A warm Lunar New Year for migrant workers far from home.

BAC NINH - In the days leading up to the Lunar New Year, many workers in industrial zones across Bac Ninh province are still diligently working overtime. Amidst the worries of life, these migrant workers hope to receive attention and care from businesses and trade unions, helping them welcome the new spring season warmly and with heartfelt affection.

Stay and earn extra income.

In his small 15-square- ^meter rented room, Hoang Van Thang, a worker at Fukang Technology Co., Ltd. (Quang Chau Industrial Park), is on the phone checking on his son. Thang and his wife are both from Lang Son province and have been working in the industrial park in Bac Ninh for nearly five years. Their three-year-old son is sent back to their hometown to be cared for by his paternal grandparents. Their combined monthly income is approximately 17 million VND. After deducting living expenses and carefully managing their finances, they manage to send 7-8 million VND back home each month to care for their child and save for the future. When asked if he would be going home for Tet (Lunar New Year) this year, Thang said wistfully, "It's Tet, and everyone wants to reunite with their family, visit their grandparents, and besides, the distance of nearly 200 km home isn't too far. But my income is only just enough to cover expenses, and going home would mean having to buy gifts and other things, which would be costly. And if the company requires me to work throughout Tet this year, I might sign up to stay and earn a decent amount of extra money."

Mr. Le Duc Tho, Vice Chairman of the Provincial Labor Union, presented gifts to workers who stayed to celebrate Tet in the rented accommodation area.

For migrant workers in industrial zones and clusters throughout the province, the Lunar New Year brings both joy and family reunions, but also mixed feelings. We met Ms. Nong Thi Lan, a worker at Goertek Vina Science and Technology Co., Ltd. (Que Vo Industrial Zone), as she was busy choosing clothes for her young son at a shop near her rented room. Each outfit cost 120,000 VND, but she hesitated for a long time before deciding to buy two. Her husband back home has poor health, so he's busy raising livestock and taking care of family matters. When talking about Tet, Ms. Lan couldn't hide her sadness. She said, "I miss my son so much, but it's probably difficult to go home for Tet this year. I've saved up my bonus, my last month's salary, and almost 20 million VND in savings, planning to send it to my family back home for Tet expenses. I probably won't have time to be sad during my time at the rented room because, like last year, I'll find some extra work to ease my homesickness and earn some extra income."

The thoughts of Mr. Thang and Ms. Lan reflect the common sentiments of tens of thousands of workers from distant provinces working in industrial zones within the province. In reality, it's not impossible to arrange work or afford bus tickets to return home, but they all choose to stay to prioritize their families. Therefore, they accept spending Tet (Lunar New Year) in their rented rooms to save and secure a better future. For those who have extra work during Tet, the income, which is double or triple their usual daily wage, becomes a great source of encouragement, helping them overcome difficulties and alleviate homesickness.

Tet, a time for warm family bonds.

Currently, the province has approximately 600,000 workers employed in industrial zones, 60% of whom are from other provinces. Workers stay in rented accommodations during Tet (Lunar New Year) for various reasons, such as working overtime to meet company orders, working seasonally to earn extra income, or due to family circumstances. As a representative and protector of workers' rights, in addition to general Tet programs like "Trade Union Tet Market," "Zero-Cost Stalls," "Tet Reunion," and "Trade Union Year-End Dinner," the Provincial Federation of Labor continues to allocate funds and direct grassroots trade unions to prioritize caring for migrant workers this year.

Currently, the province has approximately 600,000 workers employed in industrial zones, 60% of whom are from other provinces. This year, in addition to general Tet programs such as "Trade Union Tet Market," "Zero-Cost Stalls," "Family Reunion Tet," and "Trade Union Year-End Dinner," the Provincial Federation of Labor continues to allocate funds and direct grassroots trade unions to prioritize caring for migrant workers.

According to Mr. Le Duc Tho, Vice Chairman of the Provincial Labor Union, during this Lunar New Year (Year of the Horse), the union allocated funds to provide 25,000 bus tickets (worth 200,000 VND each) to workers from distant provinces, helping them to return home to reunite with their families. Based on the situation of union members and workers participating in labor and production, or working throughout the Tet holiday at their units and businesses and remaining in the locality instead of returning home for Tet, the grassroots labor unions will organize warm and joyful activities. In cases where many union members and workers cannot return home for Tet, the Provincial Labor Union will continue to organize the "Tet Not Away from Home" program (for the third consecutive year) with many meaningful activities such as: giving Tet gifts to disadvantaged workers in rented housing areas; organizing the making of banh chung (traditional Vietnamese rice cakes), and a year-end meal. "This is a meaningful activity so that even though workers cannot return home for Tet, they can still feel the closeness and warmth of family ties and the encouragement and support from the trade union before the new year," Mr. Tho said.

Alongside the efforts of the trade union, the proactive approach of the enterprise is a crucial factor in ensuring that workers can celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year) with peace of mind. In many businesses, caring for workers during Tet has become a long-standing cultural tradition. For example, at the Trade Union of Samsung Display Vietnam Co., Ltd. (SDV) in Yen Phong Industrial Park, the plan to care for over 26,000 workers during Tet was implemented early. In addition to Tet bonuses based on production results, the enterprise, in coordination with the grassroots trade union, reviewed and compiled a list of workers in difficult circumstances to provide timely support; and organized many cultural activities so that workers who stayed behind could still feel the festive atmosphere, such as: decorating the workplace, company grounds, and dormitories; giving lucky money envelopes with cheerful messages to welcome the new year; and arranging special Tet meals. Mr. Hoang Anh Tuan, Chairman of the company's Trade Union, shared: "To boost the morale of the workers, the trade union advised the Board of Directors to organize a farewell program for employees returning home for Tet (Lunar New Year) and reviewed and organized transportation to take workers from distant provinces back home to celebrate Tet with their families."

Tet (Lunar New Year) is approaching. For many migrant workers, the journey home may be postponed until after the first days of spring. But in industrial zones throughout Bac Ninh province, thanks to the joint efforts of trade unions, businesses, and landlords, workers can still celebrate the New Year warmly. Gift bags, reunion meals, charitable transportation, or simply kind words of encouragement for migrant workers are ways for businesses to show appreciation and motivate employees to stay with the company for the long term.

Text and photos: Tuong Vi

Source: https://baobacninhtv.vn/tet-am-cua-cong-nhan-xa-que-postid437683.bbg