Workers accept difficulties, share with businesses
In 2026, Tra Vinh Urban Works Joint Stock Company (Vinh Long province) failed to win the bidding package "Sweeping, collecting, and transporting domestic waste in Tra Vinh ward", causing 150 workers to stop working. Among them, there are 110 environmental sanitation workers, and the rest are workers pruning and caring for green trees.
Most workers have been attached to the profession for many years. The job of sweeping garbage and taking care of green trees, although hard, is the main source of income to support families, especially for older workers with few opportunities to change careers.
Mr. Phan Van Mien, residing in Tra Vinh ward, has nearly 10 years of experience working at the company, and his son has also been attached for 3 years. At nearly 60 years old, he understands that finding a new job is almost very difficult.
Mr. Mien shared that his family does not have land for production, all expenses depend on his monthly salary. Hearing the news of work stoppage, he was worried but still sympathetic, because the company did not win the bid, not because he wanted to cut labor.
According to Mr. Mien, workers are paid, if there is work, they do it, if there is no work, they bear it. The company also does not want to let employees quit. Now I just hope that if the company wins a new bid later, they will be called back to work.
My son applied to the newly winning unit, but due to the small number of personnel and the large area in charge, the work is more difficult than before. The family still encourages each other to try harder, waiting for more opportunities to stabilize for a long time," Mr. Mien added.
Ms. Tran Thi Thu Trang, also in Tra Vinh ward, has been attached to the garbage sweeping job for more than 15 years. A salary of about 8 million VND per month is the main source of income to feed 5 mouths in the family.
She and her husband lived with 3 grandchildren, while the children's couple did not have stable jobs, doing whatever they were hired to do. When she heard the news of her resignation, she wandered many nights because of worrying about life ahead.
Despite difficult circumstances, Ms. Trang still maintained a calm attitude. She said that the company did not win the bid, so it was forced to rearrange the labor force. "I just hope to have the opportunity to return to work if the company has work to return," Ms. Trang said.
Considering the 13th month bonus, prioritizing re-recruiting old workers
Talking to Lao Dong Newspaper, Mr. Pham Tiet Khoa - Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tra Vinh Urban Works Joint Stock Company - said that allowing 150 workers to stop working is a force majeure situation when the unit did not win the bidding package in 2026.
According to Mr. Khoa, despite facing difficulties, the company still implements the payment of severance pay in accordance with legal regulations, ensuring basic rights for employees during the waiting time for arrangement.
The company's grassroots trade union also presented Tet gifts to all workers and laborers at a rate of about 1.5 million VND per person, including workers on the resignation list, to share some of the difficulties.
In addition, the company is considering paying the 13th month bonus to all workers who have worked for a full year, including those subject to reduction, as a recognition of their contributions over the past time.
Mr. Khoa affirmed that when the company wins new bidding packages in the near future, the enterprise will prioritize recruiting old workers, especially those who have been attached for many years and have experience.
Mr. Nguyen Phuc Linh - Member of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour, Provincial Party Committee Member, Vice Chairman of the Provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee, Chairman of Vinh Long Provincial Labor Federation - said that the Provincial Labor Federation has directed grassroots trade unions and related departments to closely monitor the situation and ensure regimes and policies for workers.
The Vinh Long Provincial Labor Federation presented 36 gifts to 36 workers in particularly difficult circumstances, each worth 2.3 million VND; previously, it presented 29 gifts, each worth 500,000 VND to promptly encourage workers.
In addition to immediate support, professional departments are assigned the task of reviewing recruitment needs at businesses near the residence of resigned workers, in order to connect, introduce jobs, and help workers soon stabilize their lives.
