Workers’ Month - The peak time to take care of union members and employees

In May, Workers' Month is the peak time to organize activities taking care of and protecting the legitimate interests of trade union members and employees from all levels.  The activities aim to spread the sense of responsibility, join hands to take care of trade union members and employees, especially those in extremely difficult circumstances.

Representatives of Provincial Labor Confederation visit, encourage, and give gifts to workers suffering from serious diseases.

To stay side by side with workers 

In the early days of this May, a delegation of Binh Duong Provincial Confederation of Labor visited, encouraged, and gave gifts to workers having extremely difficult circumstances. At a lodging house located deep in a small alley in An Thanh ward, Nguyen Thi Huong, born in Binh Phuoc province, one of the workers suffering from a serious illness, was very surprised and happy as receiving the wholeheartedly attention from provincial trade union officials, who came to the house to meet, encourage her to overcome adversity.

Huong said that she has been working at Hai My Company (Thuan An City) for more than 14 years. Recently, during a medical checkup, she was found to have cancer. Her family situation is very difficult at this time, Huong's husband is also often sick, their savings have been used up for her medical treatment. “Life is difficult, but fortunately I always receive attention, sharing, and help from my colleagues; the company's board of directors arranges a suitable job, help me continue to work and earn an income.  In particular, the constant attention from trade union at all levels has given me more energy to overcome difficulties and be able to get medical treatment!", said Nguyen Thi Huong emotionally.

Trinh Anh Tuan, Chairman of grassroots Trade Union at Hai My Co., Ltd., said that their union always works closely with the company's board of directors to carry out many practical activities to take care of union members and employees. Specifically, for difficult circumstances with serious illness, the company's "Golden Heart Fund" will give a support up to 20 million VND/year; The company's grassroots Trade Union will visit and support depending on each case, from 500,000 to 5 million VND/person...

As for Ca Thi Huyen, a native of Quang Nam province, who is working at Green Speeds Co., Ltd (Di An city), is also one of four workers, who have difficulty in housing and are supported by "Union shelters".  Huyen said that after many years, the husband and wife have worked hard, saved money, then borrowed some from their family and bank, so they were also able to buy a small piece of land in Tan Phuoc quarter, Tan Binh ward (Di An City). Due to their difficult circumstance, living expenses for the family including a 2-year-old child with an elderly mother, loan payment, room rent etc. all depend on her monthly salary. “The company, where my husband is working, is suffering a shortage of orders, jobs and income of employees are reduced... Now I am the only one working, so my family is living in deprivation. When I heard that I received financial support from Trade Union, I was very happy because I had an opportunity to build a house, save on the cost of renting a room to cover daily living and repay debt...", said Ca Thi Huyen.

According to provincial Labor Confederation, the total amount for 4 union members and workers to build "trade union houses" comes from the support of 4 banks: Vietcombank, Vietinbank, BIDV, and Argibank Binh Duong. The above-mentioned activities are one of many peak care activities for trade union members and employees in the month of action on occupational safety and hygiene in 2023 of provincial Trade Union.

Many practical activities

This year's Workers’ Month has a theme "Connecting workers, building an organization", which was deployed intensively and synchronously by provincial trade unions in order to take care of and protect the legitimate rights and interests of union members and employees. These take place from May 1 to 31. Specifically, meaningful and practical series of activities and events, such as "Dialogue in May"; forum "Workers for businesses, businesses for workers"; activities "Thank you employees"; organize a peak month to develop membership and establish grassroots trade unions; introduce elite members to the Party for consideration, training, and admission. In particular, the program "Each grassroots union, one benefit for union members" includes "Worker's Fair", "Sales Week for Employees", "Workers Cultural and Sports Day", " Health Care Day”; organize travel and vacation programs for workers; sign and deploy activities with welfare partners to bring benefits to workers.

Nguyen Kim Loan, Chairwoman of Provincial Labor Confederation, said that the organization of peak activities to take care of and protect the legitimate interests of unions and employees in the Workers’ Month aims to strengthen the close relationship between union members, officials, and employees with trade unions, contributing to building a strong Vietnamese Trade Union. In addition, the activities aim to encourage members and laborers to actively work creatively, fulfill political tasks of agencies and enterprises, and promote socio-economic development of the province. Through Workers’ Month activities, trade unions continue to do better their job of representing, caring for, and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of union members and employees...

Reported by Do Trong - Translated by Ngoc Huynh