Struggling to demand legitimate rights
For many years, worker Ho Thanh Thinh (born in 1995) has struggled to claim his legitimate rights after a work accident while working. Despite the request, the enterprise still refused to resolve the rights of workers.
In August 2022, while working at the factory, Mr. Thinh had a hot iron bar penetrating his leg. D treatment with severe wound, complete rupture of the thigh nerves, muscles behind the thighs, and loss of 3/4 of the knee peripheral region, with an injury rate of up to 46%, Mr. Thinh had to undergo many surgeries. Up to now, he still cannot walk normally.
After the above accident, Pomina 2 Steel Joint Stock Company only paid a part of Mr. Thinh's regime. Seeing that it was not satisfactory, Mr. Thinh asked the company to pay an additional 15.8 million VND but failed. Therefore, the incident was reported to the authorities but the enterprise still did not comply. After that, Mr. Thinh asked the Union for support.
With the support of the Trade Union, Mr. Ho Thanh Thinh grasped the benefits he should have enjoyed and sued the enterprise for compensation of nearly 200 million VND and interest.
Mr. Thinh's arduous journey to claim his rights is not a rare case of work-related accidents. For example, the case of Mr. Luu Chi Hieu (born in 1973) who had a work accident while working at the factory. After that, the enterprise unilaterally terminated the labor contract, leading to a dispute over the contract termination in violation of regulations and compensation for work-related accidents.
Workers are protected in their legitimate rights and interests
With the support of Ho Chi Minh City Trade Union officials before and after the cases, the competent Court ordered the enterprise to compensate Mr. Ho Thanh Thinh with nearly 200 million VND. In Mr. Hieu's case, the first instance and appellate courts tried two disputes, forcing the enterprise to compensate the employee a total of more than 3 billion VND.
According to Mr. Nguyen Trung Ngan (Department of Labor Law and Employment Insurance, Ho Chi Minh City Labor Federation), in many disputes, workers have not grasped the procedures and legal regulations, making it difficult to claim their rights. Some cases have to be pursued for many years to have results.
Therefore, the participation of Trade Unions at all levels is extremely necessary. In addition to supporting, guiding, and participating in protection in disputes, it also helps workers to be confident about their legitimate rights being protected. Protecting workers is the responsibility of the Trade Union. With the assigned role, I always try my best to protect the rights of workers. And I am very happy that workers receive their legitimate rights, said Mr. Ngan.
