Union officials take action, black credit decreases significantly
Dong Nai currently has over 1.2 million workers, most of whom are immigrants. Life is difficult and the need for loans is high, so loan sharks find every way to approach workers.
According to the Dong Nai Provincial Federation of Labor, about 1-2 years ago, there was a time when grassroots union officials often received strange phone calls threatening terrorism with the content that the company's workers were involved in illegal credit. With the timely intervention of the authorities, this situation has now significantly decreased.
Ms. Bui Thi Bich Thuy - Permanent Vice President of Dong Nai Provincial Federation of Labor - said that Dong Nai Provincial Federation of Labor regularly organizes meetings to promptly grasp the situation and has directed trade unions to get involved early, so the grassroots trade union staff has clearly demonstrated their role, grasped the aspirations and difficulties of workers, and proposed support to create conditions for workers to borrow cheap and legitimate capital.
Pousung Vietnam Co., Ltd. in Bau Xeo Industrial Park, Trang Bom District has about 18,000 employees and was also the address attacked by black credit.
Mr. Le Nhat Truong - Chairman of the Trade Union of Pousung Vietnam Co., Ltd. - said that since 2010, the trade union has coordinated with 2 banks to provide 47,000 loans to workers with a total amount of over VND 1,176 billion. In conjunction with the CEP microfinance organization, workers have access to cheap loans with an amount of VND 300 billion. In addition, the trade union also acts as a credit guarantee for workers to borrow from VND 50-100 million.
“Up to now, there is very little black credit in our company. Workers borrow money to repair their houses, buy land, send their children to school and save money,” Mr. Truong added.
Strengthen propaganda for workers to identify
Mr. Dang Tuan Tu - Chairman of the Trade Union of Changshin Vietnam Co., Ltd. (a company with more than 40,000 workers) said: The company's Trade Union has cooperated with banks to support workers in borrowing capital when facing difficulties, avoiding the problem of black credit.
“At the Changshin Vietnam Co., Ltd. Trade Union, there are many reputable financial institutions that help workers borrow capital with the most reasonable interest rates. The Trade Union also established the Changshin Family Mutual Assistance Association, the Compassionate Arms Fund... to help workers have financial resources to solve difficulties without having to borrow from outside black credit...” - Mr. Tu said.
Every year, the Dong Nai Provincial Federation of Labor coordinates with the Dong Nai Provincial Police to organize propaganda sessions on preventing and combating illegal credit in enterprises and workers' dormitory self-management groups with the participation of thousands of workers. At the same time, the Trade Union organization promotes information and propaganda channels so that workers can identify the behaviors and tricks of illegal credit operators. In addition, many solutions are proactively implemented, encouraging workers to fight against crime and not get involved in social evils.
According to the Dong Nai Provincial Federation of Labor, all levels of unions have promoted forms of care to reduce difficulties for workers through union welfare programs. Strengthened supervision of policies such as: wages, bonuses, shift meals, housing, kindergartens, cultural institutions serving workers. Promoted the construction of Union Shelters, supporting workers to borrow capital from reputable banks with reasonable interest rates.
