Building kindergartens for worker’s children

To avoid the "brain drain of qualified workers”, provincial Labor Federation in collaboration with Trade Union branches have encouraged business owners to build kindergartens for worker’s children. This has not brought a great effect yet, but has contributed to encourage businesses to take more care of the material and spiritual life of workers.

From an exemplary unit

Quoc Te Garment Company’s kindergarten located in An Dien commune, Ben Cat town has a total area of ​​500m2 with 130 children including different age groups. The campus is organized jubilantly, beautifully and logically. Four classrooms are designed with airy spaces, dining, sleeping, recreation and sanitary rooms are arranged separately.

A kindergarten class in Quoc Te Garment Company’s kindergarten in An Dien commune, Ben Cat town 

The classrooms and function rooms are fully equipped to well serve the care and education for children’s comprehensive development. In addition, the school has medical room and rooms giving singing and dancing classes. In particular, one-way kitchen is arranged logically and conveniently. Worker Nguyen Thi Tuyet Loan said: “I have 2 children, one 5-year-old child and one 3-year-old child. Before having this kindergarten, it was so difficult to find a school for my children. Now we are very happy as having a kindergarten right at the company. We can have more time for overtime work and make more money”. Worker Pham Thi Thuy said: “The school conditions are very good. Nannies are very gentle and take good care of our children. I usually have to work overtime, so I am reassured when sending my child to here”.

Talking to us about building kindergartens for worker’s children, Ms. Phan Le Diem Trang, Director of Quoc Te Garment Company, said: “With the aim of creating favorable conditions for workers to keep their mind on work, the company built up a kindergarten for workers' children. All things, from clothes, toys to tuition, are free. The Board of Directors usually reminds the kindergartens to implement seriously food safety, signed contracts with clean food providers, and frequently examines to improve educational, childcare quality”.

Kindergartens for worker’s children are in need

Currently, the demand for child care of workers is very high. Most of public kindergartens in the province only provide child care from 7 am to 5 pm, while workers often have to work overtime from 5 pm to 8 pm. Therefore, workers are forced to send children to private kindergartens with poor and unqualified conditions but high expenses about VND1.2 - 1.5 million / month.

Moreover, caregivers at private kindergartens are not trained enough to teach necessary skills to children. Some kindergartens even treat children with brutality, worrying workers. Phan Thi  Hoa, worker of Viet Giai Han Company in Tan Hiep ward, Tan Uyen town, said she sent her children to their grandparents. Previously, Ms. Hoa had sent her children to a private kindergarten, but the expense was so high (VND1.2 million / month / child), while her salary was only VND5 million / month, so she took her children to their grandparents. Public kindergartens have low tuitions, good teachers, but her children do not have a permanent residence registration to be admitted. Some workers send their children to public schools, but cannot pick up them, because of overtime work, so they have to quit.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Liem, President of Ben Cat town Labor Federation, said companies showed their concerns about female workers quitting their job to stay home and take care children. Consequently, companies lost skilled workforces, while labors are scarce now. Some companies have built kindergartens for worker’s children but encountered difficulties in the licensing procedure and school management…

Mr. Bui Thanh Nhan, President of provincial Labor Federation, said the demand for housing, child care for workers concerned provincial leadership. Provincial Labor Federation and branches have encouraged businesses to maintain daycare service for worker’s children, like: Yazaki EDS Co. in My Phuoc industrial park, Becamex IDC, Quoc Te Garment Co., Hai My Co., Tan Thanh Wood Co., Binh Duong Garment Co., Khai  Hoan Co., Shyang Hung Cheng Co., Hung Thinh Joint Stock Co., RK Resources Co., Chi Hung Co…. Provincial Labor Federation is proposing PPC to make policies and allocate lands for building cultural centers in localities having many workers; inaugurated 28/7 kindergarten in Ben Cat town for 90 worker’s children; has encouraged companies to build accommodations, kindergartens for workers; joined hands with agencies to organize cultural institutions to improve worker’s spiritual and cultural life.

Reported by Kim Ha – Translated by Ngoc Huynh