Many workers with pneumoconiosis have not been informed.

Workers panic

It has been more than half a month since the occupational disease investigation team of the Department of Health announced the results of discovering 57 more workers of Chau Tien Company Limited (Nghi Loc) with silicosis, but these workers have not yet been notified by the company of the results, so that they can receive timely treatment.

According to the list of the Department of Health that Nghe An Newspaper reporters obtained, among them, Mr. Hoang Sy Quyet (38 years old, Dien Loc commune, Dien Chau), was diagnosed with severe pneumoconiosis, even though he had only been working at the company for less than 9 months. However, when the reporter contacted him, Mr. Quyet seemed surprised and asked the reporter if his condition was severe or mild.

“We read in the newspaper that dozens of workers had been found to have pneumoconiosis, so everyone was worried and kept asking the company manager and director, but everyone kept quiet. Recently, I started having difficulty breathing, and I was worried, but I didn’t expect to be on the sick list because I had just started working,” said Quyet. Currently, Quyet is still working in the mechanical engineering department, with a salary of more than 6 million VND/month.

“I feel very confused now, not knowing what to do, who to ask for guidance? I only know that this disease must be treated as soon as possible, if it is too late, there is no way. Meanwhile, the company's leaders are always silent,” Mr. Quyet continuously asked questions after the reporter informed him of his medical examination results. That was also the question of dozens of workers of Chau Tien Company Limited that we contacted.

Ms. Hoang Thi Lien (47 years old, Nghi Long commune, Nghi Loc district) said that the company had not informed her of anything and only learned that she had the disease through an acquaintance who works in the medical field. “Now that I know I have the disease, I am very scared, but I don’t have money to go to the hospital. What should we do?…”

Ms. Lien is one of the “first generation” workers working at Chau Tien Company Limited since 2015. She worked in the seed separation department and then transferred to the packaging department. In 2021, she quit the company. She calculated: “I worked at the company for 5 years and 5 months but did not have insurance. I have requested the company many times about this but was not satisfied, so I decided to quit in 2021.”

At that time, Ms. Lien was very hesitant because if she quit, there would be no other work to do. She choked up: “When I was accepted by the company, I was very happy. No matter how hard or tiring the job was, I could endure it. Even at lunchtime, to avoid the dust and rocks in the factory, my sisters and I had to sit and eat on the pond in front of the company gate, spread out a tarp, and we accepted it.”

Ms. Dang Thi Tham (43 years old, residing in Nghi Long commune, Nghi Loc district) is also a worker who has just been diagnosed with moderate pneumoconiosis. She has worked at the company for 3 years in the packaging department. “I have paid insurance for 16 months. But to be eligible for insurance, I had to apply and explain that “my two children have hemophilia, so I can only be eligible for insurance,” Ms. Tham said.

Mr. Thai Dinh Lam - Deputy Director of Nghe An Lung Hospital said that Chau Tien Company Limited is responsible for notifying workers who are sick so that they can be treated promptly. Doctor Lam added that in an unsanitary working environment and with inadequate protective gear, workers can contract acute pneumoconiosis after only 3 months, and chronic pneumoconiosis can last up to 5 years. This disease is mostly detected late because the patient does not realize that they are sick. Furthermore, workers only undergo general health check-ups and ignore occupational disease checks. Therefore, workers cannot detect pneumoconiosis early.

Regarding those who have contracted the disease, Dr. Lam emphasized that first of all, patients should leave that working environment. Check their health, mainly take regular chest X-rays to see if the disease is progressing. Improve nutrition, rest and choose a suitable job. At the same time, patients need to practice rehabilitation (breathing exercises) at an appropriate level to increase resistance and restore lung function.

What is the regime for sick workers?

Like other workers, upon receiving the news that she had severe silicosis, Ms. Hoang Thi Lien was bewildered with many questions. She was afraid because the disease had taken the lives of 6 people. She was bewildered because where would she get the money to treat the disease? How long would it take to treat the disease? Could it be cured? If she went for treatment, her husband and children would be burdened with more burdens… “Many times I thought of not going to see a doctor or get treatment anymore. I would leave it to fate. I would save that money for my children and grandchildren,” Ms. Lien choked up.

Unlike Ms. Lien, Mr. Bui Van Dung (45 years old, Nghi Hung commune, Nghi Loc) has been working since 2018 but only received insurance from the company a year later. In 2021, he quit his job because his health was declining.

Recently, because his wife was unemployed and in dire straits, Mr. Dung withdrew 13 million VND from his social insurance to cover his living expenses. However, he has now received news that he has silicosis. “I am worried now that I have received the news. Without insurance, treatment will be extremely expensive,” said Mr. Dung.

The leader of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of Nghi Loc district informed that after checking, not only Mr. Bui Van Dung withdrew his social insurance once, but there were 5 other people in the area. These are all workers of Chau Tien Company Ltd. who were discovered to have pneumoconiosis during the recent medical examination.

“In addition to the above workers, there are 10 workers whose information has not been determined whether they have paid social insurance or not. We have also requested the district social insurance to review and re-determine whether these cases are covered by insurance or not,” said the leader of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of Nghi Loc district.

Regarding the question of workers who have withdrawn social insurance once, are they still entitled to occupational disease benefits? Regarding this issue, Nghe An Provincial Insurance informs that if a worker is determined to have an occupational disease during his/her working time at the unit and during that time has paid into the occupational accident and disease fund, he/she can quit his/her job, receive retirement benefits or receive social insurance one time and still be entitled to benefits.

In addition, the regime for employees identified with occupational pneumoconiosis is based on the Law on Social Insurance No. 58/2014/QH13, stipulated from Article 46 to Article 52. Specifically, in Article 46, one-time allowance: Employees with a working capacity reduction of 5% to 30% are entitled to a one-time allowance. The one-time allowance is stipulated as follows: A 5% reduction in working capacity is entitled to 5 times the basic salary, then for each additional 1% reduction, an additional 0.5 times the basic salary is entitled to.

In addition to the prescribed allowance, you will also receive an additional allowance calculated based on the number of years of social insurance contributions. From 1 year or less, it is calculated as 0.5 months, then for each additional year of social insurance contributions, you will be calculated as 0.3 months of the social insurance salary of the month immediately preceding the leave for treatment.

In Article 47, monthly allowance: Employees with a 31% or more reduction in working capacity are entitled to a monthly allowance. The monthly allowance level is stipulated as follows: A 31% reduction in working capacity is equal to 30% of the basic salary, then for each additional 1% reduction, an additional 2% of the basic salary is granted.