Behind the production line

Behind the bustling production in industrial zones lies the lives of thousands of young workers from various localities within the province. Beyond their factory work, many strive to acquire additional skills, seek part-time jobs, and accumulate income to stabilize their lives.

Production line managers discuss work with workers at Sakurai Vietnam Co., Ltd. (Le Mon Industrial Park).

Around 5:30 PM, workers at the Le Mon Industrial Park in Quang Phu Ward finished their shifts. Groups of people quickly dispersed to their rented rooms in the surrounding area. On the sidewalks, a few small drink stalls and vegetable vendors became bustling as workers rushed to buy more food for dinner. Among the hurried crowd was Ms. Tran Thi Dao (born in 1994), a worker in Team 10, Workshop 13, Sakurai Vietnam Co., Ltd. On days when the company doesn't have overtime, she usually hurries back to her rented room to change clothes before continuing her evening work at Vu Bao restaurant, not far away.

Few would have guessed that this petite woman had once been away from the production line for a long time to treat her illness. She started working at the company in 2017, and in 2019 she was diagnosed with multinodular goiter and underwent surgery to remove her entire thyroid gland. Shortly after, she began treatment for another illness. Her health deteriorated, forcing her to resign in 2023 to focus on treatment. After a period of treatment and her health gradually stabilized, she applied to return to the company and was rehired in August 2024. With young children attending school, a husband with an unstable job, and her father suffering a stroke, the financial burden of the family meant she couldn't afford to rest. Returning to the production line after a long period of treatment, she worked even harder and more consistently.

At Sakurai Vietnam Co., Ltd., the largest garment enterprise in the province, there are currently over 12,800 workers, of which approximately 98% are women. Many are working in an industrial production environment for the first time, so the company and the trade union place special emphasis on on-the-job training. Nguyen Huu Quang, Chairman of the Trade Union of Sakurai Vietnam Co., Ltd., said: "Right from recruitment, new workers participate in a basic vocational training program lasting 2-4 weeks, focusing on machine operation skills, production processes, and labor discipline in the garment production line. After this period, workers continue to receive direct mentoring on the production line from team leaders or highly skilled workers. The training process does not stop at the initial stage. Every year, the company organizes skill upgrade classes, training for team leaders, line supervisors, and production management skills for capable workers.”

Through research, many workers have had opportunities for advancement within the company after a few years of employment. Many who started as garment workers have become team leaders, shift supervisors, or technical staff after completing training courses and gaining practical experience. In addition, the union and the company encourage workers to participate in computer, foreign language, and industrial skills training courses organized by the company or training units. These classes are usually scheduled in the evenings or on weekends to fit the workers' schedules.

At the end of a small alley in Phu Lam residential area, Quang Phu ward, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Lan's row of rental rooms has 18 rooms, mostly occupied by workers in the Le Mon Industrial Park. Each room is about 10 to 15 square meters, with rent ranging from 800,000 to 1 million VND per month, not including electricity and water. After work, the small courtyard between the rental rooms usually becomes bustling. Some people cook meals, some do laundry, and some take a break before starting their evening shift. In her 12-square-meter room, Ms. Nguyen Thi Huong (29 years old), from Ba Thuoc commune, a garment worker at Sunjade Shoe Co., Ltd., is taking advantage of the time to study English online. Ms. Huong shared: "At the company, there are positions in line management that require communication with foreign partners. I'm learning now so that later I'll have more opportunities to try my hand at a job with a better income."

Sunjade Shoe Co., Ltd., located in Le Mon Industrial Park, currently employs nearly 9,800 workers, approximately 80% of whom are women. The majority are young workers employed on the export shoe production line. To support workers in stabilizing their lives, the company's labor union, in collaboration with the enterprise, implements various welfare policies such as attendance bonuses, housing assistance, childcare allowances, and visits to workers facing difficulties or illness. During holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year), the union also organizes activities to care for and provide gifts or assist with bus tickets for workers in difficult circumstances to return home. In addition, the enterprise facilitates workers' participation in vocational skills training programs and industrial work skills development, helping them gradually improve their skills and adapt to production requirements.

After work hours, the lives of many workers in the Le Mon Industrial Park continue with their own jobs and worries. In their small rented rooms, each person tries to find ways to improve their income, hoping for a more stable life.

Text and photos: Tang Thuy

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/phia-sau-day-chuyen-san-xuat-280795.htm