Outraged by working without days off
Recently, Lao Dong Newspaper has continuously received feedback from workers in industrial parks related to the situation of overtime and prolonged overtime work by businesses.
In March, workers of Vinh Han Precision Technology Co., Ltd. (Phuc Dien Industrial Park) filed a complaint about the company's request and pressure to force workers to go to work on Sundays (weekly holidays). This part-time work is not entirely based on the will of employees, causing many workers to be forced to go to work. Employees want the trade union and functional agencies to check the actual situation at the company to ensure the legitimate rights of employees according to the provisions of law. Notably, before that, in July 2025, this company also experienced a collective work stoppage related to wages and overtime (overtime 4 hours/day).
Recently, workers of the production department of AaChen Optical Fiber Conec Technology Co., Ltd. (abbreviated as AaChen Company) also reflected that the company is requesting workers to work continuously 7 days/week, including Sundays, without arranging weekly days off for employees. "This happens for a long time and is mandatory. We are forced to work overtime, many times we want to go home to our families, but the company makes it difficult, causing us to stay overtime" - an anonymous worker reflected.
Workers working in Nam Cau Kien Industrial Park also reflected on having to work overtime continuously, without days off. "Every day I work from 8am to 8pm, some days I process goods until 10pm" - a worker informed.
At the meeting of the Club of Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of grassroots trade unions of industrial parks in East Hai Phong in the first quarter of 2026, a representative of a grassroots trade union said that the enterprise is seriously lacking labor, forced to arrange overtime for employees, and at times exceeding regulations due to order pressure.
Propose strict handling if there is a situation of forced overtime
Explaining the continuous overtime throughout the holiday, most businesses said they are facing major problems with human resources.
Representatives of the Trade Union of AaChen Co., Ltd. said that the Company currently has more than 1,400 employees. After the Lunar New Year, many employees quit their jobs, leading to a shortage of labor to serve production. Meanwhile, the volume of orders is large, so in March, the company arranged for employees to work all day on Sundays more (previously arranged to work in rotation on Sundays). According to grassroots trade union documents, on weekdays, workers work overtime an average of 2-4 hours. Working 8 hours on Sundays. For example, on Sunday, March 29, 2026, workers worked overtime from 8 am to 5 pm due to urgent exports.
As for Vinh Han Precision Technology Co., Ltd., a business representative affirmed that due to order requirements, recently, the company arranged for employees to work overtime, and at times it was necessary to work on holidays. Although initial inspection did not have enough grounds to conclude that the business had a policy of forcing workers to work overtime, the representative of the Trade Union Committee of the Industrial Park of Hai Phong City Labor Federation said that the employee's reflection of having to work overtime continuously is correct.
Also according to statistics from the Industrial Park Trade Union Board, in the first quarter of 2026, about 70% of businesses in the eastern industrial parks reflected the biggest difficulties being recruitment and labor shortage. Currently, the total recruitment demand of businesses is more than 36,000 workers (statistics up to April 2026), however, recruitment is difficult. For example, at Sumirubber Co., Ltd. (Japan Industrial Park), the company has a recruitment demand at the beginning of the year of 180 workers, but only receives about 10 applications each month.
Overtime is not only due to the needs of businesses but also from workers when income in some industrial parks still largely depends on overtime pay. Many units have little work, no overtime, making it difficult to retain workers because the minimum wage (about 53% of income) is not enough to cover in the context of high prices.
Before the workers' reflections, the Industrial Park Trade Union Board advised the Hai Phong City Labor Federation to issue a document to rectify. Trade union levels review working hours, rest, overtime; compare dossiers, salary scales and procedures for collecting workers' opinions, and at the same time propose strict handling if there is a situation of forcing overtime.
Sharing the difficulties of businesses due to labor shortages, Chairman of Hai Phong City Labor Federation Nguyen Anh Tuan requested that overtime must be based on agreements with workers, not exceeding the limits according to the law, ensuring full salary and health and safety conditions. The City Labor Federation will also strengthen labor connections, support businesses to stabilize human resources and maintain production.
