Free health care
The morning of the 2 weekends at Thanh Da Trade Union Hotel (HCMC) was busier than usual, because among the guests staying here were union members and workers arranged by the HCMC Labor Federation to eat, stay, and relax for free.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Kieu Oanh - a worker at Binh Thanh Public Service Company Limited - said that in 2010, while working, she was hit by a motorbike. The accident caused her to have a 45% reduction in her working capacity. Her salary is about 7.5 million VND/month, while her husband is a freelancer so his income is unstable while she and her husband have to take care of their two children who are in school.
This year, based on the proposal of the company's union, the Binh Thanh District Labor Federation chose her as one of 88 people to go on a vacation under the program organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation.
"Because of difficult circumstances, we rarely go on vacations to recharge our labor. Having received free holidays, examinations, and health consultations for two days from the Ho Chi Minh City Trade Union, we were very happy and saw the concern and affection of the Trade Union organization for the workers, Ms. Oanh confided.
Ms. Bang Lieu Thanh - Head of the cardboard department of Van Lang Cultural Joint Stock Company - also shared that she is a single mother raising her children to study. Because of her salary of only about 7 million VND/month, and her hard work, she has few conditions to go on vacation. This is the first time the union organization has allowed her to go on vacation, eat, have medical examinations, and get free health consultations, so she is very happy.
There will be many vacations for union members and workers
Mr. Pham Chi Tam - Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation - said that in order to help union members and workers who have had work accidents or occupational diseases with reduced working capacity of 31% or more, or workers working in toxic and arduous environments reduce stress and fatigue after work hours, the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation has issued a plan to organize vacations for union members and workers. This is the first time the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation has organized a vacation program for union members and employees.
During the first vacation (May 24 and 25), 88 union members and employees in enterprises and units in Binh Thanh District, Ho Chi Minh City were arranged to eat, take a day off for free health check-ups and consultations at Thanh Da Trade Union Hotel and accommodation.
After the first phase, the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation will organize the following rounds for union members and employees in districts, sectors and blocks to take a vacation. It is expected that about 5,000 employees of the above subjects will have free holidays every Saturday and Sunday, worth 2 million VND/person. The total cost of this program is about 10 billion VND.
Through resort activities, union members and employees are better healthy, actively compete in labor production, increase productivity and quality, contributing to helping agencies, units and enterprises stabilize and develop. At the same time, they increasingly trust and are more closely attached to the union organization.
"This care is also a show of the interest of the Party leaders, the authorities, the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee and the union organization with the values of employees, thanking the positive contributions of the forces of cadres, union members, workers in the development process of Ho Chi Minh City and the country. The resort, restoration of health will help union members and employees minimize the risk of disease, reduce the cost of treatment."
