Legal support for workers
In early August 2024, right after the first article in Lao Dong reflected the story of unpaid wages and social insurance (SI) of 37 employees of FLC Quy Nhon Golf & Resort Joint Stock Company, the Binh Dinh Economic Zone (EZ) Trade Union and units under the Provincial Federation of Labor immediately joined the fight.
On August 4, 2024, after receiving and verifying the information, the Economic Zone Trade Union issued a document to work with the legal representative and the Executive Board of the enterprise's grassroots trade union.
FLC Quy Nhon Golf & Resort was notified of its responsibility to explain labor relations; the results of the unit's mandatory social insurance payments up to June 2024, documents related to social insurance implementation; list of employees paying social insurance, health insurance, unemployment insurance; list and types of labor contracts between the enterprise and employees, including indefinite-term labor contracts, contracts with a term of 12 months to 36 months, seasonal labor contracts or contracts for a certain job with a term of less than 12 months; union financial records, etc.
Mr. Nguyen Duc Long, member of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor and Chairman of the Binh Dinh Economic Zone Trade Union, recalled: "To support the satisfactory and thorough resolution of the rights of union members and workers, we invited relevant agencies such as the Economic Zone Management Board and Binh Dinh Social Insurance to coordinate."
At the meeting on August 7, 2024, in response to "signs of unreadiness" from employers, the representative of the Trade Union organization resolutely requested that enterprises make clear, firm, and effective commitments on the "debt repayment" roadmap and policy settlement.
The case of claiming unpaid wages and social insurance at FLC Quy Nhon Golf & Resort developed quickly and ended happily thanks to the close and continuous coordination between Lao Dong Newspaper, the Trade Union and the management agencies in Binh Dinh. In less than 10 days, by August 10, 2024, all 37 employees who filed complaints had their late social insurance payments paid; the salary debt of 366 million VND was also paid by the company.
According to Permanent Vice President of the Provincial Federation of Labor Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy, the legal consultancy and support activities of the Binh Dinh Provincial Federation of Labor in 2024 were maintained regularly, continuously and effectively. In total, 272 cases were consulted directly and indirectly, helping 88 workers receive nearly 1.5 billion VND in wages and unemployment benefits; supporting 6 workers to return to work when the unit terminated the contract illegally; guiding 18 workers to carry out complaint procedures to claim their violated rights...
Support more than 132,600 union members and workers in difficulty
In the spacious new house in block 5, Phu Phong town, Ms. Lam Thi Thuy (Party Union member of Tay Son district) emotionally said: "My family's old house was built in 1972, it was dilapidated and rotten. Luckily, the provincial and district Labor Federations chose to support me, I borrowed more, combined with my previous savings, to have this housewarming joy." Born in 1971, Ms. Thuy is the support for her two young children and her husband who has suffered a severe stroke and is paralyzed on one side of his body.
Ms. Lam Thi Thuy is one of 14 Binh Dinh union members who in 2024 will have the opportunity to make their dream of settling down come true thanks to the Trade Union Shelter program. According to data from the provincial Labor Federation, the total amount of support from the program is 605 million VND.
In 2024, Binh Dinh will have 132,664 union members and workers in difficult circumstances, suffering from work-related accidents, occupational diseases, and serious illnesses, receiving support of more than VND50.1 billion. "In enterprises, trade unions proactively coordinate with business owners to find solutions to overcome difficulties in production and business, create jobs, implement policies and contribute to improving the lives of workers and laborers," said Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy.
The union is present and accompanies every aspect of workers' lives and work. Taking care of and improving shift meals is an example. There are 31 enterprises adjusting the value of shift meals from 18,000 to 35,000 VND/person/meal, 13 new units joined, bringing the total number of enterprises implementing shift meals to 310 units.
