Working atmosphere at Son Ha Hue Company Limited on the morning of November 4

Days at the factory

Early November morning, in the brightly lit workshop of Hue Textile and Garment Joint Stock Company (Huegatex), the sound of sewing machines mixed with the laughter of workers created a bustling, warm rhythm in the days when Hue had just gone through flood after flood. In the Control Room, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Van was still busy at her desk. In a warm voice, she recounted the past days when she and her colleagues had "eaten and slept together in the factory".

Ms. Van's house is in Thanh Phuoc village, Hoa Chau ward - the area that was flooded the earliest and deepest. On the morning of October 27, when the water had covered the road, she left her child with her grandparents and took a boat to the company to be on time for her shift. Since that day, she has stayed at the factory for more than a week. "The company arranged full accommodation, so I decided to stay, both to limit dangerous travel in the rain and flood, and to ensure that work was not interrupted," she said. Although many days have passed, she still clearly remembers the feeling of being precariously balanced on a small boat in the muddy water that morning. "Luckily, my parents' house has a mezzanine, my grandparents and children are all safe, so I feel secure," she said.

Similarly, Ms. Le Thi Kim Hanh, a worker at Garment Factory 3, said: “My house in Thanh Thuy ward was deeply flooded, all the furniture was damaged, my parents and two siblings had to evacuate. When the company let me stay for free, I felt much more secure. At the factory, there is a safe place to rest and I can work regularly, so I feel much less worried,” she shared, her hands still working quickly on each seam.

Along with Ms. Van and Ms. Hanh, dozens of other workers were arranged by the company to stay temporarily right on the factory premises. Each person brought a few sets of clothes, the company took care of the rest of the food, accommodation and activities. “Not only was it a place to avoid the flood, the factory at that time was like a common roof. Everyone became closer and understood each other better. In the midst of the rain and flood, I felt I was not alone,” Ms. Van said.

The company also supported 1 million VND/person to overcome difficulties, everyone was touched. “That amount is not only material, but also heartfelt, very timely concern. The feeling of being shared, being thought of in difficult times makes everyone feel warm”, Ms. Hanh confided.

Mr. Nguyen Tien Hau, Deputy General Director of Hue Textile and Garment Joint Stock Company, said: “During the flood at the end of October, up to 70% of workers had to temporarily stop working due to traffic disruption and deep water. However, the main production lines were still maintained. We flexibly concentrated production lines and arranged workers to workshops that were not flooded to maintain order progress and at the same time ensure basic income for workers.”

The entire system has 4,377 employees, of which, during the flood season, only 2,510 people were present at work, accounting for about 43% of the total. Despite efforts to maintain production, the Company's Board of Directors still identifies worker safety as the top priority. Every day, the Company recommends that workers do not move when weather or traffic conditions are not guaranteed. The Company also arranges free meals and accommodation right at the factory for workers whose houses are isolated by floods, helping them feel secure in staying and working and contributing to maintaining stable operations and production. At the same time, the Company has deployed an emergency support package of more than 4.3 billion VND for all workers. "Each person will receive 1 million VND in support, and those in especially difficult circumstances such as single mothers, poor households, and those with severe damage will be considered for additional support," Mr. Hau informed.

To date, there are still about 680 people who cannot return to work because their houses are deeply flooded or severely damaged. The grassroots trade union is directly visiting and supporting them at home. “When employees feel secure, the company can be stable. Sharing in difficult times is the strongest bond of Huegatex,” Mr. Hau affirmed.

Love in the flood

At Son Ha Hue Company Limited, on the morning of November 4, more than 86% of workers returned to work after several days of interruption. Along the sewing lines, laughter and concentration were mixed. “After three days of flooding, the factory could only maintain 50% of its capacity. When the water receded, everyone wanted to go back to work immediately to meet the schedule and earn more income,” said Lai Thi Tay Phuong, Chairwoman of the Company’s Trade Union.

The Board of Directors and the Company's Trade Union agreed to support 500,000 VND/person, and workers who worked during the three days of flooding received an additional 100,000 VND. These timely policies have helped workers feel secure in returning to production.

On a larger scale, B'Lao - Scavi Group also quickly deployed support packages for nearly 5,700 worker households at the Scavi Hue, Scavi Quang Dien and B'Lao Sport factories. Each household whose house was flooded by more than 0.5m was supported with VND500,000, and the Group also advanced 70% of October's salary to all employees so they could have money to spend and repair their houses.

Mr. Nguyen Xuan Linh, Operations Director of B'Lao - Scavi Group emphasized: "We will conduct a field survey to provide special support for cases of severe damage, with a budget of more than 1 billion VND. In the long term, the Group will also study housing solutions for workers in high, flood-free areas."

At Phu Nam Fiber Joint Stock Company, where hundreds of workers are working in Phu Bai Industrial Park, the Company's Board of Directors decided to support 500,000 VND/person, and give an additional 200,000 VND bonus to those who work overtime and stick together during the difficult period. Ms. Le Thi Luong, Director of Phu Nam Fiber Joint Stock Company, shared: "In the middle of the flood season, the most precious thing is the spirit of overcoming difficulties together. This sharing is not only in money, but also in gratitude for those who have persevered together in difficult times."

After the storm and flood, the atmosphere in the factories in Hue gradually stabilized, but the eyes of the workers still shone with faith and gratitude. The acts of sharing in difficult days not only demonstrated social responsibility, but also reflected the culture of Hue enterprises - where each worker is considered a member of a common family. The companionship of the union, the initiative of the business leaders and the spirit of mutual support of the collective have become resources to help the enterprise quickly recover production, stabilize orders, and contribute to maintaining the textile and garment supply chain in Hue after the natural disaster.

Article and photos: Hai Thuan

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/chinh-tri-xa-hoi/se-chia-cung-nguoi-lao-dong-trong-mua-lu-159676.html