In difficult times, there is a trade union by your side
More than 130 workers (CN) of Vinh Thong Trading and Service Co., Ltd. (specializing in leather shoe production, at Lot 3, Road No. 13, Tan Binh Industrial Park, Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City) have authorized officers of the Trade Union of Ho Chi Minh City Export Processing Zones and Industrial Parks and the Legal Consulting Center under the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation to sue the company due to unpaid wages and social insurance.
Ms. Pham Thi Hong Phuong - sewing workshop employee - said that her hometown is Da Hoai district, Lam Dong province, she has worked for Vinh Thong Company since September 2022. Due to unpaid wages in January 2025, before the Lunar New Year 2025, Vinh Thong Company's employees have stopped working for many days, asking the company to pay their wages to have money for living expenses, pay for accommodation, and return home during Tet.
However, the company only advances to each worker 35% of December 2024 salary and owes the entire January 2025 salary, and commits to paying full salary after workers return to work after Tet. In fact, up to now, Vinh Thong Company still owes 65% of the December 2024 salary and 100% of the January 2025 salary of all employees.
"Currently, the company still owes me more than 21 million VND in salary, for December 2024 and January 2025. Fortunately, during Tet, my colleagues and I were supported by the Trade Union of Ho Chi Minh City Export Processing Zones and Industrial Parks with a portion of money and gifts worth 2 million VND each, so we had money to go home to celebrate Tet with our family" - Ms. Phuong said.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Mot, also a garment factory worker, said that she also owes 65% of her December 2024 salary and 100% of her January 2025 salary. Her husband is a freelancer so his income is unstable, sometimes has, sometimes not. The couple also had to rent a house to live in and raise their child in grade 12.
"Because we are owed wages like that, during the last Tet holiday, our family did not dare to return to our hometown (in An Giang) but stayed in Ho Chi Minh City. Fortunately, the company's employees were supported by the Trade Union of Export Processing Zones and Industrial Parks of Ho Chi Minh City with a portion of money and gifts worth 2 million VND each, so they had some money to celebrate Tet.
Now I authorize officers of the Trade Union of Export Processing Zones and Industrial Parks of Ho Chi Minh City and the Legal Consulting Center under the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation to sue the company to reclaim their rights. Luckily, in difficult times, the union is by my side, said Ms. Mot.
11 union officials represent workers in lawsuit against the company
Mr. Nguyen Thai Thanh - Vice Chairman of the Trade Union of Export Processing Zones and Industrial Parks of Ho Chi Minh City - said that immediately after learning that Vinh Thong Company owed wages and social insurance to employees, the Trade Union of Export Processing Zones and Industrial Parks of Ho Chi Minh City sent officers to closely monitor the incident to protect the rights and care for employees.
The Trade Union of Export Processing Zones and Social Insurance of Ho Chi Minh City coordinated with the authorities of Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City to invite businesses to work with businesses on paying wages and social insurance debts, however, during that meeting, there was no legal representative of the company to work.
During the 2025 Lunar New Year, the Trade Union of Export Processing Zones and Industrial Parks of Ho Chi Minh City, together with the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation, coordinated with the Ho Chi Minh City Export Processing Zones and Industrial Parks Management Board (Hepza) to support 323 employees of Vinh Thong Company with an amount of 969 million VND.
To help employees reclaim their rights, the Trade Union of Export Processing Zones and Industrial Parks of Ho Chi Minh City has contacted the notary office to carry out procedures for Vinh Thong Company's employees to authorize union officials to file a lawsuit against the company and coordinate with the Department of Internal Affairs of Tan Phu District, Ho Chi Minh City to conduct initial mediation to have enough basis to file a lawsuit according to the provisions of law.
During the lawsuit, the Trade Union of Export Processing Zones and Industrial Parks of Ho Chi Minh City assigned 7 full-time staff to coordinate with 4 experts from the Legal Consulting Center under the Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation to act as authorized representatives for 133 employees to file a lawsuit against Vinh Thong Company. The Trade Union of Export Processing Zones and Industrial Parks of Ho Chi Minh City is also contacting the People's Court of Tan Phu District to support the steps to submit the lawsuit" - Mr. Thanh said.
