Tight rented rooms, workers' lives are difficult
On June 25, a reporter from Lao Dong Newspaper was present at a boarding house located deep in a small alley on Dang Thai Mai Street, Hung Dong Commune, Vinh City (Nghe An). This is home to dozens of workers working in VSIP industrial parks, Bac Vinh... In the summer, the sun is hot, the outside temperature reaches nearly 40 degrees Celsius, but in small rented houses with less than 15 square meters, air conditioning, the corrugated iron roof is hot and shallow, many people still have to struggle to hold to the pillars.
The room of Mr. Nguyen Trung Thanh (born in 2001, from Do Luong district), a worker at an electronic components manufacturing company at a factory in VSIP industrial park, is just enough to accommodate a mattress, a small kitchen table and a few essential items.
"I just started working, I earn 7-8 million/month, if I work overtime, it will increase to 9 million, but I have spent 3-4 million, if I send a little more money to my hometown, it will be considered a total loss," said Mr. Thanh.
His living conditions are poor, but he does not dare to install air conditioners. "The electricity bill for a rental house is 2,700 VND/kWh. thing to wear is unable to handle the air conditioner, so I have to accept the heat, Thanh shared while preparing for lunch.
The same boarding house is Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong (born in 1998, from Nghi Loc district), a worker at a garment company in Bac Vinh Industrial Park. Her income is only about 6-8 million VND/month, and she has to raise a small child.
"My husband works far away, I take care of everything. The rent, childcare, and monthly meals are not enough. Many times when my child is sick, I don't dare ask for leave because I'm afraid of having my money deducted," Ms. Hong said in tears.
Actual observations show that the boarding house where workers live is built temporarily, with thin walls, corrugated iron roofs, a low humid floor, and a degraded electricity and water system. The common toilet is old, the walkway is both parking and drying clothes, causing the daily activities of dozens of people to crow in a space of less than 100 square meters.
Hoping for a salary increase to work with peace of mind
According to statistics, Nghe An currently has about 250,000 workers working in enterprises, mainly in industrial parks and economic zones. However, the average income of workers is only about 6.5 million VND/person/month, significantly lower than that of developed localities such as Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong, Hai Phong, etc.
Ms. Tran Thi Nguyet - former Vice President of the Trade Union of the Southeast Nghe An Economic Zone - said: "Low income is the main reason why many workers quit their jobs or do not stay with the enterprise for a long time. The trade union has repeatedly proposed adjusting the regional minimum wage and increasing allowances for workers, but the progress is still slow.
In the context of rising living prices, low wages are becoming a major barrier that makes it difficult for workers to accumulate, settle down or take care of their families. Young people like Mr. Thanh and Ms. Hong all hope to have a salary increase policy to reduce the burden.
Mr. Kha Van Tam - Chairman of Nghe An Provincial Federation of Labor - shared: "The Trade Union hopes that the income of workers will increase, so that workers have the conditions to improve their living standards, take care of their families and relatives and feel secure in sticking with the enterprise for a long time".
Salary increase is not only the desire of employees, but also a solution for businesses to retain talented people, creating motivation for production and business. While waiting for the adjustment policy, many Nghe An workers are still having to save every penny, living comfortably in low-lying rental houses, to nurture hope for a better future.
