Step a Thousand Miles
For each lottery ticket sold, the seller only makes a profit of about 1,000 VND. Depending on health and age, each day some people receive from a few dozen to a few hundred lottery tickets to sell.
“Sometimes, I can make a profit of about 100,000 VND, sometimes it is only enough to buy 1kg of rice. Not to mention that the agents do not allow me to return unsold lottery tickets,” said Mr. Lin, a street lottery ticket seller in Tran De district (Soc Trang province).
According to Mr. Lin, the lottery ticket selling job requires him to travel a lot and meet many people to invite them, so he travels dozens of kilometers every day to sell regardless of the weather. "On days when I meet a large party and many people buy, I sell quickly. Otherwise, I have to go to all the streets to invite people. Sometimes when it rains and no one buys, it means I have to take all the lottery tickets that day," said Mr. Lin.
Support for lottery ticket vendors
Last May, the Tran De District Labor Union (Soc Trang Province) established the Tran De Lottery Ticket Union with 30 members - this is also the first Lottery Ticket Union in Soc Trang Province.
Mr. Hoa Tran The - Chairman of the Tran De District Labor Federation - said that the establishment of the Union aims to gather lottery ticket sellers in the area into one organization so that members have a place to meet and improve their knowledge. The District Labor Federation will also be a bridge in understanding the thoughts and aspirations of lottery ticket sellers to make proposals to the company, promptly responding to the workers.
According to Mr. Huynh Lin - a member of the Tran De Lottery Tickets Union: “In the past, everyone sold on their own, and if they had difficulties, they didn’t know where to turn. Now, in the Union, everyone supports each other, no one competes for customers, and we live in harmony with each other. The Union Executive Committee also cares for everyone, and those who are sick or ill receive financial support, and gifts are given on holidays and Tet.”
Similarly, in Nga Nam Town (Soc Trang Province), the Lottery Ticket Union of Ward 1 was also established in the spirit of gathering lottery ticket sellers into the Union organization. Thereby, to propagate, disseminate, educate the law, support capital, knowledge to help workers stabilize their lives; care for, protect the legitimate and legal rights and interests of workers.
Mr. Lam Van Tung - Vice Chairman of the Nga Nam Town Labor Federation - informed that the union members are all freelance workers, in difficult circumstances, earning a living from selling lottery tickets on the street.
“The establishment of a Trade Union is very important in developing union members, especially in the informal sector; helping workers to be represented, protecting their legitimate rights and interests as well as taking care of their material and spiritual life when participating in the Trade Union organization,” said Mr. Tung.
So far, Soc Trang province has established 3 lottery ticket selling unions with 67 members. The unions all have Executive Committees, regular activities and regular communication through meetings.
