28 units increased the meal rate
LG Innotek Vietnam Co., Ltd. (Trang Due Industrial Park, Hai Phong) is one of the enterprises with a cocoa meal price higher than the average in the industrial park at 30,000 VND/meal.
According to the company's union representative, in addition to the 30,000 VND shift meal, in 2024, the union negotiated with the company to increase the breakfast meal for employees from 20,000-25,000 VND, and the employees were very excited.
At IKO Thompson Company Limited, according to Ms. Nguyen Thi Quynh Anh - Chairman of the Company's Trade Union, from 2019 to now, the grassroots trade union has negotiated 3 times on the meal rate, adjusting the meal rate from 22,000 VND/meal to 25,000 VND (excluding electricity, water, gas) for the day shift, 70,000 VND/person/meal for the night shift. In case of overtime on weekdays, overtime of 2 hours or more, the meal rate is 12,000 VND/person/meal, from 3 hours or more, the overtime meal rate is 20,000 VND/person/meal.
According to the report of the Hai Phong Economic Zone Trade Union, trade unions at all levels have taken many practical measures, proactively participating with employers to take care of the material and spiritual life of employees, negotiating with employers to adjust the average mid-shift meal from 27,000 VND/meal. 28 enterprises adjusted the mid-shift meal level with an average adjustment of 2,500 VND/meal.
In addition to shift meals, in the first 9 months of 2024, implementing the direction of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor, 287/347 grassroots trade unions organized "Union Meals" with an average meal value of 70,000 VND/meal, spending from the grassroots trade union financial source of 38,000 VND/meal, the total budget expenditure of the grassroots trade union for the Union Meal was 6.8 billion VND.
Negotiate to improve meals for workers
Ms. Dinh Thi Thuy Ha - Chairwoman of the Hai Phong Economic Zone Trade Union - said that every year, the economic zone trade union directs grassroots trade unions to propose and negotiate with business owners on the lowest meal for employees from 20,000 VND/meal or more based on the actual situation; for businesses hiring a meal provider, the lowest value is from 25,000 VND/meal or more.
The grassroots trade union coordinates with enterprises to supervise shift meals according to a 3-step process as instructed by the Ministry of Health: Check before food preparation, check during food preparation and check before eating to ensure food safety and hygiene, minimizing unsafe situations. Through inspection, so far, enterprises have performed well, the average shift meal level for workers in industrial parks is 27,000 VND/person/meal.
In the future, the Economic Zone Trade Union will continue to direct the grassroots trade unions to continue negotiating and proposing to increase the meal allowance for workers, and include the content in the annual Labor Conference or in the Collective Labor Agreement. Thereby, gradually improving the meals of workers to be nutritious, hygienic, and ensure health for production. The Hai Phong Economic Zone Trade Union also encourages enterprises to organize more "Union Meals" with high value on holidays, Tet, anniversaries, etc. to motivate workers and increase the connection between workers, unions and enterprises.
