Will establish a Trade Union organization and build a collective labor agreement
During 2 days (August 6 and 7), nearly 800 workers of BSE Vietnam Co., Ltd. located in Nam Cam Industrial Park (Nghi Loc) organized a strike to petition about working hours, salary increase, rotation of working shifts between day and night and improvement of meal quality. Authorized by the General Director of the Company, Director of Human Resources Administration of BSE Vietnam Co., Ltd., Mr. Choiilki had an interview with Nghe An newspaper reporters about this issue.
(Baonghean) -During 2 days (August 6 and 7), nearly 800 workers of BSE Vietnam Co., Ltd. located in Nam Cam Industrial Park (Nghi Loc) organized a strike to petition about working hours, salary increase, rotation of working shifts between day and night and improvement of meal quality. Authorized by the General Director of the Company, Director of Human Resources Administration of BSE Vietnam Co., Ltd., Mr. Choiilki had an interview with Nghe An newspaper reporters about this issue.
PV: Hello, could you please tell us about the company's production and business situation and the reason for the recent collective work stoppage by workers?
Mr. Choilki:BSE Group built BSE Vietnam Factory in Zone C of Nam Cam Industrial Park as the Group's 6th factory (5 previous factories include 2 factories in Korea, 2 factories in China and 1 factory in Hai Duong - Vietnam). The factory's products are speakers and phone components supplied to Samsung and Nokia. Currently, the factory is investing in phase 1, with a total investment of 13 million USD/total investment of 31 million USD. The factory system includes 2 factories, each 5,000m2 wide, two offices, and a canteen. The current number of workers is 760 people. When operating at full capacity, it will need 5,000 people. But currently the factory's products have not been sold because Samsung Group has not come in to approve the quality.
Workers work at the electronic components production line of BSE Vietnam Factory (Nam Cam Industrial Park). Photo: CL
The reason for the strike was due to workers' concerns and petitions about working hours, wage increases, rotation of shifts between day and night, and improvement of meal quality. Specifically: Workers reacted when, from August 12, the company announced that it would apply 2 shifts: shift 1 from 4:30 am to 1:30 pm, shift 2 from 1:30 pm to 10:30 pm, instead of working according to office hours as before. Working time is 9 hours/shift, in which the break time is 1 hour, including: 10-minute break between shifts and 3 times/shift; 30-minute meal break. Therefore, workers petitioned the company to change shift hours: shift 1 from 5:30 am to 1:30 pm; shift 2 from: 1:30 pm to 9:30 pm. Regarding the issue of shift meals: the Company is requested to improve shift meals to ensure cleanliness, hygiene and increase food. Regarding wages: the Company is requested to increase wages every 6 months according to the provisions of the Labor Law and the Company's commitment. At the same time, the Company is requested to consider increasing fuel allowances, attendance allowances, implementing health insurance for workers and establishing a trade union according to regulations.
PV: Sir, are the workers' recommendations reasonable?
Ms. Dang Thi Nga - Representative of the collective of workers at BSE Vietnam Company: The company changed the working hours as they are now after consulting with departments, branches, and workers basically agreed. But there will be some who quit their jobs because their children cannot work the night shift. The difficulty for workers here is that there is no dormitory, they have to rent a house and go home after work quite far, especially if they work at night. But the General Director has decided, there are only two time frames so the workers are forced to agree. I have worked for 3 months, my income after deducting health insurance and social insurance is 2.1-2.2 million VND/month. Mr. Nguyen Anh Thuong - Factory Production Manager: The factory is currently facing many difficulties, with large investments but the products have not been sold. Although I know that there are still many disadvantages for the workers and myself, I have to share the difficulties with the company. The workers' production is not yet complete, and many products still need to be repaired. The workers' strike was spontaneous, but now they have all returned to production. |
Reporter: It is known that since August 2, workers have submitted a petition to the company. Is it because the company is slow to respond to workers that the workers are on strike?
Mr. Choilki:No. On August 2, the workers submitted a petition, but it was a Friday. On the afternoon of Friday, August 2, the two directors, the administrative director and the production director, met with the workers and listened to the petition but could not resolve it. We agreed to report it to the General Director. After the weekend, on Monday, August 5, the Board of Directors met with the General Director, and I reported the incident to the General Director. The General Director replied that he assigned me to re-study Vietnamese law to find the best solution. On the afternoon of August 5, the head of the General Department and I went to the Southeast Economic Zone Management Board to get advice on how to resolve the matter and on working hours. The leaders of the Southeast Economic Zone Management Board also proposed that the company hold a meeting of workers to agree on the petitions. While I was looking for a solution to present to the General Director, on August 6, the workers quit their jobs and went on strike.
PV: Sir, so far how have the workers' petitions been resolved?
Mr. Choilki:After the meeting with the Provincial Interdisciplinary Delegation, General Director Back Heng Hyun agreed on a number of specific contents: Regarding working time: Shift 1 from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm, including 1 hour for lunch not counted in working time, 30 minutes of break according to the nature of the work counted in working time. Shift 2 from 20:00'- 5:00' (in which 45 minutes between shifts are counted as working hours, 1 hour of overtime is applied to overtime pay. Regarding shift change: the company is considering and discussing with the Board of Directors in the direction of 1 week/time or 1 month/time. After agreement, there will be a notice to the employees. Regarding the issue of shift meals: Currently, the company is completing the cafeteria because the contractor is behind schedule, so the company is outsourcing the provision of meals at a price of 18,000 VND/meal (excluding VAT) and the company supports all of this cost. Therefore, the company cannot increase the value of meals. The company is committed to working with the food supplier to ensure clean and hygienic food. If the unit does not meet the requirements, it will replace another food supplier.
Regarding salary: Currently, the company is applying a basic salary of 2,030,000 VND/month, higher than the minimum regional salary prescribed by the State (Region IV: 1,650,000 VND/month - Decree No. 103/2012/CP). Fuel allowance of 200,000 VND/month, diligence allowance of 150,000 VND/month (if working 26 working days). The company has no commitment to increase salary every 6 months for workers. Regarding increasing workers' income, the company will have a suitable bonus policy based on production results. Regarding health insurance: In the past, there was a delay in implementing health insurance cards for workers. The company will check cases that do not have health insurance cards to implement them for workers in accordance with regulations. Participation in health insurance, social insurance, and unemployment insurance is carried out in accordance with Vietnamese law. Regarding the management department's behavior: In the past, the company's accounting department has not been clear in processing salaries for workers, there are still shortcomings, the company has corrected (some staff have been fired). The company will continue to correct in the coming time.
PV: It is known that the company has not established a Trade Union organization and does not have a Collective Labor Agreement?
Mr. Choilki:Yes. The company is in the stage of waiting for Samsung Group to inspect and evaluate the product quality. Therefore, right after Samsung Group approves the product quality, the company will officially operate. At that time, the company will establish a Trade Union and build a Collective Labor Agreement.
PV: Thank you!
Chau Lan (performed)
