The allure of being a furnace worker

Việt Nam•20/11/2024

Along with the strong development of mining infrastructure in the coal industry, stories of miners earning 300-400 million VND or more per year are becoming increasingly common. From 2023 to the present, the Quang Ninh region has added more miners earning 500-600 million VND per year, and the list continues to grow. Although the work of a miner is arduous and difficult, the high income and attractive benefits remain the reasons why this profession continues to attract many workers nationwide.

Four years ago, young Hoang Van Toan (from Lao Cai province) struggled to make ends meet, working various odd jobs to pay for his mother's medical expenses. Toan was born in 1994 in An village, Lang Giang commune, Van Ban district, Lao Cai province, into a family of seven siblings, and he was the youngest son. At that time, Toan's family was among the poorest in the village. The difficult family circumstances and economic burden made the dream of getting married and building a house seem very distant for Toan.

"The opportunity to meet the teachers at the Coal and Mineral College at that time changed my life. Guided and encouraged, I decided to change my own destiny through education, laying the foundation for my future career. I went to Quang Ninh and studied mining, then was directly recruited to work at Uong Bi Coal Company - TKV, earning an average income of over 25 million VND/month," shared miner Hoang Van Toan.

Having a high-paying job, Toan got married and had his first son in 2023. Since then, the young miner has been even more motivated to work hard. “We got married in 2023 and only had one child. Toan earns a high income from his job and sends it back to me, our son, and our family for expenses. Since he started working in the mine, our family has been much less burdened and we have some savings,” shared Vi Thi Luong, wife of miner Hoang Van Toan.

The story of how Sung A Hong, a young man from Nam Ngam B village, Pu Nhi commune, Dien Bien Dong district, Dien Bien province, came to work in the mining industry is often mentioned by his colleagues at Uong Bi Coal Company. Back in his village, Sung A Hong was encouraged by friends who had returned from working elsewhere to go to Quang Ninh to learn mining, hoping it would change his life. Seeing his friends living much better lives after becoming miners, Hong decided to give it a try. At that time, he was only 17 or 18 years old, an age not yet fully accustomed to the worries of life.

After five years of studying and working, Sung A Hong has matured significantly, becoming a skilled and experienced coal miner at Uong Bi Coal Company. What he is most satisfied with about his choice years ago is his income of 20-25 million VND per month – quite high and stable. With a stable income, Hong has been able to support his parents back home, get married, have children, and bring his small family to settle permanently in Quang Ninh.

Hoang Van Toan (left) and Sung A Hong (right) in the mine shaft of Uong Bi Coal Company - TKV.

The stories of Hoang Van Toan and Sung A Hong are just two of many typical examples showing the appeal of the coal mining profession to young workers across the country. From many different rural areas, thousands of migrant workers have chosen to come to Quang Ninh to settle down and establish their lives as coal miners. From young people who were only hired laborers with unstable jobs and low incomes in their hometowns, after 3-5 years of hard work, they have all become skilled miners of the Vietnam Coal and Mineral Industry Group, earning high incomes from 15 to over 30 million VND/month, accumulating savings and improving their quality of life.

Young miners at Nui Beo Coal Mine before their shift.

Every day, after the safety shouts, the miners "march" underground. Eight hours of work each day, they contribute millions of tons of coal to the nation. In return for their hard work, the miners enjoy increasingly prosperous lives and improved welfare. Many young people from different regions, through their work as miners, have built houses, bought cars, and secured stable lives for themselves. Many have also chosen Quang Ninh as their second home to build their careers and contribute to society.

Despite the difficult and arduous work, and despite the many choices available in life, in Quang Ninh over the years, the profession of furnace worker has remained one of the most attractive occupations for many laborers, especially those from rural areas outside the province.

Modern and safer working conditions, thanks to mechanized machinery and equipment, have also helped TKV's mines attract more workers.

"The appeal of the coal mining profession is not something that comes naturally. Besides policies offering attractive salaries and bonuses, the Vietnam Coal and Mineral Industry Group has closely supervised its member units to implement all welfare benefits for workers. From food, accommodation, transportation, and working in a modern, mechanized environment to collective living conditions, cultural and sports activities, and improving the quality of life for workers, all are fully ensured by the units. It can be said that in the last 10 years, coal miners have been one of the labor groups that have benefited from relatively complete and comprehensive welfare policies," shared Mr. Pham Hong Hanh, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Coal and Mineral Industry Trade Union.

Source