VSIP Trade Union to care for workers' lives

Up to now, more than 90% of enterprises in Vietnam - Singapore Industrial Park (VSIP) have resumed operations. Due to the shortage of labor, VSIP's Trade Union coordinated with grassroots trade unions at enterprises to check and send workers back to their hometowns to return to factor. The plan for salaries and Tet bonus after a pandemic year also concerns VSIP to best take care of employees.

VSIP Trade Union give gifts to firms whose workers performed medical quarantine during the fourth pandemic wave.

Do not let workers face hardships during the pandemic

The pandemic has been basically controlled, but most businesses are facing many difficulties, along with great losses that workers have to bear. During this difficult period, the role and strength of trade unions at all levels has been demonstrated and proved. Dang Thi Kim Chi, Chairwoman of VSIP Trade Union recalled, during the fourth Covid wave, VSIP had 410 businesses with 168,811 workers. While workers were not vaccinated against Covid-19, the workload placed on trade unions in the industrial park was very large. In addition to promoting disease prevention control communication according to regulations of the Ministry of Health among workers, factories, worker's lodging houses, as well as encouraging the establishment of hundreds of Covid safety groups at enterprises, trade unions at all levels also must study and apply flexibly the best possible disease prevention control measures. Currently, this work is still being applied flexibly, in order to minimize the disease occurring at enterprises, thereby protecting the health of workers.

In the last days of July 2021, when the whole province applied social distancing, workers' lives were facing many difficulties, VSIP Trade Union officials, despite the danger, rushed into pandemic-hit area. These were practical actions such as giving full support to businesses that applied "three-on-site" but were unfortunately infected by the Covid-19; to assist to send workers to treatment, concentrated isolation zones, to disseminate solutions to do daily activities, stay and work on the spot to ensure the safety. In addition, every day, the Trade Union also contacted enterprises in the industrial park that produced essential items such as masks, hand sanitizers, instant noodles, milk... As a result, tons of necessities were donated, distributed, and delivered to workers at lodging houses, frontline forces fighting the pandemic in the province, and even unfortunate businesses affected by the disease and must be in blockade.

Dang Thi Kim Chi said: “After overcoming the biggest difficulties, the trade union also learned many things and be more flexible and mature. The pandemic is still a potential risk, trade unions at all levels still have a lot of work to do, such as reviewing the list of F0, F1 for support, examining policies according to Resolution 68 of the Government; call for workers to return to the province and back to work; mobilize and take care of families that unfortunately have workers dying from Covid-19 and are facing difficulties. For those who suffer from occupational accidents and have extremely difficult circumstances, VSIP Trade Union takes care of them regularly.

To take care of workers in last days of the year

According to VSIP Trade Union, as of October 2021, the production business situation and labor relations in enterprises are relatively stable. Up to now, there are 644 projects, in which there are 410 enterprises (389 FDI enterprises) attracting about 168,811 employees. 98% companies well comply with regulations on employee benefits such as: Social insurance, health insurance, unemployment insurance, occupational safety and health, salary regime, Tet bonus and other labor conditions other  cases.

On occasion of Lunar New Year 2021, due to the impact of the Covid-19, VSIP had 43,000 workers staying in Binh Duong to celebrate Tet. To implement the direction of the Provincial Labor Confederation on stopping activities with large gatherings such as: "Tet reunion", "Spring buses" and cultural artistic activities... VSIP Trade Union switched to other forms to take care for workers. Thereby, the Trade Union directed the grassroots trade unions to actively coordinate and advise Director Boards of companies to implement measures to prevent and control the Covid-19, salary, bonus and welfare policies. VSIP Trade Union gave 3,000 gifts to disadvantaged union members on occasion of Lunar New Year 2021 with a total cost of VND 1.5 billion; presented 766 gifts with a total value of VND 383 million to poor trade union members staying in Binh Duong to celebrate Tet. In addition, Trade Union mobilized businesses and units to donate more confectionery products, rice, cooking oil... to give as gifts to trade union members and workers with estimated total amount of over VND 65 million…

Dang Thi Kim Chi said that, due to the impact of the pandemic, the program helping workers return to their hometown to celebrate Tet, as well as other cultural art spring programs are still waiting for consideration by all government levels and depending on the pandemic situation. If workers cannot return to their hometown, VSIP Trade Union has also made specific plans to collaborate with businesses to take care of workers on the spot on New Year festival so that no one will suffer deprivation. This year, many businesses had to stop operations for many months, so year-end bonus of workers will be affected more or less. Therefore, the VSIP Trade Union cooperates with the grassroots trade unions to encourage businesses to implement the appropriate 2022 New Year bonus for employees, especially those who are severely affected by Covid-19 and are in difficult circumstances.

Reported by Quang Tam - Translated by Ngoc Huynh