Binh Duong seeks to take good care of for employees on Tet holiday

About 5 months ago, many firms of wood, garment, leather and shoe industries, electronics, bicycles faced difficulties due to a lack of orders. Some businesses were forced to cut working hours, reduce production scale, and even cut down the workforce, making difficulties to many workers. Employees are trying to stay with their company, hoping difficulties would soon pass, but are worried about Tet bonus. Trade unions at all levels in the province, some businesses are striving to take good care of their employees on the coming Tet holiday.

Trade unions at all levels are coordinating with businesses to have plans taking care of employees on Tet holiday. In photo:  Trade Union gives gifts to employees on the 2022 Lunar New Year

Firms make many efforts

Nguyen Ngoc Huu, a worker at DDK Vietnam Investment and Development Co., Ltd (Dai Dang Industrial Park, Thu Dau Mot City), said that in recent months, most employees at this firm have worked averagely. “Several months before, the total income plus overtime pay was over 10 million VND/month, now it is about 6-7 million VND. This modest amount can only cover rent payment, petrol, and food expenses. Due to the difficulties, some workers quitted their jobs, and I don't know how long I can stay with the company. It's nearly Tet holiday already, we work hard through the year to receive a little Tet bonus, to spend at the end of the year", Huu said.

According to provincial Department of Labor - Invalids and Social Affairs, in the first 6 months of the year, the labor and employment in Binh Duong was quite good. However, from the beginning of July, due to negative influence of the global economy, some firms lost orders, had to diminish production and cut workforce, especially textile garment, footwear, electronics, and wood businesses... There were times when the department signed decisions for 400 workers to receive unemployment insurance every day. Since the beginning of the year, the province has had tens of thousands of unemployed people receiving unemployment insurance money.

For example, in Tan Uyen Town, where gathers many manufacturing firms in wood industry, working hours of thousands of employees have been reduced, and labor contracts have also been suspended. In Thu Dau Mot City, many firms in Song Than III and Kim Huy Industrial Parks do no longer massively recruit workers as before.

A representative of Tan Nhat Wood Company (Nam Tan Uyen Industrial Park), one of the major wooden furniture manufacturers, said that the company is seeking each order to create jobs and retain employees. Tet bonus for workers is being planned by the company’s Board of Directors. And Tran Sy Hiep, Chairman of Trade Union of Mekong Furniture Company (Thu Dau Mot City), said: “This year, despite many difficulties, businesses preserve the average income for employees, as well as all benefits. This year, the company guarantees that Tet bonus will be equal to or higher than one of 2022.

Trade Union puts more effort

Seeing the difficulties of workers, trade unions in the province are mobilizing supports to give gifts and visit families living in hardship. In addition, trade unions directly persuade businesses facing difficulties to try to take care of their employees during Tet.

Pham Van Tuyen, Deputy Director of Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, said that from now until the end of the year, the department will coordinate with the provincial Labor Confederation and trade unions at all levels to review all businesses facing difficulties to have a plan to take care of employees. Based on survey results, the department will ask for funding from many sources, such as Provincial People's Committee, local administration, and Vietnam General Confederation of Labor. Trade unions at all levels also call on businesses to support workers with "zero-Dong market fairs", selling necessities at discounts...

Luu The Thuan, Head of the Provincial Labor Confederation's Propagation Education Division, said that the unit is coordinating with trade unions at all levels in the province to actively grasp thoughts, aspirations, difficulties and problems of union members and employees to have solutions to encourage, give help in time, especially for employees who have lost their jobs or suffer income reduction. Provincial Labor Confederation has a list of 29 businesses that need to recruit 9,221 workers from now until the end of the year to support those who have lost their jobs, to guarantee income, and help workers overcome difficulties.

The Provincial Labor Confederation held a conference to review "Member Welfare Program" launched by Provincial Labor Confederation, enterprises, and their partners; and set out directions and plans to take care of employees. Most units in this program commit to selling products at a preferential price but ensuring quality and diversifying essential items. A rate of 10 - 50% discount will be applied on the products. Through "Tet reunion", trade unions in the province will coordinate with partners to organize sales and services at a preferential price for poor union members and employees.

Reported by Quang Tam - Translated by Ngoc Huynh