Workers work through Tet
Tet is an occasion for family members to reunite, but for environmental workers, this is the most stressful time of the year when the amount of garbage increases sharply.
Mr. Hoang Van Thang - Director of the Environmental Service Enterprise, Bao Loc Urban Joint Stock Company (Lam Dong) - said that the unit is in charge of garbage collection in 4 wards of Bao Loc City (old).
On normal days, the amount of domestic waste generated is about 130–140 tons/day. However, from December 20th of the lunar calendar, this number increased sharply to 240–260 tons/day.
To ensure environmental sanitation and urban aesthetics during Tet, the unit has mobilized 100% of workers to participate in collecting and transporting waste to the treatment plant.
According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngan Ha - Vice Chairwoman of the Board of Directors of Green Friendly Environment Joint Stock Company, the unit managing and operating the factory - in addition to about 40,000 tons of accumulated waste, the increased amount of waste during Tet is creating great pressure. Currently, the factory has more than 30 workers directly treating waste. Among them, nearly 20 people stay to be on duty during Tet.
To meet the increased volume of waste, the plant operates continuously 24/24 hours, increasing its maximum capacity, treating more than 300 tons/day and night.
The company has promptly spent support and Tet gifts to reassure workers to work. Salary and bonus regimes are also guaranteed according to regulations," Ms. Ha said.
Tet duty to earn extra income
During Tet days, workers at Bao Loc waste treatment plant work in 3 shifts, with three incinerators operating continuously 24/24 hours to ensure waste is treated promptly and not accumulated.
Mr. Pham Ngoc Hoan - a factory worker - said that the work is inherently heavy and often requires working in a polluted environment. However, due to difficult family circumstances, he still chose to stay on duty during Tet to increase his income.
“Normally we are paid about 400,000 VND/day. Working during Tet, income increases 3 times, so I decided to stay. My family is in Dong Nai, my wife has no job, staying at home to take care of two children's education, so the economy is quite struggling. I try harder so that my wife and children have a more fulfilling Tet,” Mr. Hoan shared.
Similarly, Mr. Nguyen Van Luu (resident of Ward 3, Bao Loc) also put aside the longing for reunion at the beginning of the year to stay at the factory to work throughout Tet. Attached to the job for more than 4 years, he takes on the task of sorting and bringing waste into the treatment furnace every day.
Everyone wants to return home for Tet to reunite. But my family still has many difficulties, so every year I register for Tet duty to have more income. Just need my wife and children to prepare a decent Tet, I will feel happy," Mr. Luu confided.
According to Mr. Le Dinh Trong - Chairman of the Board of Directors of Green Friendly Environment Joint Stock Company - the biggest difficulty currently is the mechanism for payment of domestic waste treatment costs.
From June to September 2025, businesses have not been paid for waste treatment costs, significantly affecting the operation of the factory.
Late payments put pressure on businesses in balancing operating costs, wages and allowances for employees. Therefore, local leaders need to soon pay attention to and direct the removal of difficulties, ensuring that waste treatment activities are maintained stably, especially during peak periods such as Tet.
