Factory workers welcoming Tet Holiday

February 14 to February 16, the buses sponsored by Binh Duong Provincial Labor Union and enterprises shall be taking immigrant factory workers home for Tet Holiday. For those staying in Binh Duong Province, this year’s holiday should be a warm occasion as sectors and unions are organizing meaningful, delightful and healthy playground for them.

The joy of trips

As Tet Holiday is drawing near, factory workers are counting by day to be reunion with their families as soon as possible. However, not everyone could be returning home as the conditions of living far away are still challenging. Understanding their hardship, Binh duong Provincial Labor Union has supported bus fares to take them home for Tet reunion. For this year, Binh Duong Provincial Youth’s League has organized to take 1,4000 factory workers home in Phu Yen to Ha Noi at the cost of over VND 1.2 billion.

Factory workers at Quarter 7 in Phu Loi Ward of Thu Dau Mot City are making square sticky rice cakes to welcome Tet Holiday. Photo: T. Ly.

Early February 15, such trips would start at departure locations of Labor Union across districts, towns, VSIP I, VSIP II canteen, Ben Cat Industrial Park Office, and Dong An Industrial Park Labor Union Office in Thuan An Town. The buses should be gathering at the front gate of Thanh Le Cultural Park on Binh Duong Highway and Dong An Industrial Park Labor Union.

To follow the activities of Binh Duong Provincial Labor Union, many enterprises have organized buses to take immigrant factory workers home for Tet as the commitments to their benefits. Mr. Bui Thanh Nhan, Deputy Chair of Binh Duong Provincial Labor union informed that over 14,000 factory workers in the province have been supported by enterprises to take them home for Tet in 2014. This year, the quantity is higher.

Although the supported factory workers are smaller that the worker population, the buses have expressed the care of local authorities and unions to encourage them to continue with working and devotion to the development of the province.

Ms. Duong Thu Hanh, Kumho Tire Co. Ltd. in Ben Cat Town, said, holding back her emotion, “I am from Ha Tinh, from a poor family, so I rarely return home, I only send money to my family. As Tet Holiday is near, I am very emotional to receive the free bus fare of the company. This is very encouraging to me and many others having no opportunities returning home for Tet. People don’t say much but deep in their hearts, they consider Binh Duong as their second home land for working and long-term contribution.”

On seeing them smiling on getting the buses, we could see through the tremendous happiness of the expatriates.

Springtime for those staying

Not returning home, people at hostels are preparing cakes and lucky money to bring up Tet atmosphere. Mr. Dinh Van Thien, Head of Sub-division of Expatriate Factory Workers of Quarter 9 in Phu Loi Ward of Thu Dau Mot Town, said: “Family maybe faraway but to compensate for that we gather up those of the same circumstances to organize shows and sports to conquer homesick. Drinking, singing, and eating all do us good. We are all aware of living better lives by staying away from social evils.”

Many enterprises have robustly organized activities for factory workers during Tet Holiday. To soothe their workers being away from home, Yazaki EDS Co. Ltd. in Di An Town organized meeting to celebrate the Communist Party of Vietnam and Tet Holiday 2015 through shows and lottery games. At Chi Hung Joint Venture in Tan Uyen Town, karaoke event and parties have been organized for those factory workers staying in Binh Duong Province for Tet Holiday. Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Ha, Chair of Chi Hung Joint Venture Labor Union affirmed of the care for factory workers by encouraging them to enjoy a happy Tet Holiday away from home.

Sharing up homesickness, Binh Duong Provincial People’s Songs and Dances Troupe and culture-information chambers of districts, towns, and Thu Dau Mot City have planned up shows before, during, and after Tet Holiday. Mrs. Huynh Thi Thanh Phuong, Deputy Chair of Thuan An Town People’s Committee said: “We are determined that those staying should be enjoying a thorough Tet Holiday. Thereon, they should sense the care and consider Binh Duong Province as their second homeland.”

Reported by T. Ly – Translated by Vi Bao