Bustling into the shift
Quickly arranging pots of bright yellow chrysanthemums to transport to decorate Hoa Binh City Square, Ms. Bui Bich Phuong (34 years old, worker of Hoa Binh Urban Environment Company) said: "To ensure the work is completed before Tet, we try to work overtime to keep up with the schedule."
According to Ms. Phuong, the Tet flower planting campaign started on January 7, 2025. Environmental workers started work at 7:30 a.m., took a lunch break at their workplace, and finished their work when it was finished. The work seemed simple but required a lot of diligence and meticulousness.
“Although working from morning to 7-8pm is tiring and hard, everyone is happy and excited because they can earn extra income,” Ms. Phuong shared.
At Vi Thanh Garment Company, all nearly 70 workers came to work on time. Although they did not have to work overtime, the working atmosphere was very urgent and exciting to complete all orders signed with partners.
Ms. Tran Thi Duong - a person who has been with the company since its establishment - said: "At the end of the year, the company does not have any new orders, so the workers only focus on completing previously signed orders. It is almost Tet but we still hope the company will have more work so that the workers can work overtime to earn more income."
According to Ms. Duong, this time the workers try to work an extra hour after work to complete the order. If they work overtime regularly, they will receive about 10 million VND per month. In months with little work, the salary is only around 7-8 million VND/month.
Although she does not get to work overtime regularly during the Tet holiday, Ms. Ha Thi Lan Phuong feels happy because she still has work: “I have to work diligently so that the company can complete orders on time. From there, there will be more orders to help workers have jobs and stable income.”
“Even if I have to work until the morning of the 30th, many people will probably agree, because the salary received on holidays will be higher,” said Ms. Phuong.
Looking forward to Tet bonus
Sharing her wishes for the new year, Ms. Phuong - a worker at Hoa Binh Urban Environment Company - like many other workers, hopes to have a stable job, improved income and Tet bonus, to partly offset living expenses and ensure a good life.
Ms. Tran Thi Duong - a worker at Vi Thanh Garment Company - said that although workers do not have to work overtime regularly, the Tet bonus for employees is still of concern.
“The garment factory gives workers a 13th month salary bonus equal to 1.5 times the average monthly salary in 2024. In addition, each worker receives a Tet gift; workers in difficult circumstances, those with long-term illnesses, and those with disabilities receive an additional 500,000 VND,” said Ms. Duong.
According to Ms. Phung Thanh Tam - Vice President of the Hoa Binh City Labor Federation - in 2024, trade unions at all levels in Hoa Binh province organized many practical and meaningful activities for union members and workers, especially union members and workers in difficult circumstances.
In particular, on the occasion of the Lunar New Year 2025, the Hoa Binh Provincial Trade Union has allocated over 2,000 gifts, worth over 2 billion VND, to take care of Tet for union members and workers in difficult circumstances with the hope that all union members and workers will have Tet, welcome a warm spring, full of love. The meaningful and practical gifts are a source of encouragement for union members and workers to make more efforts, compete in labor production, and successfully carry out tasks.
