I don't dare to go to the doctor because I'm out of money
The past few months have probably been the most difficult time for hundreds of workers working at Hoang Sinh Import-Export Joint Stock Company. This business has owed workers salaries for 4 consecutive months. People with high salaries owe 70-80 million VND, people with low salaries owe 30-40 million VND. For nearly half a year without income, workers had to frugally spend money, borrowing from relatives and friends to survive. However, due to heavy debt, no one dares to lend money to workers. There are workers in the house who have run out of rice and are at risk of being asked to leave the room by the innkeeper.
Not only that, the workers have also been owed social insurance payments for the past 15 months. According to workers, although the company deducts social insurance money every month, it does not pay it to the social insurance agency. This leads to workers' rights being seriously affected. Employees are not entitled to social insurance, health insurance, and unemployment insurance benefits. It is worth mentioning that sick workers are not entitled to health insurance, and some do not even dare to go to the doctor because they have no money left.
Ms. Tran Thi Lan (48 years old, from Thanh Hoa province) said that both husband and wife worked at the same company. When the company owed their salary for a long time, they ran out of spending money and had no money for medical treatment. “The company doesn't pay salaries, we have run out of money to spend. My husband is sick, can't walk, and doesn't have money to go see a doctor. Social insurance and health insurance have not been paid by the company for more than a year. You have to pay out of pocket to go see a doctor, but right now we're out of money so my husband doesn't dare go to the doctor yet" - Ms. Lan shared.
Similarly, Ms. To Thi Phuong and her husband also work in this company. The company both owes her and her husband their salary and social insurance contributions. "We are owed wages and have no money to spend. The company doesn't even pay social insurance or health insurance, so even if we get sick, we don't dare go to the doctor because we don't have money," Ms. Phuong expressed.
Late payment of 26 billion VND in social insurance
On August 2, the authorities of Binh Duong province are still coordinating to handle the case of Hoang Sinh Import-Export Joint Stock Company (Hoa Phu Ward, Thu Dau Mot City, Binh Duong) owing workers salaries for 4 consecutive months.
In addition to owing workers wages, this company also delayed paying social insurance for a long time. Talking to a reporter from Lao Dong Newspaper, a leader of the Social Insurance Agency of Binh Duong province said that Hoang Sinh Import-Export Joint Stock Company is participating in social insurance, health insurance, and unemployment insurance. (UI), occupational accident and disease insurance (Occupational accident-Occupational disease insurance) at Binh Duong Provincial Social Insurance.
As of July 2024, there are 842 workers participating in social insurance. The missing amount as of July 2024 is 26.2 billion VND (of which interest is 1.3 billion VND). Binh Duong Social Insurance Agency said that Hoang Sinh Import-Export Joint Stock Company has delayed paying social insurance, health insurance, unemployment insurance, and occupational accident and occupational disease insurance from April 2023 to present.
Regarding the handling of late payment of social insurance, on May 15, 2024, Binh Duong Provincial Social Insurance invited the company to work on the situation of late payment of social insurance, health insurance, unemployment insurance, and occupational accident and disease insurance. The meeting was attended by Binh Duong Provincial Police. Through the meeting, the company presented the difficulties and committed to making payment according to the roadmap from June 2024 to August 2024 and will pay completely.
However, from the time of working and making the minutes until now, after many urgings, the company has still not made the payment as committed. The Social Insurance Agency of Binh Duong province is continuing to coordinate with functional agencies to handle the company's debt problem to ensure the rights of employees.
Binh Duong Provincial Labor Confederation said that the unit is monitoring the process of implementing tax refund procedures of businesses to get money to pay workers' salaries. Require businesses to comply with their commitments.
