Bus fare supported for immigrant workers to return home on Tet

 Bai: Hỗ trợ vé xe đưa công nhân lao động có hoàn cảnh khó khăn về quê ăn tết

So as to mitigate burden of immigrant workers trying to make ends meet during Tet holiday, Binh Duong Provincial Labor Union continues to offer bus fare support for its members who are immigrant workers in difficult circumstances to return home during Tet. On the topic, Binh Duong Newspaper reporter interviewed Mr. Bui Thanh Nhan, Deputy Chair of Binh Duong Provincial Labor Union.

- Reporter: Please inform us of the bus fare support for union members and immigrant workers to return home during upcoming Tet.Xin ông cho biết kế hoạch

- Mr. Bui Thanh Nhan: Implementing the direction of Presidency of Vietnamese General Labor Union on activities taking care of union members and factory workers in special circumstances to enjoy Tet holiday 2015 and bus fare supporting operations in 2015 of local executive of Labor Union, we expect to take approximately 1,220 immigrant workers home in Phu Yen up to Ha Noi City for Tet.

Mr. Pham Van Canh (far left), permanent Deputy Secretary of Provincial Party Committee, presents newspapers to immigrant workers stepping on buses returning home for the Tet of 2014. Photo: V. Son.

- Reporter: What subjects are supported, sir?

- Mr. Bui Thanh Nhan: They are union members and immigrant workers entitled with excellent union and of two and more years working for the enterprises but their families have been facing harsh hit by flood or they, themselves, are injured by 31% and higher in labor activities or they, themselves, are suffering frequent disease or under long-term treatment and they are in such circumstances for 5 years and more without a time returning home for Tet.

- Reporter: What would the location, time, and vehicles be for the trip, sir?

- Mr. Bui Thanh Nhan: According to plan, the buses shall be located at labor unions of districts and towns, VSIP I, VSIP II canteen, Ben Cat Industrial Park Office, and Binh Duong Industrial Parks Labor Union Office in Dong An of Thuan An Town. The gathering trips shall start at 5:00 on February 15, 2015 to get all the immigrant workers to two major locations of Thanh Le Cultural Theme Park and Binh Duong Industrial Parks Labor Union Office in Dong An where ceremonies on departure to their home land. The vehicles are arranged by Binh Duong Labor Union Trade and Tourism One-member Co. Ltd. The immigrant worker passengers are allowed to choose their place of destinations which are major bus station of their localities. They can also register for getting off at whatever point on National Highway No. 1.

- Reporter: Through various time of organization, what are the results of the program, sir?

- Mr. Bui Thanh Nhan: This is the fifth year of such supporting activities. Beforehand, we express our concerns for working people and union members. The program is highly appreciated by them and their employers. Many other enterprises have joined in including Binh Duong Textile (3-2) Joint Stock Co. Ltd., Dai Thien Loc JSC, Thai Binh Shoes JSC, etc. to take their workers home on Tet. By 2013, we have taken 14,000 immigrant workers across the province home on Tet.

The program is to create trust and encourage immigrant workers to stay working in Binh Duong Province. Annually, after Tet, labor market would be fluctuated in great range; thus, we are concerned for our treatment policies through which, we would like them to choose Binh Duong as a welcoming land for settlement and work.

- Reporter: Sir, aside from the above support, what other activities would be organized to take care for immigrant workers during the upcoming Tet?

- Mr. Bui Thanh Nhan: Aside from the buses taking them home for Tet, we have planned to offer over 10,000 gift packages to the by extracting from provincial supporting funds and local budget and socialization funding. Along with visiting and gifting activities, we have coordinated with Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to organize 20 night shows in industrial parks and clusters of major quantity of immigrant workers staying in Binh Duong Province for Tet. Particularly, we shall set up groups in charge of monitoring the payments of salary, bonuses, and annual leave to working people at year’s end. We shall stay concentrated on promoting enterprises facing harsh production status and the effects of sabotage march on May 13. Besides, we shall implement the regulations directly related to immigrant workers which should come into force by January 1, 2015 including Law on Employment and Decree No. 103/2014/ND-CP to assure benefits for both the enterprises and the immigrant workers.

- Reporter: Thank you!

Reported by Thien Ly – Translated by Vi Bao