For the goal 'Workers in difficult circumstances have unions'

LOVE ON THE BUS TRIPS

In late August, Hamlet 34, Nghi Kim Commune (Vinh City) had consecutive cases of Covid-19 infection. Before the lockdown decision, many people in the hamlet were worried because they had not yet prepared food and necessities for this situation. The 400 households in Hamlet 34 had to rely on the community support group to buy food and drinks. The same goes for Phan Dinh Hung's family. As a garment worker at Minh Anh Kim Lien Garment Company, the lockdown decision meant that Hung had to temporarily stop working, and his direct source of income was affected.

In his cramped rented room, the couple's worries grew day by day because their income had decreased but their spending needs had not decreased, and they also had two small children to take care of. While they were still busy with many worries, on the afternoon of August 28, Mr. Hung and the workers in the neighborhood received a notice to go to the neighborhood's epidemic control checkpoint to receive food to support the union organization. Program"The love bus"The event, jointly organized by the Provincial Federation of Labor and the Southeast Economic Zone Trade Union, reached workers like Mr. Hung in such a practical way.

The Provincial Federation of Labor gives gifts to workers staying in the blockaded area. Photo: PV

Practical gifts have come to workers in their most difficult times. Photo: PV

Receiving gift bags from union officials through the fence of the checkpoint, Ms. Phan Thi Na - Mr. Hung's colleague could not hide her emotions: "We have benefited a lot from the activities of the union organization at the company, but we did not expect that we would be cared for even when we were in the heart of the epidemic, right in our boarding house. I am really proud and happy to be a union member."

Not only Mr. Hung and Ms. Na, 13 other workers temporarily residing in the hamlet also received this meaningful gift. As the person directly participating in giving gifts to workers, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Nhi - President of the Provincial Labor Federation shared: "The program "Love Bus" was built to support and share difficulties with union members and workers who are practicing social distancing in concentrated dormitories. They have to face job instability, salary reduction and lack of necessities at the same time. The value of the gift is not large, but we believe it will be useful for workers, especially in the current context of the epidemic and social distancing".

Giving necessities to workers at the boarding house. Photo: PV

Carrying hundreds of gifts, delivered right at the boarding houses, the first “Love Bus” is a beautiful image, spreading the message of love during the pandemic. To prepare for this journey, the blue-shirted union officers have devoted a lot of effort and concern. They have coordinated with businesses and localities, surveyed and compiled statistics to have the most accurate lists, so that no one is left out, no worker is disadvantaged.

"The charity bus" is a beautiful image of the union's care and concern for workers. Photo: PV

“From the union budget, the “Love Bus” has given away 300 gifts of essential food to workers in Nghi Kim and Hung Dong communes. We are continuing to survey to continue bringing this program to workers in Nam Cam Industrial Park (Nghi Loc) and VSIP Industrial Park (Hung Nguyen)”, Mr. Vuong An Nguyen - Chairman of the Dong Nam Economic Zone Trade Union added. In order for the program to be more widespread and of better quality, the Dong Nam Economic Zone Trade Union is mobilizing additional support from outside sources. According to the plan, there will be 700 more gifts given to workers in the near future.

CARE FOR WORKERS "3 ON THE SPOT"

Not only the workers in the boarding houses, the trade unions at all levels also pay special attention to the workers who are working.“3 on the spot”at factories and enterprises. To directly grasp the living conditions of workers, the Provincial Labor Federation directly visited and gave gifts to union members and workers who are implementing "3 on-site" at 3 large enterprises in Vinh City and Hoang Mai Town.

The delegation of the Provincial Federation of Labor worked with businesses applying 3 on-site. Photo: PV

During the working trip, comrade Kha Van Tam - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial Labor Federation worked with 3 units, Hoa Sen Nghe An One Member Co., Ltd., IMS Innovation Co., Ltd., Sangwoo Vietnam Co., Ltd. to grasp the production situation, listen to the advantages and difficulties when implementing "3 on-site" and visit the eating and sleeping places of workers. "We sympathize with the difficulties that businesses applying "3 on-site" are facing. At the same time, businesses have to spend a lot of money on operations, management, testing, providing food, compensation for workers... while ensuring production progress for orders. The epidemic situation is still very complicated, so businesses need to determine to "live with the flood", not be subjective and negligent, take care,motivate workersand proactively and creatively find long-term solutions in the coming time," comrade Kha Van Tam shared.

To ensure workers feel secure in implementing "3 on-site", businesses need to ensure daily living conditions. Photo: DVCC

During this working trip, the Provincial Federation of Labor and the Dong Nam Economic Zone Trade Union also discussed with businesses a number of solutions to prevent and control the epidemic such as "1 route, 2 destinations", vaccinating workers...

Joining the working group, Ms. Hoang Thi Thu Huong - Head of the Department of Legal Policy - Labor Relations said: "In addition to the units that have built a "stronghold" to prevent the epidemic with full steps for workers to quarantine, test many times before being allowed to stay and implement "3 on-site", disinfect all equipment and goods before entering the factory, divide workers into small groups... there are still units that are still negligent and chaotic in preventing the epidemic. After the trip, we have recorded many good and creative ways of doing things from businesses and at the same time learned a lot of experience in implementing "3 on-site". This is the basis for trade unions at all levels to gain more knowledge and skills in advising businesses and taking care of and protecting workers during the epidemic".

Chairman of the Provincial Labor Federation Kha Van Tam visited workers performing 3 on-site tasks. Photo: PV

During this trip, the Provincial Federation of Labor and the Southeast Economic Zone Trade Union presented gifts of necessities such as eggs, milk, shampoo... to the workers who are implementing "3 on-site" at 3 units with a total gift value of 48 million VND.

The delegation of the Provincial Federation of Labor presented gifts to support workers implementing "3 on-the-spot". Photo: PV

“The first time we implemented “3 on-site”, both the company and the employees had their own confusion and difficulties, leading to some problems that we could not find a solution for. Therefore, the timely attention of the trade unions at all levels has greatly encouraged our spirit. We hope that in the future, the trade union organization will have more activities to listen to the opinions of employees and advise the company in implementing “3 on-site”, said Ms. Nguyen Thi Nguyet - Vice President of the Trade Union of Sangwoo Vietnam Co., Ltd.