Trade unions accompanies workers to surpass difficulties

– To promote the trade union’s role in taking care of workers’ lives, over the past time, the provincial trade union have implemented many practical activities to support labor union members to overcome difficulties and stabilize their lives to feel assured and complete their jobs.

To help employees to settle down and develop their prefessions, from 2014, the Provincial Labor Confederation has launched the program “Trade Union’s Shelters” under the Provincial Labor Labor Social Fund. Accordingly, trade unions at all levels in the whole province have mobilized union members and employees to donate at least VND 30,000 /person/year. Every year, the provincial Labor Confederation screens the list of employees with housing difficulties which are reviewed by grassroots level labor union and district or city level unions and uses the fund to support them. Since 2020 the Provincial Labor Confederation has provided financial support to build 36 new houses and repair 31 houses with a total cost of VND 1 billion 780 million for union members with housing difficulties. It is worth mentioning that with the same donation for each union member, since 2021, the Provincial Labor Confederation has increased the level of support for “Union shelters” from VND 30 to VND 40 million /newly built house and from 15 to 20 million VND/repaired house.

Leaders of Labor Confederation of Province and Van Lang district presented grands to union members to support their house construction in Tam Duc Lang Son Company Limited

Mr. Luu Duc Phi, a member of the grassroots trade union of Tam Duc Lang Son Co., Ltd. (Van Lang district) said: Because my wife does not have a full-time job, my salary covers living expenses for the whole family. Our life is difficult, and our house is in poor conditions. In the beginning of 2021, I received VND 40 million from the Provincial Labor Labor Social Fund to rebuild my house. Along with the additional loan, my family now has a spacious new house. I feel more secured at work. In parallel with housing support, trade unions at all levels regularly accompany and provide union members with instant support. Since 2020, the provincial Labor Confederation has supported 70 union members with difficult circumstances, family fires, and serious illnesses with the grand of VND 98.5 million; The labor unions of trade unions collaborated with other department and districts and city to visit and give gifts to 71,487 turns of union members with a total value of over VND 24.1 billion in cash and presents.

Mr. Ly Duc Thanh, Chairman of the Provincial Labor Confederation said: Over the past year, the impacts of the COVID-19 epidemic has caused thousands of workers to lose their jobs or work alternately, trade unions at all levels have regularly provided assistance. Specifically, the provincial Labor Confederation has requested 100% of the sectoral trade unions, Labor Confederations of districts and city and grassroots level trade unions to enhance their supervision and instruction of the full implementation of regimes and policies; and have appropriate support programs for employees affected by the pandemic.

Accordingly, the trade unions at all levels have strengthened propaganda programs and instruct union members to complete the documents and procedures to fully obey the regimes and policies as prescribed, especially when they are unemployed due to the influence of the pandemic.  Since 2020 the Provincial Labor Confederation has organized 4 conferences to propagate the law for 320 officials and union members of business unions outside the state sector. The Provincial Labor Confederation’s Legal Advisory Group has consulted and provided legal assistance about unemployment support and severance pay 55 times for about 100 turns of people. Since 2020, trade unions at all levels have also organized visits and support cases affected by the COVID-19 epidemic, including union members with cash and in-kind worth over VND 1.2 billion.

Trade union members of Trang Dinh district cooked meals for Covid-19 patients in the concentrated isolation area

 Ms. Hoang Thu Hong, employee of Greatwood Joint Stock Company (located in Dong Tan commune, Huu Lung district) said: When the company had to stop production due to the pandemic, the company’s union instructed and facilitated all legal procedures so that I can enjoy 50% of the contract salary for those who must quit their jobs and complete the application for unemployment benefits according to regulations. Therefore, during the time of implementing social distancing, staying at home, my life is also less difficult.

Leaders of the Provincial Labor Confederation affirmed: In the coming time, trade unions at all levels in the province will continue to accompany union members and employees to overcome difficulties with the aim to help them and stabilize their lives, feel secured to focus on their jobs, and increase their connection with trade unions.