A happy ending for 4 reporters of Quy Hop Radio and Television Station whose contracts were terminated

“We” as Giang mentioned, besides her, also include Nguyen Thi Hop, Ho Thi Nguyet, Cao Thi Tram Anh. They are 4 female reporters of Quy Hop Radio and Television Station, whose labor contracts were terminated at the end of December 2017.

2 YEARS AGO

In March 2018, Nghe An Newspaper received a petition from 4 reporters of Quy Hop Radio and Television Station. After verification, these 4 reporters were signed an indefinite-term labor contract by Nghe An Radio and Television Station as reporters working at Quy Hop Radio and Television Station since March 2011.

By November 2011, the Provincial Radio and Television Station transferred the district-level Radio and Television Stations to the People's Committees of districts, cities and towns for management according to Decision No. 2456/QD-UBND-VX of the Provincial People's Committee, with the spirit of "The province hands over the original state, the district receives the original state from infrastructure, working equipment as well as human resources".

From left to right, 4 reporters Phan Thi Giang, Nguyen Thi Hop, Ho Thi Nguyet, Cao Thi Tram Anh at the time of writing the petition in 2018. Photo: Nhat Lan

Despite working hard, actively, and completing all tasks well, from 2011 to December 2017, these 4 contract reporters have never received a salary increase; they only receive a starting salary (from 2.5 to 2.8 million VND/month). After many years working as reporters for the District Radio and Television Station, despite such low remuneration, they love their job and always try their best, hoping to be recognized, thereby, making a change for the better. However, hope vanished, replaced by a notice of contract termination - an ending that could not be more bitter.

Quy Hop Radio and Television Station only has 5 reporters, so when the contracts of 4 reporters ended, this unit had almost no professional staff left.

Also from the verification, it is clear that there are unreasonable things in the termination of the contracts of 4 reporters. That is, according to the Job Position Project of Quy Hop Radio and Television Station (2013), the minimum labor demand to meet professional work is 12 people. With the current number of employees of the Station in 2017, including 4 reporters, it is just enough human resources according to the project. Quy Hop Radio and Television Station only has 5 reporters (also editors, announcers), when the contracts of 4 reporters are terminated, this unit will have almost no professional staff left.

Regarding the labor contract of Nghe An Radio and Television Station with 4 reporters, it is still valid. Therefore, the sudden unilateral termination of the labor contract of Quy Hop Radio and Television Station is not in accordance with regulations. Not to mention that the 4 reporters are all female workers; during their working process, they have made contributions and achieved many achievements that contributed to the reputation of Quy Hop Radio and Television Station; they are all raising young children, and one reporter even has a husband who is a soldier working in the border and island areas...

Why is that so? As Mr. Vo Sy Son - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Quy Hop district once discussed: "Quy Hop district directed the termination of contracts with 4 reporters to comply with Directive No. 293/CT-UBND of the Provincial People's Committee on the organization of apparatus, payroll, civil servants, public employees, and workers in agencies and units...". Although saying so, Mr. Vo Sy Son himself and many responsible officials in Quy Hop are very concerned. Because as Mr. Son discussed, the termination of contracts with 4 reporters will affect the professional activities of the Radio and Television Station.

Mr. Vo Sy Son - Vice Chairman of Quy Hop District People's Committee.

Head of Quy Hop Radio and Television Station Ha Huy Nham also said that when he signed the notice, he felt like he was “cutting off his own hand”. Because: “After more than 10 years of working together, in addition to the affection of colleagues, the 4 reporters have become like family members. Terminating the contract with them has caused Quy Hop Radio and Television Station to seriously lack professional human resources…”.

In 2018, Nghe An Newspaper published a number of articles, clearly stating the view that it is necessary to thoroughly review the streamlining of labor in accordance with the provisions of the law, ensuring labor policies, and not to reduce the quality of professional activities of Quy Hop Radio and Television Station. This incident later attracted the attention of many levels and sectors. On April 9, 2018, the Inspection Committee of the Vietnam Journalists Association also issued Official Dispatch No. 39/HNB-BKT requesting the People's Committee of Quy Hop District to comment on the case of 4 reporters of Quy Hop Radio and Television Station having their contracts terminated, because: "This incident is creating multi-dimensional public opinion, attracting the attention of journalists and people nationwide".

The tragicomedy happened again. While completing the procedures for unemployment benefits, the four reporters continued to “help” provide professional services for Quy Hop Radio and Television Station with a “new outfit”: collaborators!

Reporters (left to right, top to bottom): Phan Thi Giang, Ho Thi Nguyet, Nguyen Thi Hop, Cao Thi Tram Anh are working as collaborators of the Center for Culture - Sports and Communication of Quy Hop district.

WEAVING DREAMS

The phone call I received from Phan Thi Giang was not really a surprise to me. For the past 2 years, I have been following the changes and knew that the leaders of Quy Hop district were upset by the rumors in the press and on social networks. Because the leader's heart was also struggling to find a solution at that time, but was not understood. And they calmly accepted it, then quietly took actions to help the 4 reporters return to their jobs in a legitimate way.

District Party Secretary Ho Le Ngoc said that in doing personnel work, one must be humane, and the district will try to prioritize the 4 reporters for admission to the payroll.

Those actions were never revealed until June 19, 2019, when Quy Hop district organized a seminar to celebrate the 2019 Vietnam Revolutionary Press Day. According to the story of the Head of Radio and Television Station Ha Huy Nham, right after the ceremony, after congratulating the district's press workers, the District Party Secretary, Mr. Ho Le Ngoc, spent a short time discussing the matter of the 4 reporters. In which, the District Party Secretary said that doing personnel work must be humane, the district will try to give priority to the 4 reporters to be on the payroll...

Then the opportunity for the four reporters Hop - Giang - Nguyet - Tram Anh really opened up when Quy Hop district implemented the project of merging three units including: Sports and Culture Center, Children's Cultural House and Radio and Television Station into the Center for Culture - Sports and Communication. This new center includes four departments: Administration - Technology, Culture - Sports, Radio - Television, Youth Union Education, and out-of-school children.

Quy Hop town seen from above. Photo: Sach Nguyen

After the merger (October 31, 2019), the Quy Hop District Culture - Sports and Communication Center is still short of 7 positions. In the process of developing the Job Position Project, the Center determined that it needed to recruit 1 announcer position and 3 reporter positions to ensure Radio - Television activities. The Job Position Project of the Culture - Sports and Communication Center was approved by the People's Committee of Quy Hop District on December 13, 2019, in Decision No. 2500/QD-UBND.

Regarding the "opportunity" that Phan Thi Giang choked up while sharing information, it came from the Quy Hop District Party Committee Standing Committee Conference, organized by the Quy Hop District Party Committee Standing Committee on December 12, 2019. The conference included many contents, including reviewing Report No. 278/TTr-UBND dated December 12, 2019 of the District People's Committee "On requesting the policy of recruiting civil servants for district-level public service units in 2020". Based on the consensus and unanimity of the District Party Committee Standing Committee, comrade Ho Le Ngoc - Secretary of the District Party Committee concluded in the direction of opening up opportunities for 4 reporters.

On December 13, 2019, Quy Hop District Party Committee issued Notice No. 1049/TB-HU, announcing the results of the December 2019 District Party Committee Standing Committee Conference. Here, the District People's Committee's viewpoint on the request for policy on recruiting civil servants at district-level public service units in 2020 was clearly stated in Document No. 278/TTr-UBND. That is: "Agree in principle according to the proposal of the District People's Committee in Document No. 278/TTr-UBND dated December 12, 2019 "on requesting policy on recruiting civil servants at district-level public service units in 2020", in which priority is given to submitting to competent authorities to recruit 4 comrades who are working as collaborators at the District Culture - Sports and Communication Center (formerly under a labor contract of Nghe An Provincial Radio and Television Station working at the District Radio and Television Station)".

Announcement of Quy Hop District Party Committee on the results of the regular District Party Committee Standing Committee Conference in December 2019.

I asked Mr. Ha Huy Nham how the People's Committee of Quy Hop district will implement the announcement of the District Party Committee. Mr. Nham (now the Director of the Center for Culture, Sports and Communication) said that after the District Party Committee has announced, the People's Committee of the district will have a document submitted to the Provincial People's Committee and the Department of Home Affairs for consideration, allowing Quy Hop district to recruit 4 friends Hop - Giang - Nguyet - Tram Anh to the positions of reporters and announcers that the Center is lacking.

“The District Party Committee, the District People’s Committee and the Center acknowledge the efforts and contributions of the four reporters to the district’s information and communication work over the past 10 years. However, the recruitment is still carried out in accordance with regulations. I have also reminded them about the functions and tasks of the Center; about the criteria and standards so that they can fully meet the recruitment requirements…”.

Mr. Ha Huy Nham - Director of the Center for Culture - Sports and Communication of Quy Hop district

Listening to the Director of the Center for Culture - Sports and Communications of Quy Hop district, I think the recruitment needs to be considered and allowed by the competent authority. But with the efforts to overcome difficulties, showing the desire to contribute of Phan Thi Giang, Ho Thi Nguyet, Nguyen Thi Hop, Cao Thi Tram Anh in the past many years, especially in the 2 years of wearing the "collaborator" shirt, helping the Radio and Television Station to complete its tasks well, the actions of Quy Hop district to help them are necessary and should be done. And the Job Position Project of the Center for Culture - Sports and Communications; information in Notice 1049/TB-HU of Quy Hop District Party Committee..., is really good news. I believe there will be a happy ending, helping the 4 reporters to re-weave their dream of journalism.

Believing there will be a happy ending, helping 4 reporters to re-weave their dream of journalism. In the photo: Many reporters of Quy Hop Radio and Television Station won high prizes at the annual Nghe An Radio and Television Festival. Photo courtesy: PV