Nghe An Rubber Investment and Development Joint Stock Company: A milestone in one term.

(Baonghean) - Under the scorching June sun, the rubber plantations remain lush and green. Over the past four years since rubber trees were introduced to the hilly areas of Que Phong, Anh Son, and Thanh Chuong, facing strong winds, intense heat, and floods, they have proven their suitability to this land. Despite a challenging term, the Party Committee of Nghe An Rubber Investment and Development Joint Stock Company has led the unit to achieve remarkable accomplishments, a memorable milestone in the company's Party history.

Thanh Duc commune (Thanh Chuong district) on a sunny day. The hills that were barren or planted with acacia trees a year ago are now covered in the green of rubber trees. Mr. Pham Van Hieu (Director of Youth Volunteer Farm No. 2) happily shared: The farm currently has nearly 70 workers, mostly local laborers, workers and children of workers from the former Youth Volunteer Team No. 2, and hundreds of seasonal workers during the land clearing and planting periods. With over 3,000 hectares of land handed over, in just over a year, nearly 700 hectares of rubber trees have been planted in Thanh Duc and Hanh Lam, with the first trees already nearly 3 meters tall and thriving.

Nguyen Cong Cuong was hired as a worker from the very beginning and was assigned to care for 10 hectares of rubber trees. “I earn over 5 million dong a month, and I have insurance. I took advantage of the opportunity to intercrop more than 5 hectares of fragrant root vegetables starting last November, and I expect to harvest them by the end of this year,” the young man born in 1993 proudly shared. It is known that most worker households here are encouraged to intercrop with other crops such as fragrant root vegetables, potatoes, and various types of beans to increase their income. The entire plantation currently has over 50 hectares of fragrant root vegetables; in 2014, after deducting all expenses, each hectare yielded a profit of 35-40 million dong.

Workers at the 12/9 Farm are tending to the nursery in Anh Son.

After two years, returning to the rubber plantation area of ​​Nghe An Rubber Company in the four communes of Tien Phong, Hanh Dich, Que Son, and Muong Ngoc in Que Phong district, the impression of towering hills dotted with patches of white from slash-and-burn farming by the local people had vanished. Instead, there were lush green rubber plantations, their trees proudly reaching high. Returning to this highland region, I heard many heartwarming stories about the rubber trees. These included stories of difficult circumstances: husbands addicted to drugs who later died, young children, and lives that were once precarious, but since being hired as plantation workers, their lives have become much more stable with an average income of 4.8 million VND per person per month, not including the benefits of intercropping under the rubber trees. This is the story of young workers from the Thai ethnic group who, after only a few years here, went from having no stable job to accumulating a considerable amount of capital, owning orchards, having a stable income, and being honored to join the Party at a very young age, like Vi Van Hoa and Lo Van Duyen (Team 1).

It's also the story of Luu Duc Van (Team 2), who, with only 5.73 hectares of rubber trees to care for, intercropped lemongrass. In 2013, with fresh lemongrass imported from Vinh at 12,000 VND/kg, he earned over 160 million VND from selling it; in 2014, he earned nearly 100 million VND due to lower prices, and this year, in less than half a year, his family has already earned over 70 million VND from lemongrass. Mr. Le Huu Huy (Director of the Farm) said: Currently, the unit has employed 140 official workers, including 114 children of ethnic minority people from the Thai and Khmu ethnic groups in Que Phong district, in addition to regularly employing about 500 seasonal workers.

Leaders of the Vietnam Rubber Group inspect the development of rubber plantations in Thanh Chuong.

Mr. Tran Ngoc Thang, Secretary of the Party Committee and General Director of Nghe An Rubber Investment and Development Joint Stock Company, shared: "Currently, we have planted 4,000 hectares of rubber, employing over 600 workers with stable jobs and incomes, of which 84% are ethnic minorities. The average income for the entire company throughout the term reached over 5 million VND/person/month, and 100% of employees are covered by social insurance and receive full benefits and policies as stipulated by the Labor Code. The unit's activities have also contributed to poverty alleviation and development in localities, building infrastructure such as roads, and contributing to the construction of new rural areas."

It can be said that, under the guidance of the company's Party Committee, the past term was a significant milestone in the unit's performance. The company has contributed over 1.6 billion VND to the state budget, paid full social insurance, health insurance, and unemployment insurance for over 600 employees; and coordinated with the Land Clearance Councils of 3 districts to support and compensate for land clearance on 4,700 hectares. The unit also successfully protected 3,256 hectares of protective forest (received from the Youth Volunteer Brigade 7 - Economic Development of Nghe An), preventing any fires or deforestation. As of April 2015, the company's rubber plantation area was 4,279.08 hectares, of which over 3,629 hectares were newly planted during the term, reaching 120% of the plan.

One of the key factors contributing to the company's Party Committee's achievements is the effective implementation of grassroots democracy regulations. The unit has developed regulations on workplace democracy and regulations for regular workplace dialogue. Following the First Party Congress of Nghe An Rubber Investment and Development Joint Stock Company (2012-2015 term), the company's Party Committee established operational regulations for the Party Committee and the Party Committee's Inspection Committee, restructured and divided the Party Committee into five subordinate branches, each linked to its functions, professional duties, and management area. This also ensured the timely consolidation of work style and conduct, seriousness in meetings, promotion of democracy, and exemplary leadership within the Party Committee and the Party Committees of the subordinate branches.

Personnel management was carried out according to proper procedures, democratically, openly, and transparently, with a focus on rejuvenating the workforce, ensuring moral character and competence, and prioritizing female cadres. The Party Committee paid close attention to Party member development; during the past term, 15 outstanding union members attended Party membership training courses, and 8 comrades were admitted to the Party, bringing the total number of Party members to 50. National defense, security, social policies, and political and ideological work were also given due attention and effectively implemented. As a result, the political awareness of cadres, Party members, and workers has been raised, their ideology is firm, they are united, and they always trust in the leadership and reform policies of the Party.

Text and photos:Phu Huong