Stealing a new roof, building trust for union members in difficult circumstances
In recent years, Son La Provincial Trade Unions at all levels have clearly promoted their role in caring for and protecting the legitimate and legal rights and interests of union members through a series of livelihood support programs including: building new and repairing houses, opening vocational training classes suitable to local needs, and consulting on loans to develop household economy.
These practical activities have become an important pillar, helping workers in mountainous areas overcome difficulties and have more motivation in life to escape poverty.
In the last days of the year, Long Phieu village (Muoi Noi commune) was submerged in a layer of cold fog. In the midst of that hot weather, the newly completed four-room house of Mr. Lo Van Tinh and his wife, maintenance workers, was bustling with laughter. After more than 10 years of living in a dilapidated, dilapidated temporary house, his family was supported to build a new house from the "Union Shelter" Fund.
"My wife and I work as maintenance workers, our income is only enough to cover monthly expenses, and we don't dare to think about building a solid house. The help of the Trade Union is truly a support for me and my wife to work with peace of mind, Mr. Tinh said emotionally.
Not only Mr. Tinh's family, in the period of 2024-2025, the Son La Provincial Federation of Labor (LDLD) has considered supporting the construction and repair of more than 160 houses for union members in difficulty, prioritizing the poor, single workers, and households affected by natural disasters. Each house is supported with 40-60 million VND, helping many families in mountainous areas reduce the burden of saving and have a stable place to live.
Ms. Lo Thi La, a union member of Ta Hoc Kindergarten (ta Hoc commune), was still moved when mentioning her new house: "My house has a roof covered with fibro cement that has rotted out, and I have to stretch out my raincoat to collect water. This year, with the support of 40 million VND from the Union, plus a little loan, my wife and I repaired the roof and built more bedrooms for our children. Seeing the new house makes me cry.
According to Ms. Thai Thi Mai, Vice President of the Son La Provincial Federation of Labor, housing support for union members in mountainous areas is implemented according to the principle of right - targeting the target, publicity and transparency. "In the highlands, having a safe home is also the beginning of a stable livelihood. The union considers this a humane task, a way to help union members overcome persistent difficulties," Ms. Mai emphasized.
Along with financial support, many trade unions also mobilized union members to participate in working days to build houses, transport materials, and decorate gardens for disadvantaged households. These simple but meaningful activities have created a sense of solidarity in each village, helping many families soon stabilize their lives and feel secure in their work.
Vocational training - opens a new direction for livelihoods in mountainous areas
Determining vocational training as the key to creating sustainable jobs, the Son La Provincial Trade Union has recently coordinated with departments and branches to open hundreds of training classes associated with practical needs: high-tech agriculture, fruit tree care according to VietGAP, digital skills, community tourism, traditional occupations such as indigo dyeing, brocade weaving, etc.
The classes are organized right at the grassroots level, suitable for the difficult travel conditions of ethnic minorities, helping many workers to study and work.
In Thao Nguyen ward, Ms. Lo Thi Nghi - a member of Tan Lap Agricultural Service Cooperative - said that after participating in the fruit tree planting and care class according to VietGAP standards, her family's plum garden productivity increased by more than 30%.
"Before, I followed the habit of eating, and the plants were often sick with pests. After the course, I learned how to prune branches, fertilize organics, and prevent diseases early. Productivity and quality have increased significantly, and income has also increased, Ms. Nghi shared.
In particular, for young people of Thai, H'Mong, Dao in mountainous communes, these occupations have opened up new opportunities to escape the seasonal shortage of work.
Many students after the course have started their own small business: opening a civil electrical repair shop, receiving fruit garden care services, developing a cage fish farming model on the hydroelectric reservoir, and doing community tourism to serve customers. Thanks to that, many workers in mountainous areas can stay in their hometown to work instead of having to work far away.
Consulting and supporting union members to access preferential loans
In parallel with vocational training and housing support, Son La Trade Unions at all levels proactively connect with the Social Policy Bank, People's Credit Fund and livelihood development programs to advise and support union members in accessing preferential loans.
In Muong La area, Ms. Mua Thi Chung - Deputy Director of the Transaction Office of the Bank for Social Policies, said that Muong La area currently maintains 34 savings and loan groups with a total outstanding debt of more than 132 billion VND, over 2,400 borrowers. Including many union members of enterprises and cooperatives. The Transaction Office coordinates with the People's Committee of the commune to organize mobile transaction points in Hua Trai, Nam Gion, Chieng Lao, helping people in remote areas easily access capital, reducing travel costs.
In Muong La, Yen Chau, Mai Son, Moc Chau communes... School trade unions also coordinated with the Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development to advise teachers on loans to renovate ornamental gardens, grow fruit trees, and open small stores. Many household economic models have increased their income by 1.52 times compared to before, typically: growing green-skinned grapefruit, Taiwanese mango, high-quality grapefruit labeling, raising hill-cast chickens, raising local pigs, producing tubers and dried fruits for tourism and the market in the province.
A typical example is Mr. Thao A Lo, Trong Tra village, Ta Xua commune, an example of a mountainous area that has become a good economy. From the trust loan capital of the Trade Union - Youth Union, he has developed 4 homestays to serve 300 guests and raised salmon and sturgeon to sell about 1 ton of commercial fish each year, bringing in an income of 500 - 600 million VND/year. At the same time, an eco-tourism cooperative was established, helping many union members develop together.
According to the Son La Provincial Federation of Labor, from 2023 to present, more than 2,000 union members have been supported to access preferential loans. Many trade unions at the grassroots level also maintain the Fund for Female Union Members, the Fund 120 to support union members in sudden difficulties, helping workers use capital for the right purposes and develop the economy effectively.
Mr. Loc Mau Trien, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Director of Chieng Sung Agricultural Joint Stock Company, said that the company has invested tens of billions of VND to support tree varieties, fertilizers and give union members loans to produce and repair their houses. "Up to now, many union members have not only stable jobs but also have additional income from household finances thanks to the timely support of the company's Trade Union," said Mr. Trien.
Mr. Luong Van Ngoc, Nong Son village, Chieng Sung commune, said that thanks to the Trade Union of Chieng Sung Agricultural Joint Stock Company receiving the trust to support seeds, fertilizers with late payment and cover all products, I am assured of production. Every year, my family harvests 4-5 tons of corn seeds, earning over 200 million VND/crop, and our family life has improved.
Sustainable support for workers in mountainous areas
From housing support, vocational training to credit consulting, Son La Trade Union's activities are all aimed at the long-term goal: helping union members settle down - work with peace of mind - gradually increasing their income.
In places where people's lives are still difficult, with difficult travel conditions, and seasonal work, the Trade Union is the closest accompanying organization, helping workers cope with economic fluctuations and stabilize their livelihoods.
In the coming time, the Son La Provincial Federation of Labor aims to continue mobilizing social resources to expand the "Union Shelter" Fund, increase support for workers in choosing suitable careers, promote digital transformation in consulting - training, expand livelihood models associated with the characteristics of mountainous areas.
When those humane policies reach the right people, at the right times, the Trade Union is not only a support, but also a motivation for workers in the mountainous areas of Son La to rise up and escape poverty sustainably, creating a future for their families and villages.
