Nghe An Trade Union accompanies and takes care of Tet for workers
(Baonghean.vn) - In the context that businesses in Nghe An are still facing many difficulties in production and business, trade unions at all levels in Nghe An have actively participated in accompanying workers and laborers, especially as the Lunar New Year 2024 is approaching.
Many workers are unemployed, income is reduced
Coming to Nghe An Employment Service Center to register for unemployment insurance, Mr. Vo Duy Cuong, residing in Nghi Thuan commune (Nghi Loc), said that he used to be a worker at a packaging manufacturing company in Nghi Loc district.
In recent years, due to economic difficulties, the company has had to implement a plan to reduce working hours and let workers take turns off. Due to a sharp decrease in income, Mr. Cuong decided to terminate his labor contract in the last days of 2023 and has also looked for new jobs at a number of businesses but has not yet found a suitable place.
In recent years, the number of workers coming to the Center to register for unemployment insurance has increased sharply. In 2023, the whole province had 23,149 people applying for unemployment insurance, an increase of 12.68% compared to 2022 (20,543 people).
The majority of workers registered for unemployment insurance are unskilled workers who have worked in private or foreign-invested enterprises in the fields of textiles, footwear, electronics, etc. In the context of having to bear the pressure of production costs due to fluctuating oil prices, lack of orders due to the unstable situation in Europe, etc., businesses are forced to cut labor, leading to many workers falling into unemployment. Notably, among these, the number of workers working in enterprises in Nghe An province is 10,910 people, an increase of 37.9% compared to 2022 (7,910 people).
In addition to unemployed workers, some workers still have jobs but their income has decreased significantly. Ms. Le Thi Binh, residing in Hung Tay commune (Hung Nguyen), a worker at an export garment company in Bac Vinh Industrial Park, said that her income has decreased because from October 2023 until now, the company has lacked orders, and workers only work 4 days/week. "With little work and reduced income, my family's life is extremely difficult because we have to save money. Now, I just hope that the company will soon have orders so that workers can have stable jobs like before," Ms. Binh shared.
Information from relevant agencies such as the Provincial Federation of Labor and the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs also shows that businesses in the province are still facing many difficulties in production and business after the Covid-19 pandemic. According to a survey by the Provincial Federation of Labor, in 2023, the average income of employees in enterprises is 6,000,000 - 6,300,000 VND/person/month, while the national average is 7 million VND/month, and in businesses in key economic regions it is over 8 million VND/month.
According to the survey results of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs at the end of 2023, the levelTet bonusof workers on the occasion of the upcoming Lunar New Year of Giap Thin will decrease compared to the Lunar New Year of Quy Mao. Accordingly, the average bonus that businesses give to workers on the Lunar New Year of Giap Thin is 3.58 million VND/person, a decrease of 15% compared to the Lunar New Year of Quy Mao in 2023.
Efforts to support workers
In that difficult context, many businesses have tried to find jobs, maintain stability, basically ensure jobs, salary and bonus regimes for employees according to the agreed content.
For example, at Mareep Limited Liability Company located in Dien Thinh Commune (Dien Chau), the representative of the Company's Trade Union said that due to the impact of the general economic situation in the world, orders have decreased.
However, identifying labor as the lifeblood, instead of cutting labor, the company accepts to spend a sum of money to maintain production activities, create jobs for workers, and at the same time make continuous improvements to increase productivity and reduce costs. Therefore, the income of the company's workers in the last months of 2023 is still maintained stable, workers are assured to stick with the company, contributing to maintaining the business's operations and stable income for themselves.
Mr. Ha Huy Dong - Chairman of the Dien Chau District Labor Federation said: “In the last months of 2023, the Standing Committee of the District Labor Federation organized working sessions at grassroots unions, especially focusing on enterprises located in the area, to grasp the situation of labor relations, salary payment, and bonuses for employees on the occasion of New Year and Lunar New Year 2024. Through grasping the situation, enterprises are operating stably, there is no potential risk of labor disputes, collective work stoppages related to salary, Tet bonus, social insurance debt, etc. The District Labor Federation also requested grassroots unions to organize well activities to care for the material and spiritual life of employees on the occasion of the Giap Thin Lunar New Year. In particular, focus on supporting union members and employees with reduced working hours, losing jobs, ensuring the right time, in accordance with regulations, not missing eligible subjects for support”.
The Economic Zone Trade Union has requested that businesses provide early and complete information so that employees know clearly about the plan, time of salary payment, bonus payment, allowances and support for employees during the Lunar New Year... In particular, it is necessary to ensure full and timely payment according to the plan, to avoid the situation of salary and bonus arrears of employees, leading to the risk of disputes and instability in labor relations at the enterprise.
Currently, industry unions and labor federations in districts, cities and towns are actively preparing many activities to take care of Tet for union members and workers, and promptly encourage union members and workers in difficult circumstances.
According to the plan, the Southeast Economic Zone Trade Union will organize the program "Tet Sum Vay - Spring Sharing" at VSIP Nghe An Urban and Service Park with many cultural and sports activities for union members and workers; support and give gifts to more than 1,100 union members and workers in difficult circumstances from the activities of the Southeast Economic Zone Trade Union and socialization.
In Dien Chau district, the program "Tet sum vay - Xuan chia chia" in 2024 was organized early at Wooin Vina Limited Liability Company and will soon be organized at 5 other companies: Viet Glory Limited Liability Company, Nam Thuan Nghe An Joint Stock Company, Mareep Limited Liability Company, Viet Han Garment Company, Nhat Huy Stone Company, with the participation of more than 11,000 workers...
The Standing Committee of the Provincial Federation of Labor has directed trade unions at all levels to strengthen dialogue and negotiation activities on the content of caring for the material and spiritual life of union members and workers during Tet; proactively deploy measures to detect and prevent labor disputes and collective work stoppages arising during Tet. On the other hand, in the current context, workers and businesses need to sympathize, share, overcome difficulties to continue to accompany and seize opportunities in the new year 2024.
