Solidarity during Workers' Month

Báo Đại Đoàn Kết•21/03/2024

The activities of the annual Workers' Month have become a great source of encouragement for the lives of workers (pictured: Workers at Hanoi Electromechanical Manufacturing Joint Stock Company). Photo: Quang Vinh.

Heartwarming moments for workers

Upon hearing that the Trade Union of Industrial Zones in Ba Ria - Vung Tau province is preparing to organize activities during the 2024 Workers' Month, Ms. Danh Na (a worker at Saigon Paper Joint Stock Company - My Xuan A Industrial Zone) felt a mixture of joy and sadness. Both she and her husband are from other provinces who came to Ba Ria - Vung Tau to work and get married, but their lives are still full of difficulties.

Ms. Na shared: "At that time, my family had young children and were living in rented accommodation, so life was difficult. We didn't even have a TV yet and were planning to save up to buy one. Then, when I participated in the 2023 Workers' Month program, I unexpectedly won the grand prize – a TV worth 7.3 million VND – in the lucky draw. This was a huge surprise; my husband and I felt very lucky and touched by the activities of Workers' Month. Many of my colleagues also received valuable gifts and felt the care of the community."

Workers' Month is not only an occasion for giving gifts, but also an opportunity for trade union officials to be creative in caring for the lives of union members and workers. Around this time last year, Ho Chi Minh City was bustling with activities aimed at workers and laborers. Among them, the Binh Tan District Labor Federation implemented the "1+1" model. Under this model, each grassroots trade union takes responsibility for caring for at least one union member or worker suffering from a serious illness. With the motto: "One more worker cared for means one less hardship or difficult situation they face," many businesses in the area responded positively. Just a few days after the initiative was launched, 34 workers suffering from serious illnesses and facing difficult circumstances, currently employed at companies and units in the district, received support from local trade unions with financial assistance ranging from 500,000 VND to 1,000,000 VND per person per month, for 12 months.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Hoa, a teacher at Bao Ngoc Kindergarten (Tan Tao Ward, Binh Tan District), suffers from a heart valve defect and requires a pacemaker. She currently rents accommodation and faces difficult family circumstances. She is the primary breadwinner for her husband and two young children. In response to her family's hardship, the school's labor union has provided her with 500,000 VND per month. Ms. Hoa shared: "The support and encouragement from the school's labor union helps me feel secure in my work, take care of my family, and strive to overcome these difficult circumstances."

Binh Duong has one of the largest numbers of workers in the country, and the theme of Workers' Month, "Connecting Workers, Building Organizations," has brought many practical benefits to workers, especially through "Workers' Markets," "Week of Discounted Sales for Workers," "Workers ' Cultural and Sports Festivals," and "Healthcare Festivals"...

Chairman of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, Nguyen Dinh Khang, presents gifts to workers. Photo: Nguyen Hai.

Continuing to uphold the tradition

2024 marks the 13th time the Workers' Month program has been organized according to the Decision of the Central Party Secretariat. Since then, with each passing year, the activities of Workers' Month have become increasingly diverse, rich, and practical. From mainly focusing on commemorating traditions and caring for material well-being, today many programs are implemented to care for the cultural, spiritual, and health aspects of workers' lives. In particular, during Workers' Month, a series of dialogue programs with workers are organized. For example, in Hanoi, the Chairman of the People's Committee directly held a dialogue with workers. Through this, union members and workers were able to directly express their concerns and suggestions to the head of the city government. As a result, many issues were understood by the government, and solutions were found, especially those related to the daily needs of workers such as housing, occupational safety, and overtime pay.

Building on the significance of Workers' Month in previous years, in 2024, the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor directed provincial labor federations to plan and implement Workers' Month with the theme: "Workers' Solidarity - Implementing Resolutions". The main activities included: "Bringing Congress Resolutions into Life"; "May Dialogue"; "Thematic Meetings with Worker Voters"; "Thanking Workers"... Simultaneously, they implemented the "Month of Intensive Membership Development and Establishment of Grassroots Trade Unions"; activities honoring outstanding workers; and the "Healthy for Work and Production" program.

These days, trade union officials at all levels are extremely busy preparing activities for workers, from organizing cultural and sports events to providing healthcare, and especially preparing gifts for workers. In Bac Ninh, in addition to the gifts they will receive, workers are excitedly awaiting the first Workers' and Employees' Football Tournament and the Talent and Charming Women Workers' Contest… In Hanoi, trade union members are also eagerly anticipating the events organized at the Bac Thang Long Industrial Park, Thach That Industrial Park…

There's still more than a month until Workers' Month. But across the country, preparations for Workers' Month are already in full swing, and workers are eagerly awaiting it. For a long time, Workers' Month has been considered a "holiday month" for laborers.

Mr. Ngo Duy Hieu - Vice President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor:

Affirming the role of representing, caring for, and protecting the rights and interests of union members.

Workers' Month has become a regular activity of all levels of the Vietnam Trade Union, aiming to care for and protect the legitimate rights and interests of union members, officials, civil servants, and workers, contributing to building harmonious, stable, and progressive labor relations. Through Workers' Month, businesses and production facilities with workers need to effectively disseminate information and participate in Workers' Month with practical activities. Specifically, this includes organizing dialogues between business owners, trade unions, and workers; organizing activities to care for the lives and employment of workers, etc. In addition, units need to strengthen supervision and coordinate inspections with affiliated trade unions. Through the activities of Workers' Month, trade unions at all levels clearly demonstrate their role in representing, caring for, and protecting the legitimate rights and interests of union members and workers, creating greater attention from Party committees, government agencies, the political system, business owners, and the entire society towards workers.

Mr. Nguyen Truong Giang - Chairman of the Long Bien District Labor Union (Hanoi):

Creating motivation for workers and employees to unleash their creativity.

During Workers' Month 2024, the Long Bien District Labor Union will focus on implementing five key activities: Dialogue to help workers better benefit from policies and regulations; organizing medical examinations and tests for 400 workers in enterprises and union members in difficult circumstances with a total cost of 350 million VND; providing support gifts to workers who have suffered work accidents or occupational diseases; organizing the opening of three cultural training classes at the grassroots level so that union members can replicate them; and opening a volleyball tournament for workers and employees in the district… Such activities will contribute to creating motivation for workers and employees to develop creativity, build habits of identifying problems and a sense of improvement, enhance work capacity, and contribute to overcoming difficulties, developing, and achieving mutually beneficial goals for both employers and employees.

Source