The City Labour Union held several fun-filled activities throughout the city, such as musical and art concerts, to mark International Labour Day on May 1 in Ho Chi Minh City.
Tran Thanh Hai, acting vice chairman of the Labour Union, offered gifts to 177 workers who had been severely injured while on their jobs, some of who have lost almost 40 per cent of their abilities.
Leaders from the Labour Union met with workers and expressed hope that the gifts would help relieve some of their difficulties. Mr. Hai also expressed his appreciation of the contributions made by these workers and hoped that they would constantly share their skills and experience, so that others are less vulnerable to abuse from employers.
He said that the City Labour Union has asked union members in 24 Districts throughout the city to organise cultural and entertainment programmes to mark May Day, besides sending a team to offer gifts to workers at their homes in some districts.
Tran Thanh Hai stressed that the city authorities and the Labour Union always supported the workers and worked at minimising all risks for workers at their workplace. He also hoped that the city would open more training courses for workers in the future.
He said that only after the criteria for guest workers met the required standards of health, skills and conduct that satisfied the employers, could a labour contract be signed and ensure safety during their time here.
Mr. Hai wished all the workers a warm and joyous May Day holiday, even though they were far from their homes.
On the occasion of International Labour Day, Labour Unions in Districts 1, 6, Go Vap, Binh Tan organised a dialogue between workers and employers. The Union negotiated bilateral agreements between employees and employers, to ensure a certain amount of protection for their workers.
This means that migrants can claim unpaid wages, for example, from the recruitment agency. The Labour Unions are responsible for vetting employers and also assisting workers in resolving disputes, when some employers sack them and the workers are not given compensation for the time signed for in their labour contracts. Many have to wander around looking for new jobs.
Labour Unions in Districts 1, 6, Go Vap, Binh Tan also campaigned for funds to support workers who are under special difficulties such as fatal illnesses or have become invalids from workplace accidents. They also held free medical examinations and distributed free medicines to workers.
Besides handing over VND1 million to each disabled worker, the Labour Union in Binh Tan District also praised the workers who were most skillful.
During this month of ‘International Labour Day’ the City Labour Union and the Public Health Department are planning to spend about VND700 million to examine 5,000 female workers in the Industrial and Export Processing Zones in HCMC such as in Linh Trung, Tan Thuan, Tan Tao, Tan Binh and Cu Chi Districts.
The workers will not only receive free medical checks but also a sum of about VND50,000-VND150,000 each.
