More than 1,500 garment workers in Nghe An end strike and return to work

On February 26-27, more than 1,500 workers at Haivina Kim Lien Company Limited (Nam Giang Industrial Park, Nam Dan District) went on strike to protest some of the company's policies.

Why do workers strike?

Haivina Kim Lien Co., Ltd. specializes in manufacturing garments for export, the company currently has more than 3,000 employees. Believing that the company does not care about the rights of workers, raises salaries but cuts other support, working conditions are not guaranteed, ... many workers of this company stopped working collectively, gathered in the company's premises to ask the company's leaders to resolve the rights of workers.

The reason the workers stopped working collectively was to demand benefits and policies that they had repeatedly requested but the company had not resolved satisfactorily. Specifically, there were 24 issues that factory workers requested the company to answer. These were requests to increase the basic salary according to state regulations; increase regular salaries for workers; not reduce the regional allowance of 300,000 VND/month; increase allowances for toxic substances, gasoline, housing; seniority allowances; high product quotas for pregnant women; managers who often scold workers; about labor protection policies, leave, working environment; not forcing workers to stay and work overtime after work hours...

Workers reported to the representative of the Provincial Federation of Labor some issues that they thought the company had not resolved satisfactorily. Photo: Tung Chi

According to many workers, the company recently announced an increase in the basic salary for workers by about 200,000 VND/month but reduced some allowances, so although the salary increased according to regulations, the actual amount of money received by workers did not increase. Workers requested that the company separate salary and allowances and periodically increase salaries for workers every 3 years.

A worker from Quynh Luu who married a man from Van Dien commune, Nam Dan said that she had been working for 7 years but the company paid her other allowances of 62,000 VND/month, while new workers received 320,000 VND/month. She and her husband both work for the company, and their monthly salary is only about 8 million VND, not enough to cover their family's living expenses.

A worker in the Sonic department (paint printing department) said that she is often exposed to toxic substances such as paint, gasoline, and ink, but the working conditions are not guaranteed, and the toxic allowance is only 150,000 VND/month. Therefore, she requested the company to increase the toxic allowance and improve the working conditions.

Representatives of the Provincial Federation of Labor propagate and mobilize workers to return to work. Photo: Tung Chi

Many issues in favor of workers were agreed upon.

Head of the Policy and Law Department of the Provincial Labor Federation Hoang Thu Huong said: After the incident, the provincial and district labor unions and relevant agencies worked with the employer and initially agreed on some of the workers' legitimate requests.

According to the minutes of the collective agreement meeting between the employer, Haivina Kim Lien Company Limited, the company's union representative, the Provincial Labor Federation, the Nam Dan District Union and the Provincial Police agreed on a number of contents including:

Increase basic salaryAccording to the state regulations, zone 4 is 2,920,000 VND + 5% toxic + 7% through training = 3,280,620 VND; salary increases are periodically made for workers every 3 years with an increase of 5%; fuel and housing allowances remain the same, each year they will be increased by 20,000 VND for assistant workers and 30,000 VND for main workers; diligence allowance is 200,000 VND for tailors and 180,000 VND for the remaining subjects, allowance is 330,000 VND for tailors and 270,000 VND for the remaining subjects.

The problem of increasing toxic money (environmental allowance): The company still maintains the level of 150,000 VND/person/month for the sonic department (the company has calculated 5% of the toxicity into the basic salary for all employees). If the employee wants to transfer to another department, the company will transfer them.

Minutes of agreement between company and employee.

No cuts to allowances:The company also maintains the previously paid allowances; in addition, it periodically raises salary levels every 3 years at a rate of 5%.

Distinguishing allowances between main and assistant printers:The company will classify the skill allowances of main and auxiliary printing workers to make allowance payments in the most appropriate manner;

On the issue of not forcing workers to stay and work overtime after work hours: After 15 minutes of finishing work, the company will turn off the entire electrical system. If any manager requests it, it will be strictly handled; workers will not be forced to work at noon or during the end of work hours, or work overtime. The company also asks workers to send letters to the suggestion box, specifically naming managers who pressure workers so that the company can take appropriate measures. It is strictly forbidden for managers to scold workers and will be strictly handled if workers name them.

Regarding the content of working for 6 years, still receiving salary at level 10, the standard for pregnant womenThe company will check, give standards and consider resolving each specific case...

By late afternoon on February 27, workers and company leaders had reached agreements.

On the morning of February 28, workers pledged to return to work as usual.