After the epidemic, Tet bonuses increase in some places and decrease in others.

STABILITY AFTER THE PANDEMIC

According to statistics ofSoutheast Economic ZoneIn 2021, the total revenue of enterprises in the industrial park and Southeast Economic Zone was 57,212 billion VND, an increase of 63% compared to 2021. This result shows that many enterprises are confident to stand firm after the pandemic with a higher growth rate than in 2020 and therefore, the benefits and care for workers are also guaranteed.

Workers look forward to Tet bonuses after a year of turmoil due to the pandemic. Photo: PV

At Minh Anh Kim Lien Garment Joint Stock Company (Vinh City), although the company has not yet made a specific decision on the Tet bonus level, employees are optimistic that this year's bonus level will be equal to or higher than last year's.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Cuc - a worker of the company shared: "The recent epidemic has not affected the production and business situation of our company, orders are guaranteed, jobs and income of workers are maintained. That is the basis for us to believe that the Tet bonus this year at the company will be higher than or equal to the Tet bonus last year."

Ms. Cuc's relaxed mentality is also the common mentality of most workers at the TH Milk Factory (Nghia Dan). When asked about this year's Tet bonus, Mr. Man - a maintenance worker at the factory, confided: "As far as we know, the epidemic has affected the group's business situation. However, because the factory always cares about the lives and interests of workers, especially during the pandemic, so even though there has been no official announcement, I still believe that this year's Tet bonus will not fluctuate much compared to previous years."

Although the cost of fighting the epidemic last year was very large, the leaders of Kido Vinh Company Limited still tried to give workers a happy Tet like every year. Photo: DT

Unlike the two units mentioned above, Kido Vinh Company Limited (Do Luong) was severely affected by the epidemic. From August to December 2021, the company's budget had to pay a huge amount for epidemic prevention work. However, with the desire to provide maximum support to employees, contribute to retaining old employees and attracting new employees, the company has made efforts to balance finances to give employees aWarm and prosperous Tetas possible. Ms. Ngoc Anh - in charge of human resources of the company shared: "The company still maintains the same Tet bonus as every year, which means an additional month's salary. Although the specific figures have not been finalized, the company is building a plan to increase salary and give additional bonuses for diligence, supporting employees with more than 10 years of seniority in the coming time." Ms. Ngoc Anh also revealed that this year's Tet Sum Vay program still maintains highly humane content such as lucky draw and giving 25 savings books to employees in difficult circumstances, even though the budget for this category accounts for hundreds of millions of VND.

Sharing the same view, Mr. Bui Van Hung - Chairman of the Trade Union of Thien Phu Packaging Production Company (Nghi Loc) said: "Although the Covid - 19 pandemic caused a number of foreign orders to be canceled, the company's revenue was lower than the same period of previous years, but the trade union and the board of directors discussed many measures to ensure that 100% of employees receive the 13th month salary and other benefits not lower than previous years. It is expected that at the end of January 2022, the company will organize "Tet Sum Vay - Xuan Binh An" for union members and employees with the amount of money spent on rewards and gifts of over 700 million VND".

The Agricultural Trade Union surveyed the financial situation of grassroots trade unions to take care of workers during Tet. Photo: PV

Sharing about the Tet bonus at the affiliated Trade Unions, Ms. Tran Thi Nguyet - Vice President of the Dong Nam Economic Zone Trade Union said: "According to the survey of the Dong Nam Economic Zone Trade Union on the employment situation, life, and income of employees, the highest Tet bonus this year is about 30 million VND and the lowest is about 1.5 million VND. Although some enterprises have not yet finalized the specific number of Tet bonuses, it can be seen that enterprises, especially large-scale enterprises, have tried very hard to ensure the highest bonus within their capacity for workers. Because this is an important factor affecting the company's recruitment situation in the future, especially in the face of the current risk of labor shortage".

CONCERNS AND SHARING

Besides the businesses that are resilient against the pandemic, many businesses are falling into crisis. Along with that is the insecurity and anxiety of workers as Tet is near.

The Southeast Economic Zone Trade Union holds Tet support data at the Trade Union. Photo: PV

The situation of late announcement of Tet bonus is also a common situation of many other enterprises. Mr. Nguyen Van Quynh - Chairman of the Trade Union of An Nam Matsuoka Garment Co., Ltd. worries: "Almost every year, the company's leaders always announce the bonus level close to Tet holiday. This makes the company's trade union executive committee unprepared to negotiate and balance the wishes of both sides, leading to dissatisfaction among workers."

The Trade Union of Thien Phu Packaging Production Company (Nghi Loc) presented 64 gifts, each Tet gift from the union, to union members and employees at the company. Photo: PV

At some enterprises such as Lien Hiep Company Limited, Bai Lu Investment and Trading Joint Stock Company..., this gloom is inevitable. The epidemic has left workers at these enterprises unemployed and the company's sales have dropped dramatically. In that situation, the amountsupport 300,000 VND/personfrom the union budget according to Plan No. 146/KH-TLĐ dated October 28, 2021 of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor becomes even more valuable. Up to now, many district and industry unions have completed the survey and finalized data to implement this support plan.

According to Ms. Phan Thi Thanh Thuy - Chairwoman of Thai Hoa Town Labor Federation, after finalizing the data, basically the grassroots unions at enterprises in the town can be self-funded to support union members and workers. "Only one unit with 1,200 workers proposed that the Provincial Labor Federation support 150 million VND to implement this program because last year that unit spent too much on anti-epidemic work" - Ms. Thanh Thuy shared. In Dien Chau, after the survey, there were 9 enterprises in the district that needed the District Labor Federation to support Tet for 4,370 workers, equivalent to a budget of 1.3 billion VND... It can be said that, given the difficulties that businesses and workers encountered last year, the support oftrade unionis extremely meaningful.