Receive support near Lunar New Year
On January 27, speaking with reporters, Mr. Tran Van Phong (42 years old, residing in Nghi Thuan commune, Nghi Loc district, Nghe An) said that Chau Tien Company Limited had just paid 10.5 million VND for occupational disease treatment costs.
Mr. Phong worked for many years at Chau Tien Company Limited (Nam Cam Industrial Park, Nghi Long Commune, Nghi Loc District, Nghe An).
Previously, on March 26, 2024, Nghe An Medical Examination Center organized a medical examination for 66 workers who were and are working at Chau Tien Company Limited. The results showed that 100% of those examined had pneumoconiosis at different levels, the lowest person had a body injury rate of 11%, the highest person had over 80%.
Mr. Tran Van Phong was reported to have silicosis, with a body injury rate of 71%.
After a period of waiting, with the continuous influence and persistence from the Trade Union of the Southeast Nghe An Economic Zone and the local authorities and agencies, Mr. Phong has now received an occupational disease allowance of 2.3 million VND/month.
“I would like to express my sincere and deep gratitude to the officials of the Southeast Economic Zone Trade Union, the officials of the Nghi Loc District People's Committee and the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs of Nghe An Province for their great efforts to ensure that workers with occupational diseases receive occupational disease benefits and medical expenses, helping me stabilize my life.”
On the eve of the Lunar New Year, Chau Tien Company Limited supported and paid for other medical expenses and occupational disease treatment for 28 workers with a total amount of 365 million VND.
At the same time, this company compensated 21 workers with occupational diseases with a total amount of nearly 1.4 billion VND.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy (43 years old, residing in Nghi Thuan commune, Nghi Loc district, worked for 10 months at Chau Tien Company Limited) was compensated with more than 44 million VND. Previously, she also received a subsidy of 700 thousand VND/month.
“Although this amount of money is not much, it has helped my family ease some of the difficulties. I would like to sincerely thank the Trade Union, the authorities and Lao Dong Newspaper for actively participating in supporting workers with occupational diseases,” Ms. Thuy shared.
Workers with occupational diseases face additional difficulties
Although he has received a monthly allowance and partial reimbursement of medical expenses, Tran Van Phong's situation is still extremely difficult. After examination, the doctors concluded that his lungs were too severely damaged to recover, and his prognosis was poor.
“I am not healthy enough to work now, and my allowance is not enough to buy medicine. I am especially worried because if complications arise, my life will be in danger,” Phong said sadly.
Mr. Phong said that many workers who used to work at Chau Tien Company Limited now have pneumoconiosis but do not receive compensation or support, do not receive occupational disease benefits, and their lives are extremely difficult.
"Mr. Bui Dinh Binh (41 years old, resident of Nghi Hung commune, former worker of Chau Tien Company) is currently in critical condition, having to breathe oxygen continuously, and probably won't be able to hold on much longer" - Mr. Phong said.
To date, 6 people who used to work at Chau Tien Company have died, but only 5 people have received compensation and support, one person has not received a settlement because the family did not keep records and medical records.
Vice President of the Trade Union of the Southeast Economic Zone of Nghe An, Tran Thi Nguyet, said that in order to resolve the regime for Chau Tien Company Limited employees suffering from occupational diseases, the Trade Union officials have been very active and diligent.
“We are very happy and motivated to see that the workers are receiving benefits. We hope that in the future, policies for Chau Tien Company Limited employees suffering from occupational diseases will be satisfactorily resolved,” said Ms. Tran Thi Nguyet.
