To find solutions to take care of, solve problems and accompany workers

On June 12, Politburo member and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with 4,500 workers in Bac Giang province and held a face-to-face and video conference themed "Vietnamese workers with aspirations to develop the country" with workers nationwide through 63 endpoints in provinces and cities nationwide. The Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung, a representative of the Central People's Committee; Nguyen Dinh Khang, Chairman of Vietnam General Confederation of Labor… also attended the conference. 

At Binh Duong endpoint, Nguyen Loc Ha, Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Nguyen Kim Loan, President of the Provincial Confederation of Labor; Trinh Duc Tai, Head of Provincial People's Council's Socio-Cultural Commission; together with leaders of provincial departments, branches and labor unions took part in the conference.

10 major problem groups raised by workers

Speaking at the opening of the conference, the Prime Minister said that in the past two years, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government was not able to hold many direct dialogues, but all levels, branches and agencies applied many forms to meet, listen to opinions and discuss with workers. The Party, State, National Assembly and Government always pay attention to, care for and accompany workers to find solutions to overcome the consequences and impacts of the Covid-19 on the lives and work of workers, solve institutional problems, mechanisms and policies to guarantee the rights of employees.

Two issues that receive a lot of attention and recommendations from Binh Duong workers are income and housing policy. In photo: Binh Duong Trade Union officials are always close to grasp the thoughts and aspirations of workers to promptly find support solutions. 

At the conference, 10 major issues were raised by workers, such as: Increasing the regional minimum wage; the comprehensive review and revision of law on social insurance; addressing difficulties of labor support packages; issues of planning and saving land funds to build houses, kindergartens, schools, hospitals, places of cultural activities for workers; credit support policies for workers; vocational training; food safety and hygiene issues; financial support for rents, bills electricity, water for workers... These are hot issues at the conference that receive attention and were posed by workers.

Talking to the Prime Minister, some workers said that many workers have to regularly increase their overtime hours on Saturdays, hence it is difficult to examine their health, and they want to have hospitals for workers in industrial parks. The Prime Minister said this was a very good idea. The Prime Minister said that with the goal of putting people's health and lives on top, first of all, especially during the pandemic, after surveys, besides successful fields, there were still things that have not been done well, such as the preventive healthcare system, basic healthcare system suffered from shortcomings on legality, material facilities, organization and investment in human resources.

Currently, the Government is checking relevant decrees to strengthen the grassroots healthcare system and preventive health system; the National Assembly also amended the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment. The Government is focusing on the amendment to laws, policy mechanisms, institutions. The immediate solution is to increase investment of about VND 14,000 billion in grassroots healthcare and preventive health systems in the epidemic prevention control and the recovery programs. In the long run, it is a legal issue, investment policy for the grassroots healthcare and preventive health systems, along with issues of organization and appropriate resources.

The Prime Minister requested the Ministry of Health to urgently study issues related to institutions and policy mechanisms, and immediately add to the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment. "There has been a policy, there are investment resources, we must urgently implement this, we do and learn from experiences at the same time, expand gradually, not be perfectionism nor hasty," the Prime Minister asked.

Regarding housing for workers, the Prime Minister emphasized that this was a legitimate issue, which needs to be solved to meet the legitimate aspiration and need of workers. The Government gave directives to the Ministry of Construction several times on this issue. Regarding rent support under Decision 08, the Prime Minister asked localities to implement this decision drastically. The Prime Minister asked localities to proactively implement policies, such as Decision 08, and ensure the completion in August 2022. In particular, it is necessary to promptly report problems to remove and simplify procedures for some special cases.

Binh Duong workers are interested in policies

In Binh Duong, the Provincial Labor Confederation said that before this conference, the unit conducted a survey to write down worker’s opinions in Binh Duong sent to the Prime Minister. Two issues that are receiving a lot of attention and recommendations: income and housing policy. Nguyen Thanh, a worker of East West Industries Vietnam Company (VSIP 2), said: "Today I'm very happy as attending the online meeting of workers and speaking to the Prime Minister. I would like to send to the Prime Minister a suggestion on wage policy, namely to raise early the minimum wage to improve income of workers amidst the current price hike."

50 workers in the province are selected to attend the conference with the Prime Minister.

Along with the above expectation, Hoang Trong Hung, a worker of Yuwa Vietnam Company (VSIP 2), expressed: "I was looking forward to the video conference and talking with the Prime Minister. I want to send my recommendations and opinions of my colleagues. In my opinion, the most desired thing of migrant workers in Binh Duong is to find stable jobs with a guaranteed income to take care of their families; then buy a house to settle down in Binh Duong."

Concluding the conference, the Prime Minister highly appreciated straightforward opinions of workers. He pledged that the Government would find solutions, care and support workers to overcome the consequences of Covid-19, solve the problems and guarantee rights of workers. The Prime Minister also appreciated the sharing as well as the sense of responsibility of trade union officials nationwide. The Government always advocates the important role of trade unions and continues to strengthen coordination and support for trade union organizations to fulfill their tasks well.

Reported by Quang Tam – Translated by Ngoc Huynh