A cozy Tet for workers

Due to the heavy impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the lives, employment and incomes of workers, together with businesses, Binh Duong Trade Union has issued a plan to take care for trade union members and workers during Tet 2022, with the motto "All union members and workers could have happy Tet". On this occasion, Binh Duong Newspaper had an interview with Nguyen Kim Loan, Chairwoman of the Provincial Labor Confederation, about the work to take care of workers during Tet holiday.

- How has the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic affected the employment and income of union members and workers in the province, madam?

- The fourth wave of Covid-19 made many companies to suspend production and business activities to fight the disease, especially from June to September 2021. This has greatly affected the employment, income and lives of workers. Specifically, during the outbreak of medical quarantine, nearly 15,000 businesses had to temporarily suspend operations, leading to about 780,000 workers having to stop working, suspend labor contracts, take unpaid leave, terminate labor contracts early, lose their jobs...

Nguyen Kim Loan, Chairwoman of the Provincial Labor Confederation, presents gifts to workers having difficult circumstances during the Lunar New Year 2021.

Therefore, all levels and branches in the province have taken many measures to take care and support workers, such as urgently paid the aids according to policies of the Central Government, and had specific policies, such as to offer helps with food, housing, bills... Trade unions at all levels in the province, with the role of an organization to represent, take care of and protect the legitimate rights and interests of workers, have maximized all resources, including financial fund of trade union itself, donations of organizations and individuals, to carry out practical activities to take care of workers, help workers to overcome difficulties, by supplying food, offering financial support for members and workers infected or dying due to the Covid-19; disadvantaged woman workers; support and care for orphaned children of union members dying of Covid-19.

Up to now, the Covid-19 is basically under control, but there are still complicated developments, and workers' lives continue to face numerous difficulties. Therefore, workers continue to need the attention and support of all levels, branches, organizations, individuals and businesses to stabilize their lives and feel secure to work.

- According to the forecast, during the 2022 Lunar New Year, many workers would not return to their hometown. Could you tell us some key activities of Binh Duong Trade Union to take care of union members and workers?

- Following the direction of Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, the provincial Confederation of Labor issued Plan No. 66/KH-LDLD dated November 10th 2021 on organizing activities to take care of workers on occasion of the 2022 Lunar New Year. Namely, activities will be concentrated at the grassroots level and at the above grassroots level; At the same time, based on the pandemic situation, activities will be flexibly organized with an appropriate size and form to guarantee good care, visit, extend Tet wishes, give gifts to workers, especially those who are being treated for Covid-19; people having extremely difficult circumstances, suffering from dangerous diseases, labor accidents, occupational diseases, etc.

In addition, trade unions at all levels in the province will actively join hands with the authorities to grasp the situation, inspect and supervise employers implementing salary regimes, paying bonuses during Tet; promptly protect the lawful and legitimate rights and interests of workers, especially at businesses that face difficulties or whose production is affected by the Covid-19. In particular, grassroots trade unions have strengthened dialogue and negotiation activities on activities of taking care of the material and spiritual lives of workers during the Tet holiday; support, advise employees and employers to complete procedures and documents to receive support packages from the Government.

The Trade Union actively cooperates with relevant authorities to supervise the implementation of support policies for workers, employers facing difficulties due to the Covid-19; help businesses access support packages, reduce difficulties to facilitate taking care of union members and workers; continue to carry out support packages of the General Confederation of Labor to help businesses celebrate Tet and support employers in recovering production and business.

- What's new in Binh Duong Trade Union's Tet care activities for workers compared to the previous year, ma'am?

- All workers who have paid social insurance premiums at enterprises, non-public non-business units with trade union contributions; civil servants and public employees, who have difficult circumstances, will receive Tet gifts funded by trade union's financial source (300,000 VND/gift/person)... It is expected that about 640,000 people will be supported, with a total expenditure of nearly 200 billion VND. In addition, the Provincial Labor Confederation is collaborating with Department of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs to advise Provincial People's Committee to give gifts to disadvantaged workers.

Due to the Covid-19 this year, Provincial Labor Confederation will temporarily stop the program "Spring bus" to bring union members and workers back to their hometown to reunite with their families and celebrate Tet. The Provincial Labor Confederation will encourage union members and workers to stay in Binh Duong province to celebrate Tet in order to help the Covid-19 prevention control; maximize all resources to promptly take care of workers in order for workers to welcome the New Year safely and healthily.

If a disadvantaged worker still want to return to their hometown, Provincial Labor Confederation will direct and instruct grassroots trade unions to base on their financial resources to help with the cost of trains tickets and vehicles in order to ensure safety, thoughtfulness and compliance with anti-Covid-19 measures according to regulations of competent State agencies.

- Thank you so much!

Reported by Do Trong - Translated by Ngoc Huynh