions to take care of affected workers. Up to now, nearly 2,000 workers affected by the pandemic have been supported by trade unions with a total expense of over VND 2.5 billion. Trade unions at all levels in the province organized visits and supported 46 frontline units of disease prevention control with a total amount of over 1.3 billion VND (of which nearly 700 million VND funded by union budget and over 640 million VND funded by socialization sources) and many other essential necessities.

In addition, the provincial trade unions encouraged enterprises to organize for workers to stay at factories in order to realize the "dual goal" of protecting health while avoiding manufacture disruption. As a result, many businesses in the province have implemented three on-site things (eating, staying and working at factories). When workers stay at factories, businesses provide all necessities, some companies also pay additional allowances, on average from 1 to 3 million VND/person/month.

Provincial Labor Confederation also proposed policies to Vietnam General Confederation of Labor in order for Provincial Labor Confederation and branches in the province to allocate trade union's budget to paying the cost of Covid-19 rapid test for trade union staff and workers affected by the disease and support other activities related to the Covid-19 prevention control at enterprises; to soon promulgate regulations on standards, norms, and spending regimes in trade unions and regulations on revenue, expenditure, financial management of grassroots unions, and the application of payment items to the grassroots trade union's financial sources in subsidies for union members and workers, who are facing difficulties due to the Covid-19; purchase goods for the disease prevention and control...

To prioritize workers for Covid-19 jabs

During the trip to Binh Duong, the delegation of Vietnam General Confederation of Labor also visited Earth Corporation Vietnam Company (Tan Uyen Town) and met workers here. This is a model enterprise that has overcome difficulties to maintain production and business, stabilize jobs and income for their workers. The Directors Board decided to choose the method of three on-site things and encouraged workers to stay in the company. After more than one month, workers of the company have felt secure and continued to stay and work in the factory.

Phan Thi Phuong Linh, HR Director of Earth Corporation Vietnam, said that when the 4th wave of the Covid-19 broke out, the company developed many plans to proactively respond to the situation. The company planned for resting areas, purchased tents, mats, and essential items to provide for workers. The toilet and bathroom area was also renovated and upgraded to be clean and hygienic... When all the preparations had been completed, the company started to persuade workers to stay at the factory. Workers who agree to stay are arranged to live and work in a separate area. Resting area is clean and airy, men and women are in separate areas. In particular, the company also offer free wifi in this area. The company's Directors Board also supports 5.5 million VND/person who stays at the factory.

“However, to ensure manufacture and anti-epidemic work at the same time, the company is also facing many difficulties, the supply of raw materials is interrupted as well as the delivery of goods to the market is often interrupted due to the implementation of epidemic prevention regulations. Besides, due to the social distancing time, it is difficult to access food sources to take care of workers staying in the factory. Therefore, enterprises wish that workers would be prioritized for Covid-19 jobs; and there will be more support policies related to the cost of epidemic prevention", said Phan Thi Phuong Linh.

At the meeting, Phan Van Anh, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, asked provincial Labor Confederation continue to direct all trade unions in the province to step up propagation on disease prevention control among workers, promptly take care of the health and safety of workers affected by the epidemic; consolidate Steering Committees for Covid-19 prevention and control in the provincial trade union system... He also noted all recommendations as well as proposals of enterprises and provincial Labor Confederation; and promised to report these to the Presidium of Vietnam General Confederation of Labor for settlement and make recommendations to Ministry of Health and the Government.

Reported by Do Trong - Translated by Ngoc Huynh

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