120 workers collectively stop working
The Gia Lai Provincial Labor Federation (LĐLĐ) said that it has coordinated with the Pleiku Ward Trade Union to successfully mobilize 120 workers at the Branch of Olam Gia Lai Co., Ltd. (Tra Da Industrial Park, Pleiku Ward) to return to work after many days of collective work stoppage, requesting an increase in product contract salary unit prices.
Previously, at the end of March 2026, workers in the hand silk shell sewing department requested the company to increase the unit price of the product. After considering the proposal, on April 10, the enterprise agreed to adjust from 17,500 VND to 18,000 VND/kg, and at the same time increase the attendance allowance from 150,000 VND to 300,000 VND/month.
However, on the morning of April 11, 120 workers of this department simultaneously stopped working, continuing to propose raising the unit price to 20,000 VND/kg. Immediately after that, the company invited dialogue but the workers did not participate and said that they would only return to work when this price was approved.
Olam Gia Lai Co., Ltd. Branch said that due to economic difficulties, increased input costs, and reduced orders, the enterprise has adjusted the unit price to 18,500 VND/kg, keeping the attendance allowance unchanged.
After two unsuccessful dialogues, the Pleiku Ward Trade Union coordinated with relevant agencies to meet 45 workers, mobilized to share difficulties and proposed to raise the unit price to 19,000 VND/kg. Workers agreed and returned to work from April 18, stabilizing labor relations at the enterprise.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Anh Xuan, Chairwoman of Pleiku Ward Trade Union, said that the incident only occurred in a production department and did not have complicated developments. The Ward Trade Union has proactively coordinated with functional agencies, directly met and dialogued with workers at their place of residence, helping to stabilize psychology, create consensus and bring them back to work.
Trade union - a bridge between businesses and workers
Mr. Nguyen Duc Long - Member of the Standing Committee, Deputy Head of the Trade Union Affairs Committee of Gia Lai Provincial Labor Federation - said that mobilizing 120 workers at the branch of Olam Gia Lai Co., Ltd. to return to production is a rather special case, because most of the workers are Jrai ethnic minorities (also known as Jarai), with a high lifestyle and community spirit.
According to Mr. Long, when the incident occurred, the number of participants was quite large, while access and mobilization were difficult, and traditional dialogue methods cannot be applied at enterprises as in the delta area.
Grasping the case, the Provincial Trade Union has directed the Pleiku Ward Trade Union to directly go to the area where workers live, through reputable people in the community to gather, propagate and mobilize. On the other hand, the Trade Union proposed that businesses strengthen social security policies at the place where workers reside to create cohesion" - Mr. Long informed.
Mr. Long added that before the Trade Union intervened, the enterprise had organized dialogues twice but failed. Only when the Trade Union directly came to the place to mobilize, did they return to work, showing the flexible and effective role of the Trade Union organization in connecting businesses and workers.
