Efforts to overcome difficulties of a garment worker in Nghe An

Born in 1991 in a poor farming family in Dien Thinh commune (Dien Chau), after graduating from high school, like many local young people, Hoang Cong Anh followed his friends to the South to work as a worker.

After more than ten years away from his hometown, earning a living with various jobs, from porter, bricklayer to shoemaker..., Cong Anh has tasted both bitterness and sweetness, but he still stays in a foreign land because he thinks "I don't know what to do when I return to my hometown, can I just look at a few fields?"

At the end of 2019, he married Ms. Phan Thi Hanh - a girl from the same hometown who was then an employee of a supermarket in Binh Duong province.

In mid-2021, when his first daughter was only a few months old, due to the complicated developments of the Covid-19 pandemic, Hoang Cong Anh and his wife and children had to return to their hometown. Also in that year, with the investment attraction policy of Nghe An province, Mareep Company Limited (specializing in garment industry) located in Dien Thinh commune began operating.

Realizing that working in his hometown as a worker would give him the opportunity to be closer to his parents and take better care of his wife and children, and that his income might not be as high as working in the South, but he wouldn't have to rent a house, pay for electricity and water every month, or pay for transportation... So he decided to return to his hometown and apply for a job at Mareep Company Limited.

Mr. Hoang Cong Anh during working hours. Photo: NVCC.

After more than a year working at the company, Hoang Cong Anh strives to become an active factor in the production emulation movement; always exceeding the assigned targets in the ironing department. In addition, he also takes on other tasks such as cutting fabric, supporting sewing... to increase his income.

He also actively participated in activities organized by the grassroots Trade Union, was awarded the Excellent Worker award by the company, the grassroots Trade Union classified him as a union member who had excellently completed his tasks and was honored as a typical Worker attending the "Workers' Festival - Welcome Spring Quy Mao 2023" organized by the Provincial Labor Federation.

Union member Hoang Cong Anh is a very diligent, hard-working, creative and very active worker, strictly following the company's rules and regulations, and is always classified as an excellent worker. Although his family has encountered many difficulties, he still tries to rise up and is one of 30 exemplary workers and laborers to receive a Certificate of Merit from the Provincial People's Committee in 2022. This is a worthy reward for his efforts.

Mr. Duong Van Hoang - Chairman of the Trade Union of Mareep Company Limited.

While the textile, garment and footwear industries are facing many difficulties in terms of orders, many businesses have to suspend labor contracts with workers, but Mareep Company Limited still ensures full employment for workers and still needs to recruit more workers. Along with that, working conditions and all policies for workers are guaranteed.

In addition to his main job in the ironing department, Mr. Hoang Cong Anh also takes on additional sewing support jobs to increase his income. Photo: Minh Quan

“I returned to my hometown to avoid the epidemic, but I was lucky because thanks to that, I had the opportunity to work at Mareep Company Limited. While many businesses had to stop operating, or reduce production due to a shortage of orders, many workers lost their jobs or had their contracts suspended, the company still had orders, jobs and income for workers and employees of the company were still guaranteed. The company is close to home, so I have a job and can take care of and support my parents, wife and children,” Hoang Cong Anh confided.

Talking to Hoang Cong Anh, he said that every job has its own challenges, what is important is your stance and daily efforts. "Tailoring for men is easy and not too hard, but not everyone is successful because of lack of perseverance. However, when my efforts are recognized, I am grateful for this job and feel proud because in addition to having a stable income and job, tailoring gives me interesting experiences every day," Hoang Cong Anh shared.

I am determined to stick with the sewing profession and with the business located right in my hometown, determined to try to work hard to rise up in life. Up to now, I have realized that, as long as we have the profession in hand along with enthusiasm and determination, we do not have to go far, just starting a business in our hometown is enough to build a comfortable life.

Mr. Hoang Cong Anh - Worker of Mareep Nghe An Company Limited.

Always claiming to be "just an ordinary worker like the others", but Hoang Cong Anh has one thing that makes others respect him: his diligence and determination to overcome difficult circumstances.

His first child suffered from a severe congenital heart disease and had to be hospitalized frequently. His wife could not work because she had to go to the hospital with the child. Everything from food, medicine, and household activities depended on his salary. The sleepless nights spent crying with the child, taking the child to Vinh city and then to Hanoi for treatment made the life of Hoang Cong Anh's family stressful and difficult at times.

Mental pressure and economic difficulties piled up when the cost of treatment and travel were very expensive but the results were not as expected. In January 2023, after a period of fighting the disease, Hoang Cong Anh's first child passed away forever. Currently, his second child is also in poor health, so his wife is still unable to go to work to spend time taking care of the child.

However, with the encouragement of his family and colleagues, Hoang Cong Anh strives every day to take care of his children with his wife and complete all assigned tasks as a garment worker. He balances and overcomes the hardships in work and life with his constant efforts.

Upon learning of his situation, the THHN Mareep Company Union and other organizations in the company also visited, encouraged and supported his family. Although the amount of support was not large, it was a timely and meaningful sharing, helping his family overcome difficult days.

Mr. Hoang Cong Anh always receives support from the Trade Union of Mareep Company Limited as well as friends and colleagues. Photo: Minh Quan

Then, colleagues in the workshop also often come to visit and encourage his spirit. Hoang Cong Anh shared that he is lucky and happy to receive a lot of love and support from everyone during the most difficult period of his life. The difficult road ahead is still long, but he believes that with his own determination, the support of the trade union organization and the support of friends and colleagues, Hoang Cong Anh will always be a typical worker of the Nghe An textile industry./.